Photo courtesy of Mount Vernon Ladies' Association
Jonathan Kavalier is the inaugural Lucy S. Rhame Executive Director of Gardens and Landscapes at George Washington’s Mount Vernon
Mount Vernon Ladies' Association (MVLA) has appointed Jonathan Kavalier as the inaugural Lucy S. Rhame Executive Director of Gardens and Landscapes at George Washington’s Mount Vernon after a national search. In this role, Kavalier will lead the preservation, restoration, and long-term stewardship of the estate’s historic gardens, grounds, and natural resources, advancing Mount Vernon’s mission to honor George Washington’s legacy as an innovative farmer and visionary land steward.
Kavalier most recently served as director of Gardens and Grounds at Dumbarton Oaks in Washington, D.C., where he oversaw preservation of the world-renowned Beatrix Farrand-designed gardens and managed major capital and conservation projects. With more than 20 years of leadership experience at nationally significant institutions, including the Architect of the Capitol and the Smithsonian Institution, he brings deep expertise in historic landscape preservation, sustainability, organizational strategy, and public engagement.
“Mount Vernon’s gardens and landscapes are essential to understanding George Washington’s character and creativity,” said Anne Neal Petri, Regent of the Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association, “We are thrilled to welcome Jonathan, a true expert in historic garden stewardship, whose experience and passion will help us preserve and elevate Mount Vernon’s extraordinary grounds for generations to come.”
“George Washington was America’s first great experimental farmer and landscape innovator, and the estate he shaped remains one of the most iconic cultural landscapes in the world,” said Douglas Bradburn, president and CEO of Mount Vernon. “Jonathan Kavalier brings exceptional experience guiding nationally significant gardens through preservation and renewal. His strategic leadership and collaborative spirit will ensure that Mount Vernon’s 500-acre estate continues to thrive as both a historic treasure and a living, sustainable landscape.”
“I am honored to join Mount Vernon and to help steward one of the most significant historic landscapes in the United States,” said Kavalier. “George Washington viewed the land as a place of innovation, productivity, and beauty. I look forward to working with the talented team at Mount Vernon to preserve the estate’s historic character, strengthen sustainable practices, and deepen visitors’ understanding of Washington’s agricultural vision.”
At Dumbarton Oaks, Kavalier led development of a long-term preservation framework for more than 250 historic garden features and directed multimillion-dollar restoration initiatives. His earlier service at the Architect of the Capitol included senior leadership over Capitol Grounds and cross-jurisdictional strategic planning, while at the Smithsonian Institution, he contributed to garden accreditation, sustainability planning, and public horticultural programming.
Mount Vernon’s gardens and landscapes, including its formal pleasure gardens, working farm, woodlands, and historic vistas, are central to the estate’s interpretation of Washington’s life and leadership. As the nation approaches the 250th anniversary of American independence, Mount Vernon continues to invest in the careful preservation and thoughtful evolution of its historic landscape as a living testament to Washington’s enduring legacy.
Mount Vernon, the home of George Washington, is owned and operated by the Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association, the oldest national historic preservation organization in the United States. The estate is open to visitors and includes the Mansion, a museum and education center, gardens, tombs, a working farm, a functioning distillery, and a gristmill. It also includes the George Washington Presidential Library at Mount Vernon.
