Jesse Davis, MEEd. serves as the Horticulture Program Coordinator for Lake County. Jesse is working to improve and expand the Master Gardener and horticulture programs in the County while continuing efforts to have the most positive impacts possible within the community.  Through the Master Gardener program, alongside volunteers, Jesse is working to increase the availability of University-based horticulture information to local non-profit, non-commercial community groups and private individuals. Jesse is striving to help the county and its residents connect to its local horticultural/garden resources through passion, education, science, and a commitment to the community.

Jesse comes to the University of Illinois Extension with extensive professional experience including horticulture, marine biology, ecology, research, program evaluation, environmental education, and interpretation. He has also dedicated his career to fostering people's love for the natural world through work with the USDA Forest Service in Alaska, Pacific Whale Foundation in Hawaii, Center for Environmental Education, Kenya Institute for Organic Farming, Global Environmental Management Program and Horticulture work with the Chicago Park District and its conservatories.

Originally from Minnesota, Jesse Davis has lived and studied all over the world, including Kenya, Australia, Alaska and Hawaii. Jesse started his educational career with Hennepin Technical College in the Twin Cities where he completed the Horticulture program.  Jesse then earned a bachelor’s degree in Resource Management: Environmental Education and Interpretation option at the University of Wisconsin Stevens Point, and a Master’s Degree in Environmental Education from the University of Minnesota Duluth. Jesse’s passion for plants, animals and the environment was fostered at an early age through nature-minded parents, fishing, excursions to the north woods, local nature centers, and Boundary Waters adventures. Today he enjoys fostering the same sense of wonder for the natural world in his two young boys while hiking, backpacking, camping, fishing, skiing, traveling, and exploring.