Photo courtesy to Dallas Arboretum
On October 11, the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden Board of Directors selected Sabina Carr, the former CEO of the San Antonio Botanical Garden, as the organization’s new president and CEO. Continuing Mary Brinegar’s 27 years of service, Carr will begin her role at the end of November.
After 27 years, Mary Brinegar has retired as CEO and President for the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden. And so, a new era begins for Sabrina Carr.
The board held an international search for nonprofit and public garden leaders to fill the garden shoes. Carr’s extensive background leading the San Antonio Bontanical Garden seems to be the right fit the board was searching for.
Carr served as chief executive officer for the San Antonio Botanical Garden and was the first female leader of the organization in its 40-year history. During her first two years, she doubled both the garden’s annual visits, membership households and increased the annual operating budget two-fold. In addition, she finalized a $40 million capital campaign in spring 2021 that transformed the organization with new gardens, facilities and amenities.
“Sabina has an incredible track record of growth and innovation – skills that will benefit the Dallas Arboretum as we build on our legacy of excellence,” said Will McDaniel, chair of the Dallas Arboretum Board of Directors.
As president and CEO, Carr will oversee strategic vision and direct all operations of the 66-acre garden. The arboretum welcomes more than 1 million visitors from across the country and approximately 70 countries worldwide each year. The organization has nearly 45,000 member households.
“I’m honored to be selected to lead the Dallas Arboretum, an organization and place that I’ve
respected and loved for many years,” Carr said in a press release for the arboretum. “The Dallas Arboretum is known across the
country and around the world for its stunning gardens and robust programming. I look forward
to continuing that momentum through my passions for public-private gardens, philanthropy and
community engagement.”
Before joining the San Antonio Botanical Garden, she served as vice president of marketing for the Atlanta Botanical Garden for over 15 years. She is past president of the American Public Gardens Association, and the Garden Club of America honored her innovative leadership with its prestigious Civic Club Improvement Commendation Award in 2022.
Carr expressed her excitement to be back in Dallas where she received her education at Southern Methodist University in Dallas. After relocating from San Antonio, she will reside back in Dallas and is ready to spend time with her family and friends at the garden.
“My family is from Dallas, and I have wonderful memories of spending summers here growing up. I’d always hoped my career would lead me back to this wonderful place,” Carr said.
