Matt Rader is the 37th President of the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society. He believes firmly that interacting with plants and gardens advances human and environmental health. Since 2016, Rader has led PHS to focus on using horticulture to advance the health and well-being of the Greater Philadelphia Region. PHS does this through solutions that use horticulture to positively impact four social determinants of health:
Rader has led efforts to engage more people in working with PHS to positively impact their neighborhoods and the region. Today, PHS’s on-the-ground work serves more than 250 neighborhoods and includes a network of free-to-all public gardens and landscapes and the landmark Philadelphia Flower Show.
Rader is a committed student of cities and a lover of gardens. He finds no greater joy than a daylong walk anywhere to see and observe the natural and built environment. He lives in Center City Philadelphia with his partner, Michael Smith, a conductor and organist.
Matt received his Bachelor’s in Architectural History from the University of Virginia, Master of Business Administration from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, and a certificate in Non-Profit Executive Leadership from Bryn Mawr College. He is a 2020 Eisenhower Fellow. His professional experiences include the Fairmount Park Commission, Urban Land Institute, National Trust for Historic Preservation, and McKinsey and Company