Board & Leadership

Board of Trustees

Chair Marcia Hall Brockett Vice Chair Randi Coopersmith Treasurer Mark Dowling Secretary Pete Elkin     President & CEO Ari Novy, PhD

Trustees  Martin Cassell John Clark, PhD Dave Claycomb John DeWald Martin Dickinson Ruben Flores-Saaib, PhD Marjorie Fox Roxana Foxx Andy Grant Janet Kister Vann Parker, PhD Arlene Prater Adam Robinson Jim Ruecker Suzy Schaefer Tim Wright

President and Chief Executive Officer

Ari Novy, PhD.

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.

Deputy CEO and Senior Director of Horticulture & Facilities

Brandi Eide

Brandi Eide is the Deputy Chief Executive Officer of San Diego Botanic Garden, where she is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the Garden’s horticulture and facilities. Prior to joining SDBG, she managed the science and garden departments at Springs Preserve, a 180 acre preserve and botanical garden in Las Vegas, NV; served as a museum scientist at University of California, Berkeley, Botanical Garden; and worked in several positions at Desert Botanical Garden, including managing the conservation collection. Brandi has developed and managed plant collections and databases, participated in field collection and restoration efforts for conservation status taxa, and in situ and ex situ research involving invasive and endemic monitoring. She has worked with seed collection, seed storage and testing, propagation of difficult taxa, and has led educational outreach, botanical and conservation interpretation and programming for the public.

Senior Director of Finance

Colleen Walsh, CPA

Colleen Walsh is a Certified Public Accountant with expertise in non-profit sector consulting, company start-ups and tax preparation. With experience as chief financial officer and controller, Colleen is adept at managing budgeting, invoicing, and financial reporting for a rapidly growing organization. Colleen has a bachelor’s degree from the University of California, Irvine. She also attended California State University, San Marcos, where she received additional education in accounting, tax and audits for the benefit of non-profit and small business sectors. 

Senior Director of Science & Conservation

Colin Khoury

Colin Khoury was born and raised in the coastal sage scrub and the avocado and citrus orchards of San Diego County. He obtained a Master of Science in plant genetic resource conservation from the University of Birmingham, UK, and a PhD in production ecology and resource conservation from Wageningen University in the Netherlands. He has held science and conservation positions at academic, nonprofit, industry, government, and international organizations across the US and in Italy and Colombia. Colin is thrilled to be back home, working for the conservation and use of plant diversity for people and for the planet.

Senior Director of Education, Membership & Visitor Services

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.

Senior Director of People & Culture

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.

Senior Director of Philanthropy & Communications

Lenise Andrade

Lenise Andrade has over 19 years experience in nonprofit fundraising for a variety of organizations, including many focused on environmental conservation, such as Heal the Bay, the San Diego Zoo, and WILDCOAST. She has also served as a fundraising consultant for I Love a Clean San Diego, Anza-Borrego Foundation, San Dieguito River Valley Conservancy and San Diego County Bicycle Coalition. Lenise has facilitated and led workshops on nonprofit management, fundraising, and leadership for numerous area fundraising programs and professional associations. She was a founding Board Member of the Young Nonprofit Professionals Network in San Diego, serves on the Public Policy and Advocacy Committee for Catalyst San Diego and Imperial Counties and the North County Philanthropy Council’s Board of Directors, and is a founding member of Women Give San Diego.