Garden Crew Grounds Keeper
University Facilities Management
Kent Campus
Andrea Smith is a Garden Crew Grounds Keeper who takes the “Students First” motto to an all new level. Smith and the crew have the daily task of brightening the campus through flowers, gardens, potted plants and hanging baskets. Her vision of what flowers to use where on campus is one of the reasons the campus shines so bright year after year. Smith designs the pots and grows some of the plants herself and starts some plants from seeds in the university greenhouse. Smith grew all of the beautiful sunflowers from seed for Poetry Park, babied them until they were ready to plant and then planted each and every one. She is creative, smart and talented, she loves to teach and to be taught.
Smith sees her role as more than a job, but an opportunity to pursue her passion. Behind the scenes, Smith prepares work orders for the following year ready in September. She spends countless hours researching and checking notes to make sure the plants will perform well. The plants on campus are her babies and she works hard so that they strive. Smith’s hard work beautifies Kent State University now and in years to come.
