Kathleen Moore, who recently retired as director of sustainability at ETSU, is trading her life at the university for a more eco-friendly one in the Sevierville area.
Moore has worked on campus since October 1994. She officially retired at the end of February 2021, and began a new job as a horticulturist at Dollywood.
“It’s more of a hobby job,” said Moore. “I am doing the things that I already love to do.”
Moore is a climate change advocate. Not only will she be doing what she loves in Sevierville, but she will be working to improve the environment.
“I am moving to a less than 400 square foot cabin on Douglas Lake, so my impact on the environment will be very minimal,” said Moore. “But however, since I am so used to being around people because of working on campus for so long, I thought it would be an amazing idea to work at Dollywood.”
Moore only plans to work at Dollywood a few days a week, and the rest of her free time she will dedicate to volunteer work for hiking trails in the national park, since she is also an avid hiker.
“I plan to volunteer in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park and help rejuvenate trails,” said Moore. “I also will be working on pulling out invasive plants that are inhabiting the park as well.”
Moore recalls all of her memories made on the campus knowing that working at ETSU has made an impact on the rest of her life.
“I have probably planted more than 300 trees with myself and a crew here on campus,” said Moore. “I would like to think of the fact that someday my grandchildren or great-grandchildren will come to school here and see the trees that I planted.”
Moore is working with Dollywood on events available to all, such as the Wild & Scenic Film Festival on April 10 and the Flower & Food Festival on April 23, where she will help with the containers and landscaping of the event.
You must be logged in to post a comment.