Faculty and Staff
Judy Burgholzer graduated from Purdue University with a BS in Agriculture and earned her MS degree in Horticulture from the University of Illinois. Judy’s work experience includes soil testing and interior plantscaping before joining the faculty of College of DuPage in 1987. In 1994 she took over the duties of coordinator of the department as well as teaching full-time. Classes she teaches include OH 1101, Soils and Fertilizers; OH 2221, Plant Propagation; and Math 1104, Math for Horticulture. Judy was voted College of DuPage Faculty Co-op Adviser of the year for 1998. She sits on the Technology Education Center Building Committee, the Cooperative Education Faculty Advisory Committee and is Chair of the Horticulture Advisory Committee. She is active in various professional organizations including the Illinois Landscape Contractor's Association, the Green Industry Association and Illinois Association of Community College Agriculture Instructors.
Julia Fitzpatrick-Cooper earned her BS in Horticulture and MS in Agricultural Education from The Ohio State University. She has worked in a variety of horticultural industries including arboreta, wholesale nurseries, retail garden centers, horticultural therapy programs, community education programs, and taught high school horticulture programs. Julia has been a full-time faculty member at the college since 1986 and was department coordinator from 1986–1994. She was voted College of DuPage Faculty Co-op Adviser of the Year in 1994. She teaches OH 1100, Introduction to Horticulture; OH 1110 Applied Plant Taxonomy; OH 2241, Landscape Plants I; OH 2242, Landscape Plants II; OH 2244, Herbaceous Perennials; and Special Topics courses. Julia serves on a variety of committees including the Study Abroad Scholarship committee. She is a member of the Perennial Plant Association, the Conifer Society, Illinois Nurserymen’s Association and the Illinois Landscape Contractor’s Association. She also serves on a variety of industry committees including the Perennial Plant Evaluation Committee, Illinois Arborist Association Advanced Training Committee, and the Illinois Nurserymen’s Association Horticulture Occupational and Professional Experience committee.
STAFF PROFILES
Elizabeth Britt has been the manager of the department since 1986 and is responsible for greenhouse crop production, budget and facilities management, special events, sales, and the retail shop. She earned a B.S. in Agriculture from The Ohio State University and a Masters in Education from National-Louis University. She has worked in horticulture therapy, floral design, nursery sales, greenhouse production and landscape design. Elizabeth can be reached at 942-3806 or e-mail at britte@cod.edu
Jae Granrath is a College of DuPage Horticulture graduate. She has been the Greenhouse Lab Technician since 1985 and is responsible for all crop care and maintenance. Jae assists with sales and marketing of our specialty crops such as mums, poinsettias, annuals and perennials. She can be reached at 942-3807 or e-mail at granrath@cod.edu
PART-TIME FACULTY
We our proud of the level of industry participation we are able to offer our students. Industry leaders share their expertise as guest speakers, field trip hosts and adjunct faculty. This offers our students the opportunity to learn current issues, trends and techniques in each discipline. Our 20 part-time faculty members also serve as valuable contacts and resources for our graduates.
