By Alyssa Richards
Purchase College’s campus stretches out for 500 acres. As many trees as there are, there are hardly any flowers—or other types of plants present. Students on campus noticed this and wondered what they could do to make a change. With the help of Allyson K. Jackson, they helped to diversify plant life. All in one tiny garden.
Allyson K. Jackson in her office in the Natural Sciences building, with her portraits and paintings across the wall. (Photo by Alyssa Richards)
Jackson is an associate professor of environmental studies. She has worked at Purchase since 2017 and helped kickstart the Purchase College Native Plant Garden in 2018 alongside students.
Prior to the Native Plant Garden, there was a student-run vegetable garden by the Dance building. That garden wasn’t being cared for. That was until they decided to try again with help.
“After I taught a class called Conservation Biology, I had a group of students who were really passionate about giving back to the environment by creating this garden,” said Jackson. “So, we started planting it in 2018, and broke ground in 2019 to make it what it is now: the Native Plant Garden.”
Purchase College Native Plant Garden information sign, educating students on what the garden does for the campus. (Photo by Alyssa Richards)
With the help of students, the garden has continued to flourish. In the Spring semester of 2024, it even opened internship opportunities.
Robyn Graygor, rocket compost master and an environmental studies major, works closely with Jackson both as a student and colleague.
The Purchase College Native Plant Garden. (Photo by Alyssa Richards)
“I spent this summer working as one of three field technicians in a forest restoration project organized by Dr. Jackson. My experience working on this project was wonderful,” said Graygor. “Jackson is able to exude the supportiveness of a friend and provide the direction of a boss, which is more than I could ask for in any work setting.”
While pursuing her PhD at Oregon State University, Jackson taught curated classes related to her research. She then took a certificate program in college teaching. Between working as a researcher or educator, she found herself more drawn to interacting with students.
Students can also find themselves drawn to interacting with her. Katherine Escobar, a junior biology major, is a student of Jackson’s and had positive things to say about her.
“If any student wants to talk about anything, she will always be available. Or if a student is having a problem, she’ll be very understanding about it,” said Escobar. “Even though attendance is mandatory, she tells students if they’re having a hard time, it's okay.”
Jackson has also received praise for her relationship with students from her colleagues. Ryan Taylor, associate professor of environmental studies agreed, and sees Jackson’s determination for her students.
“Dr. Jackson is hands down the most student-forward faculty member in our department—I would argue, probably in the college,” said Taylor. “She really has a heart for our students in addition to a head for ecology. To where she really wants to meet students where they are and bring them up to a level where they get something out of their college experience. Not just knowledge, but also an ability to succeed.”
Jackson’s Wildlife Ecology class, where she assisted her students with their research projects and displayed them in the Natural Sciences building on Nov. 13. (Photo by Alyssa Richards)
As much work as Jackson does in the classroom, she makes an equally big environmental impact on the campus.
When Broadview opened to the public in December of 2023, the 40-acre living community had to coexist with the campus it sits on. With the help of three interns, Jackson got to work to fix any issues.
George Kraemer, professor of environmental studies, recounts this experience and the way Jackson handled it.
“When Broadview went in, they needed a sewer or water connection to get to a source that was going to supply enough, or take away enough sewage. Professor Jackson would come in and have three people working during the summer- paid student interns,” said Kraemer. “They removed all of the invasive species. After that, it was a matter of planting natives.”
Also set to take place on Purchase’s campus was the SUNY dam. Five dams would have been cut across the forest to prevent flooding in case of one occurring.
“There was a fairly controversial proposal to affect the land use on our campus. She put in countless hours making sure the information we collected on the topic was disseminated to campus constituents,” said Taylor. “She went that extra step to make sure students, colleagues, and extra staff understood the nuance of the situation. That is not light work.”
Off-campus, Jackson has had her fair share of travels. Jackson said, “One summer, I got to go to Acadia National Park in Maine, Yosemite in California, Grand Teton in Wyoming. It seemed surreal that it was my job,” said Jackson. “It was hard work because we were trying to catch birds while we were there. So, you’d have to get up at 3 a.m. to do it, but all of a sudden, you’d be hiking and have this beautiful national park scenery.”
Whether you’re in her classroom or not, Jackson always has a way of looking out for students. Graygor said, “Dr. Jackson has helped me more times than I can count. She leaves menstrual products in the bathrooms, brings candy to class during stressful weeks, and is the first to reach out to students if something troubling happens on campus.”
A complementary box of menstrual products for people put out by Jackson. (Photo by Alyssa Richards)
On Jackson’s journey of sharing ecology with students and faculty alike, she takes time to step back and relax. “If I get frustrated or feel like I’m at my computer for too long, I can just walk out there,” said Jackson. “I don’t even have to spend a lot of time, but I just walk around, look at what’s going on, take a few pictures for Instagram. I just feel kind of like—a little happier, because I think, ‘Man, we did this!’ This was nothing and now it exists. And so then sometimes I can come back inside and keep working at my computer feeling better about it.”
Jackson posts updates on the Native Plant Garden on the @purchasecollegegarden Instagram account.