2025 Nally Interns

For more than 30 years, the John Nally Internship has offered future horticulturists the opportunity to explore the career here at Wave Hill. The Nallies spend the growing year with us from roughly April–November in a hands-on apprenticeship and become skilled in the sustainable approaches used to manage a public garden.

Last month we welcomed the four enthusiastic and dedicated members of the 2025 cohort. Pictured above from left to right: Vic Borrero-Garcia, Simon Cleary, Mauren León, and Samantha Parry.

Vic Borrero-Garcia
Vic’s journey at Wave Hill began in the summer of 2021. They were crew leader for the Forest Project and in this position they led and taught a group of high school students ecological restoration in the Herbert & Hyonja Abrons Woodland. They returned the following summer as a senior crew leader guiding and aiding crew leaders with their students. During both summers Forest Project collaborated with the Horticulture department aiding them in projects around the gardens. These collaborations would later inspire Vic to apply to the John Nally internship. A few years after leaving Wave Hill they completed their Bachelors of Landscape Architecture at SUNY Environmental Science and Forestry. Through this internship they strive to join their background in Landscape Architecture and experience with ecological restoration with horticulture. In the future they hope to create meaningful and well informed designs that support both communities and local ecologies. 

Simon Cleary
Simon Cleary is stepping into the world of horticulture having spent the past 8 years as an Assistant Coach for the Columbia University Track and Field team, where he was in charge of the throwing events, and strength and conditioning. He has a bachelor's degree in both Anthropology and Political Science from the University at Albany and a Masters in Politics (Political Theory) from Brandeis University. An avid home gardener his interest in gardening and nature started in childhood working with his parents in their garden. Simon is interested in learning how to create gardens that work with their ecosystems, creating habitats to bring people and nature closer together. A few plants that bring him joy are Common Haircap Moss, Ferns of any variety, and old growth trees. 

Mauren León
Mauren brings an extensive background in design to her work as a John Nally Intern at Wave Hill. She spent years working as a graphic designer before building up a side business as a vintage clothing dealer and starting her own vintage boutique. A longtime hobby gardener, Mauren received a certificate in horticulture from the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, worked in interior horticulture with Greenery NYC, and is pursuing a certificate in therapeutic horticulture from the New York Botanical Garden to advance the next stage of her career. 

Samantha Parry
Samantha is proud to have been selected as a 2025 Nally Intern! After joining the volunteers at Brooklyn Botanic Garden last year, she realized that gardening could be more than a hobby, and is currently working on her Certificate of Horticulture. Samantha has always enjoyed visiting public gardens and spending time outdoors. She also maintains an abundance of tropical plants in her Brooklyn apartment. She believes that work at public gardens is important to inspire and educate those who don’t often interact with nature, and to increase interest in maintaining a balanced ecosystem.