Welcoming Gwynne Ormsby to The Hickman Board of Directors

June 23, 2025

We are pleased to welcome Gwynne Ormsby to The Hickman Board of Directors. Gwynne brings a wealth of experience in horticultural therapy and a lifelong commitment to Quaker values, making her a wonderful addition to our leadership team.

Gwynne holds a Bachelor of Science degree in mathematics from Duke University and spent over two decades working at Melmark, a residential community for individuals with intellectual and physical disabilities. There, she developed and led a cottage industry growing dried flowers with adult program residents, offering both therapeutic and vocational engagement.

Later, she served as the Horticultural Therapist at Barclay Friends for eight years, where she designed and implemented healing gardens and created personalized therapeutic programs for residents.

A lifelong Quaker, Gwynne believes that a productive lifestyle supports each person’s humanity. She finds great joy and meaning in mentoring the youth of her Quaker Meeting, where she has launched a tree planting initiative to inspire environmental stewardship. Together, they collect seeds, nurture seedlings in a community nursery, and eventually plant the trees on Meeting grounds, ensuring that each child has a living legacy to care for.

We are honored to have Gwynne’s thoughtful leadership and passion for purposeful living as part of our board.