Candice Shoemaker

Dr. Shoemaker earned B.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Floriculture from Michigan State University, and a M.S. in Horticultural Therapy from Kansas State University. Prior to returning to Kansas State University as a faculty member in 2001, Dr. Shoemaker completed a post-doctoral research fellowship at Virginia Tech University, held a teaching position in horticulture at Berry College in Rome, GA, and was the first Director of the School of the Chicago Botanic Garden.

In her teaching and research faculty appointment Dr. Shoemaker became internationally recognized for her expertise and leadership in horticultural therapy and human issues in horticulture. She developed and directed the award-winning online graduate certificate program in horticultural therapy and was one of the founders of the highly successful Master of Science program in urban food systems. Her research program focused on the physical and psychological health benefits of gardening, focusing on children and older adults, and the community benefits of urban agriculture.

Dr. Shoemaker also served as department head for the Department of Horticulture and Natural Resources from 2014 – 2018 and Special Assistant to the Dean, College of Agriculture from 2018 – 2022.  During her K-State career Dr. Shoemaker held leadership positions in several national and international organizations, including Board of Directors for the American Horticultural Therapy Association, Editorial Board of the Journal of Therapeutic Horticulture and Education Chair and Executive Chair of the International People Plant Council.

Dr. Shoemaker has been recognized with many awards including the Charles A. Lewis Excellence in Research Award, the American Horticultural Therapy Association Alice Burlingame Humanitarian Service Award and the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture’s Excellence in College and University Teaching National Award. She was elected a fellow of the American Society of Horticultural Science in 2020.

Her email is : cshoemak@ksu.edu