Brett Gilman ’24.5 Awarded Watson Fellowship
Brett Gilman ’24.5 has been awarded a Thomas J. Watson Fellowship, a one-year, $40,000 grant for self-guided exploration outside of the United States. Gilman is an independent scholar who designed his own major around socio-ecological studies in landscape architecture. He plans to travel to five countries—the Netherlands, Sweden, Poland, Singapore, and Australia—to study landscape design movements.
“I am excited to step outside of a professional trajectory, step off the academic ladder, and stretch myself to undertake a specific personal journey of growth,” said Gilman. “Most of all, I am excited to immerse myself in my passion, envisioning a better world through the lens of gardening.”
Gilman’s Watson Fellowship is a continuation of the independent path he charted for himself at Middlebury—but now on a global scale, notes his academic advisor Pieter Broucke, professor of History of Art and Architecture. “Brett taught me to look at landscape design not as an aesthetic exercise but as arguably the main tool we have to mitigate the effects of climate change,” said Broucke. “He sees landscape design as a means with which to address some of the world’s most challenging problems.”
Gilman said when he started learning about the field of landscape architecture, he realized that by designing his own major at Middlebury he could combine his interests in conservation biology, fine art and design, art history, philosophy, and environmental policy. The combination has given him a helpful perspective for the year ahead and beyond.
“I imagine that a year of delving into the gardens, designed landscapes, and wild places that most inspire me will seed an innovative foundation for a career creating socially and ecologically connected landscape projects of my own,” said Gilman. “I envision the Watson propelling me into graduate study in landscape architecture or a professional training program in environmental horticulture.”
As a Middlebury student, Gilman founded a local chapter of the Pollinator Pathway, a grassroots community network establishing pollinator-friendly habitat along contiguous corridors. He also served as co-manager of the Sunday Night Environmental Group, and was president of Middlebury Geographic, a student-led publication that celebrated its 15th anniversary edition last fall. He was inspired to pursue a Watson after study abroad experiences in Oxford and Copenhagen.
During his fellowship year, Gilman, of Wilton, Connecticut, will collaborate with horticulturalists, landscape architects, environmental thinkers, art institutions, and community garden networks to learn how to create everyday outdoor spaces that are “lively, functional, biodiverse, and resilient.” In preparation for his time abroad, he will be working as a horticulture intern at the Native Plant Trust in Framingham, Massachusetts, the nation’s first plant conservation organization.
Founded in 1968, the Watson Fellowship is awarded to graduating seniors nominated by one of 41 partner institutions. Gilman is among the 37 fellows selected for Watson’s 57th class.
For more information about this and other fellowships, visit Middlebury’s Fellowships Office.