Nicki Graf CC’77 at the Rutgers Floriculture Greenhouse on the George H. Cook campus.
Perhaps as iconic to Cook Campus as Passion Puddle and the Rutgers Farm, the Floriculture Greenhouse with its towering smokestack has long been a joyful place for plant-minded people at Rutgers. One of the oldest buildings on Cook campus, the Floriculture Greenhouse originally served as a research station focusing on cut flower production and preservation while doubling as a dynamic classroom for the teaching of Horticulture coursework. As research initiatives changed, so did the role of the greenhouse, which now serves as a hub for student experiential learning, plant related instruction and Rutgers community wellness.
At the root of this evolution was Nicki Graf CC’77, who operated and oversaw the greenhouse from 1988 to 2025, an astounding 37 years. Nicki’s heart has been on the George H. Cook campus since studying here as a member of the first matriculating class of Cook College, and her efforts in supporting the educational capacity of the greenhouse have been unwavering.
An annual keystone of Nicki’s efforts was growing a trial of poinsettias, which showcased new varieties of the holiday flower while giving students an opportunity to engage, hands-on, with the commercial production of plants.
Beyond growing plants and supporting plant-related coursework, Nicki was a champion for the student experience at Rutgers. She curated and maintained the botanical collection at Floriculture, an endeavor that gave students the opportunity to engage with hundreds of plants from around the world while honing their horticultural eye. Between the poinsettia project, caring for the collection and the development of a raised bed teaching garden behind the greenhouse, Nicki mentored dozens of students, many of whom satisfied their Experiential Learning requirement while working alongside her. Nicki furthered our students experiences by building connections with alumni and industry partners, such as EcoWalls, an alumni-founded living wall company whose prototype wall still exists in the foyer of the greenhouse, serving as a site for student experiential learning.
Nicki Graf in her beloved second home, the Floriculture Greenhouse on the Cook campus.
She also empowered students to showcase their plant care efforts at events like the Philadelphia Flower Show, the Southeastern Pennsylvania Orchid Society Show, and the North Jersey Orchid Society Show that meets on Cook Campus annually. The programs that Nicki started helped many students find their calling, including Lee Hazen SEBS ‘19, now a professional gardener.
“If I hadn’t worked at the Floriculture Greenhouse under Nicki I don’t know if I would’ve developed the confidence I needed to embark into the work of professional horticulture and end up proud of where I am today,” said Hazen.
Above all, the programs and plants that Nicki created served as a vector for wellness. Under Nicki’s watch, the greenhouse became a place where students found community, felt safe and developed a sense of belonging. From welcoming people to explore and enjoy the botanical collection to always being a thoughtful listener, Nicki excelled in creating a comfortable environment for our community.
Jamie Lubov SEBS ’24, was one of Nicki’s students. “Working at the floriculture greenhouse with Nicki as my boss was a core part of my experience as a Rutgers student. This was not just a job for me, but a place where I was able to belong,” he said.
Nicki’s talent for plants and people was well known to her colleagues.
“Nicki was a great greenhouse manager who provided critical support to Plant Science classes, but her true legacy is in the meaningful relationships she fostered, as a coworker, mentor, and friend, to those who worked with her,” said Donald Kobayashi, chair of the Department of Plant Biology. “She had a positive influence on many students; from guiding them into careers in horticulture to leading teams that won ribbons and awards at flower shows, Nicki shared her experience, knowledge, and a historical perspective that students couldn’t get from the classroom alone. She always made visiting the greenhouse enjoyable and worthwhile and will be missed,” he added.
Jesse Deming SEBS ’27, former president of the Rutgers Undergraduate Students for Plant Sciences, echoes this sentiment.
“I am immensely grateful to have met Nicki while she was at Rutgers, and her work and dedication to the Floriculture Greenhouse was always awe-inspiring,” said Deming. “Going to the greenhouse always felt like walking into a space that was deeply cared for and loved.”
We thank Nicki for her decades of dedication to the SEBS community, and for her enduring commitment to our students’ education and wellbeing.
