Planting Roots in York: Hannah Zinn ’25 Named Urban Collaborative Scholar in Residence
With a passion for plants and a heart for community, Hannah Zinn ’25 is digging into her next chapter as York College’s Urban Collaborative Scholar in Residence.
A proud graduate of the College’s first Environmental Horticulture cohort, Zinn will bring her love of green spaces, sustainable design, and community engagement to the Center for Community Engagement this August—helping York grow stronger, greener, and more connected.
Zinn’s appointment marks a significant step forward in connecting York College’s academic strengths with community priorities, particularly through her focus on shared greenspaces, accessible gardening, and the cultural history of local food systems.
“I was originally drawn to the opportunity due to my wonderful experiences and impressions of the employees at the Center for Community Engagement and within the Urban Collaborative,” said Zinn. “Hearing about the way these individuals have worked, often behind the scenes, to build up our community and the people within it was inspiring. When I heard about an opportunity where I could work alongside these individuals and perform similar work, I was immediately interested. To be selected for this position is truly an honor, and I’m so excited to start.”
In her role, Zinn will work with CCE staff to collect, analyze, and present community data, support campus and community initiatives, and foster relationships with local leaders—all with a focus on making nature more accessible for all.
“Accessibility to nature and its fruits can play a significant role in mental health and physical wellbeing,” Zinn said. “Working directly with this through addressing existing or potentially limited infrastructure is something I feel is incredibly important. I’m excited to also pursue the development of relationships with local businesses and community members who are dedicated to advancing the city of York and the people within it.”
Zinn is currently completing a summer internship at Frank Lloyd Wright’s Fallingwater in Mill Run, Pa. “This was by choice, not by necessity,” she noted, “but I believe it showcases how this program assisted in building my passion for the industry and my desire to make new connections.”
The Appell Environmental Horticulture program at York College started just four years ago with the generous support of the Powder Mill Foundation. Zinn’s success is a testament to its impact.
“Hannah’s journey, from being in the first cohort of the Environmental Horticulture students to becoming the Urban Collaborative Scholar in Residence, is exactly the kind of community-connected success we hoped to cultivate when we supported the creation of this program,” said Michael Hady, President and CEO of the Powder Mill Foundation. “We are proud to support York College students like Hannah who are using their education to strengthen the community.”
Jessica Zartman, Director of the Urban Collaborative at the Center for Community Engagement, said Zinn brings vision and heart to the role. “Hannah is such an asset to the college and the community. We know her passion and expertise in both horticulture and building community connections will translate into meaningful Urban Collaborative projects. These projects promote health and wellbeing to residents through green infrastructure and will enhance the CCE's relationship with the community. We are truly fortunate to welcome her to our team."
Zinn credits the Environmental Horticulture program with providing her with not only a solid academic foundation but also real-world experiences. “Thanks to the support of the Appell family and the Powder Mill Foundation, I was able to learn from skilled professors, participate in research conferences, work on local landscape designs for Habitat for Humanity, and even study abroad in Costa Rica,” she said. “I absolutely loved my time in the program.”
Looking ahead, Zinn hopes to continue her work at the intersection of community, environment, and education—whether that means designing landscapes, coordinating nature-based events, or simply staying open to the unexpected. “I’m a strong believer in working hard to pursue my goals,” she said, “but also feel that it’s important to acknowledge that the particular path I desire may diverge from what I am meant to do.”
For now, though, she’s right where she belongs—helping York flourish, one green idea at a time.
