The University of Arizona Campus Arboretum is comprised of woody plants located on the nearly 400 acre main campus in the heart of Tucson, AZ. Many of those woody plants are the product of Land-Grant research addressing state needs: initially addressing the 19th century need for an agricultural base to the Arizona Territory and later, responding to the 20th century need for resource-conscious landscapes as a result of increased urbanization and environmental concern. The Campus Arboretum was formally established in 2002 as an incarnation of this Land Grant mission, with the specific goal of perpetuating the legacy of using the campus grounds in service to the state. The modern Campus Arboretum is a living laboratory providing campus leadership in the construction of landscapes that prioritize research, create educational programming opportunities, and support community outreach. By weaving research, education and outreach into the physical grounds, the benefit of campus green space is optimized and the university better serves as a model of responsible urban stewardship needed by arid cities worldwide. This talk will feature examples of Campus Arboretum initiatives that enhance research, education and outreach for the campus community and beyond.