Meet our team
Alexandra (Ali) Schuessler, M.S.
Lab Manager
Email: aschuessler@dbg.org
Root associated fungi in desert and riparian plants, and its influence and impact on restoration. Genomics of fungi and desert plants. Plant physiology of riparian and desert plants.
Andrew Salywon, PH.D.
Herbarium Curator and Research Botanist
Email: asalywon@dbg.org
Phone: 480.481.8107
Botanical inventories, endemic, rare and endangered plants of Arizona and the Sonoran Desert, molecular ecology, new crop development for arid-lands, and plant systematics using both traditional and molecular data
Aryn Musgrave, M.S.
GIS Manager
Email: amusgrave@dbg.org
Phone: 480.423.7010
As part of the Research, Conservation, and Collections team, I manage the enterprise geographic information system and oversee mapping of the plants in Desert Botanical Garden's living collection. In addition to mapping our living collection, I also support the department by collaborating on research projects and providing maps and spatial analysis for publications.
Beth Brand
Librarian
Schilling Library
Email: bbrand@dbg.org
Phone: 480.481.8133
Collections care and conservation, archiving and preservation of the Garden’s history
Brad Posch, Ph.D.
Post-Doctoral Research Scientist, Plant Eco-Physiology
Email: Bposch@dbg.org
Plant thermal tolerance and acclimation; leaf photosynthesis and respiration; chlorophyll fluorescence; plant physiological ecology and global change.
Challie Facemire, Ph.D.
Central Arizona Conservation Alliance Program Director
Email: cfacemire@dbg.org
Phone: 480.481.8167
Collaborative conservation, law and policy impacts on large-scale land management, cross boundary ecosystem and biodiversity conservation and management.
Dan F. Koepke, M.S.
Research Technician
Email: dkoepke@dbg.org
Phone: 480.941.1225
Plant-water relations, plant hydraulic systems, morphological and physiological investigation, histology and riparian restoration
Irene Dickinson, B.S.
Arizona Monarch Collaborative Coordinator
Email: idickinson@dbg.org
Butterfly ecology and conservation, monarch conservation, urban insect desert ecology, community science and outreach, and interagency communication
Joe Mcauliffe, PH.D.
Director Emeritus & Senior Research Scientist
Email: jmcauliffe@dbg.org
Phone: 480.481.8105
Soil-vegetation relationships in arid and semi-arid environments, ecology and conservation of semi-arid grasslands, development of long-lived clonal shrubs
Kevin R. Hultine, Ph.D.
Director of Research
Email: khultine@dbg.org
Phone: 480.481.8195
Water relations, photosynthesis and thermal tolerance of plants in arid and semi-arid regions; desert riparian plant ecology and conservation; population dynamics of desert shrubs,trees and cactus species.
Kim Pegram, Ph.D.
Program Director, Pollinator Conservation and Research
Email: kpegram@dbg.org
Phone: 480.481.8135
Butterfly ecology and conservation, monarch conservation, plant-insect interactions, butterfly and pollinator science outreach to encourage conservation action.
Kimberlie McCue, PH.D.
Chief Science Officer
Email: kmccue@dbg.org
Phone: 480.481.8137
Population ecology and genetics of rare plants, in situ and ex situ seed bank dynamics, invasive species, conservation science outreach and education
Kristen Kindl
Living Collections Specialist/HHCPS Project Manager
Email: kkindl@dbg.org
Phone: 480.481.2078
Databasing and accessioning the Garden’s Living Collections; production and placement of plant identification labels
Lane E. Butler, M.S.
Tonto National Forest Rare Plant Community Science Project Coordinator
Email: lbutler@dbg.org
Coordination of community science surveys for rare plants on the Tonto National Forest, rare plant research, endangered plant species conservation and restoration
Luis C. Romero, B.S.
Conservation Collections Research Assistant
Email: lromero@dbg.org
Developing horticulture and conservation practices for rare plants through tissue culture, In-situ and ex-situ plant conservation, Development of propagation and restoration techniques relating to native desert ecosystems, Ecosystems, ethnography, and botany of the southwest, Practical conservation science, education, and outreach.
MARISOL ORTIZ, B.S.
CAZCA Engagement Coordinator
Email: mortiz@dbg.org
Assist in the development of CAZCA programs, outreach events and social media strategies.
Michiel Pillet, B.S.
IUCN SSC Cactus and Succulent Plants Specialist Group Program Officer
Email: mpillet@dbg.org
Cactus conservation ecology, with a focus on the impacts of climate change and illegal trade. Developing connections between conservation stakeholders, including the horticultural community.
Natalie Melkonoff, B.S.
Plant and Insect Ecology Program Manager
Email: nmelkonoff@dbg.org
Phone: 480.941-3516
Plant-insect ecology, monarch conservation, native plant propagation, plant physiology, habitat restoration, science outreach
Raul Puente-Martinez, M.S.
Curator Of Living Collections, Research Botanist
Email: rpuente@dbg.org
Phone: 480.481.8110
Systematics of Opuntieae (Cactaceae), hybridization of prickly pears, floristics, use of native and low-water-use plants in landscaping
Ricardo Garcia, B.S.
Plant Materials Technician
Email: rgarcia@dbg.org
Phone: 480.941.3506
Native plant propagation and seed collection, pollinator ecology, habitat restoration and community outreach
Sarah Hunkins, B.S.
Herbarium Collections Manager
Email: shunkins@dbg.org
Phone: 480.418.8152
Curation, conservation and processing of the collections
Shannon D. Fehlberg, Ph.D.
Dorrance Family Foundation Conservation Biologist
Email: sfehlberg@dbg.org
Phone: 480.481.8143
Evolution and population genetics and genomics of rare plants and their relatives; distribution and historical biogeography; factors affecting genetic and species diversity; polyploidy and hybridization
Steven A. Blackwell, B.S.
Conservation Collections Manager
Email: sblackwell@dbg.org
Phone: 480.481.8175
Developing propagation techniques and protocols for rare plants, seed germination and viability studies of rare plants, habitat restoration and species reintroduction
Tania Hernandez, PH.D.
New World Succulents Cactus Scientist
Email: thernandez@dbg.org
Phone: 480.481.8129
Origin, evolution and diversification of succulent lineages with a focus on Cactaceae and Agavoideae
Wendy C. Hodgson, M.S
Herbarium Curator Emerita
Senior Research Botanist
Email: whodgson@dbg.org
Phone: 480.481.8108
Floristics of Southwestern United States, particularly Grand Canyon region, Cactaceae and Agavaceae systematics, ethnobotany of Sonoran Desert, invasive species, systematics of rare Southwestern plants
