Board & Leadership

Board of Directors

Chair Randi Coopersmith Vice Chair Dave Claycomb Treasurer Alana Asmussen Secretary Vann Parker, PhD

Directors Jason Baltimore Martin Cassell John DeWald Martin Dickinson Mark Dowling Ruben Flores-Saaib, PhD Brendan Foote Roxana Foxx Andy Grant Janet Kister Chana Mannen Arlene Prater Adam Robinson Jim Ruecker

President and Chief Executive Officer

Ari Novy, Ph.D.

Dr. Ari Novy is President and Chief Executive Officer of the San Diego Botanic Garden. He is a plant biologist with a wide range of expertise in plant science and education. In addition to his role at the Garden, Dr. Novy is an active researcher, holding an appointment as Adjunct Associate Professor at Salk Institute for Biological Studies. He is the author of numerous peer-reviewed scientific papers and regularly speaks on various horticultural and botanical topics nationally and internationally. He is the founding co-chair of the Food and Agriculture Professional Section of the American Public Gardens Association. Dr. Novy has served on task forces and advisory panels for diverse groups including the White House Council on Environmental Quality, the Cornell Alliance for Science, Botanic Garden Conservation International, Rock Creek National Park, the Garden Club of America, the European and Mediterranean Plant Protection Organization, and many others. He has a deep passion for translating science into best management practices and public education. He is immensely proud of having been a science advisor for the most recent seasons of The Magic School Bus. For his complete bio, click here.

Chief Operations and Experience Officer

Tomoko Kuta

Tomoko Kuta has been an Encinitas resident for over 20 years but she was born in Japan and has lived in four different countries and major cities including London, Chicago, New York, Paris and Tokyo. She has expressed her multicultural and multilingual experiences throughout her career by working in non-profit organizations that serve diverse audiences and engaging visitors through a variety of programs. After over twenty-five years working in museums helping multiple organizations to grow, Tomoko joined San Diego Botanic Garden where she channels her skills to produce informative and interactive opportunities in the areas of Education, Visitor Services and Membership. Tomoko received a BS from Cornell University and an MA from the University of Chicago. She is an active member of the local and non-profit communities: with her family, she regularly volunteers for different organizations in San Diego and she is currently President of the California Association of Museums’ Board of Directors.

Chief Admin & Culture Officer

Jill Gardner

Jill Gardner grew up overseas, living in seven countries before coming back to the states for college. She then worked for the Department of Defense and Department of State as an overseas security specialist and investigator. When Jill moved to San Diego, she entered into the Human Resources field taking advantage of her multi-cultural experiences and investigative background. She came to San Diego Botanic Garden in 2016 to create a cohesive Volunteer Program. After two years, she was given the opportunity to expand into also creating an HR Department, offering focused attention on staff needs and development. Jill continues to value her role at the Garden with great respect for the staff and volunteers for whom she is fortunate to offer support.