Meet the Staff
Arboretum Manager
Brett Hall — Manager; Director of Horticulture and Living Collections
Phone: 427-2998, voicemail ext: 123
Email:
I was born and raised along the Central California coast, mostly in the Monterey Bay region. In the early 70's, I worked at my family's landscaping and garden design business. I was an undergrad at UCSC and worked at the Arboretum, graduating with a BA in Natural History and Biology. I started on the staff in October 1975 and became garden manager in 1976. My duties have evolved over the past 30 years into my current position. I oversee the horticultural staff and my role with that is increasingly as an advisor/coach, as well as working to get them the resources they need to succeed. I am continuing to play an active role in the development of many of our collections and have traveled overseas and throughout the West to accomplish this. I have been very fortunate to spend 30 years working in the Arboretum developing collections, planting gardens, and working with our wonderful group of staff, students and volunteers. My special interests include many of our collections but I plan on focusing considerable effort in the development of our native plant program and the California Province Gardens. I enjoy working with dedicated volunteers who have a genuine interest in botany and horticulture. [Brett is now President of the California Native Plant Society.
Administrative/Programs/Education Staff
Susie Bower — Administrative Operations Manager
Phone: 427-2998, voicemail ext: 102
Email:
As a new student, I "found" the Arboretum in 1977. Seeing the strange blooms, I literally ran back to upper campus, thinking I had stumbled on a secret alien experiment. In January, 2000, I took the Volunteer Training classes and began propagating, helping at events and plant sales, volunteering at Norrie's, and serving on the Arboretum Associates Board. I was hired at the Arboretum in Spring 2002. Currently, I coordinate office functions such as phones and walk-ins, accounts payable and receivable, memberships and gifts. I also help coordinate volunteers for events, plant sales, and the numerous volunteer programs at the Arboretum.
Stephen McCabe — Director of Education, Coordinator of Research, Curator of Succulents
Phone: 427-2998, voicemail ext: 105
Email:
I have enjoyed sharing my enthusiasm for plants starting at a young age, then through work as a naturalist in Pinnacles, Año Nuevo, and Yosemite, and since 1985 here at the Arboretum. Part of the satisfaction I get from work here are the successes achieved by the wonderful community of volunteers, students, and staff working towards a common goal. We work on tours, signs, the website, educational events, the library, native plants, and succulents. We raise money through plant sales and the Dried Flower and Succulent Wreath Sale.
I coordinate Arboretum research done by students and professors from UCSC and other institutions. I help TAs and professors use the garden for classes. I write grants, press releases, and for publications. My horticultural and conservation research is on natives and succulents, and my botanical research is on the genus Dudleya. I have taught UCSC courses
Katie Cordes — Administrative Assistant
After many years working at a local bookstore I was thrilled to join the Arboretum staff in April of 2008. My mom has always been an avid gardener and my love of plants began as a child while helping out in her beautiful vegetable gardens. Spending time in the Santa Cruz mountains as a young adult I also developed a great fondness for California natives, trees in particular, and decided to pursue a degree in Biology from UCSC. I work mainly with membership and other administrative tasks here at the Arboretum but always try to get out into the gardens and learn something new about the rare and wonderful plants in the collection. I hope to someday get involved in the California Province collection as circumstances allow.
Curatorial Staff
Helen Englesburg — Nursery Manager
Phone: 427-2998, voicemail ext.: 121
Email:
I graduated from UCSC in 1991 with a BA in Biology with an emphasis on plant sciences. I began working at the Arboretum in 1984 as a student employee. In 1989, I was hired to do propagation and manage the nursery. My responsibilities include propagating and raising plants for the gardens and collections, especially the Australian and South Africa Gardens. I work with a wonderful group of volunteers, propagating and growing plants sold at Norrie's and at Arboretum plant sales. I also coordinate volunteer work sessions in Ruth and Shirleys' Flower Garden, our cut flower garden. I also work with Stephanie and the local chapter of the California Rare Fruit Growers in maintaining and caring for the Rare Fruit Garden.
Melinda Kralj — Curator of Australian Collection
Phone: 427-2998, voicemail ext.: 124
Email:
I graduated from UCSC in 1978 with degrees in Biology & Art. I worked at San Lorenzo Garden Center for over a decade. While working at the nursery, I began volunteering at the Arboretum, and was hired in 1989. I take care of the Australian Collections. Most of my time is devoted to the Slosson Gardens and the Banksia Field. This year (2006) we will begin exciting and challenging work on an Australian Rock Garden. In the future, I would like to devote more time and energy to give the Eucalyptus Grove the attention it deserves. Every Thursday morning, a dedicated, hard-working group of volunteers called the "Aussie Weeders" contribute their hard work and creativity to making the Australian garden more beautiful.
Thomas Sauceda — Curator of New Zealand Collection
Phone: 427-2998, voicemail ext.: 126
Email:
I received a Bachelor of Arts in the fields of Biology, and Environmental Studies, UCSC 1985; and subsequently studied Spanish at Cabrillo College. I began to work at the Arboretum as a student in 1981. I became the Curator of the New Zealand Collection in 1987. My work involves all aspects of the New Zealand collection, which includes the Ed Landel's New Zealand Garden. This involves anything from noxious weed removal to giving tours of the garden. I am also involved with the development and maintenance of the Chilean Collection. I have traveled to New Zealand and Chile to collect plants and to gain a better understanding of native plant communities. I oversee students and volunteers that work on garden maintenance—mowing, weeding, pruning, irrigation, plantings, and nursery work—potting, propagation, and more. I am very grateful for all their hard work and always welcome more help.
Rick Flores — Curator of California Natives Collection
Phone: 427-2998, voicemail ext.: 122
Email:
I began working at the Arboretum during my senior year at UCSC. In 1997, I graduated with a degree in Environmental Studies. After a few years of doing general garden maintenance, I was named to my current title. My job includes all aspects of the care and maintenance of the California native plant gardens and nursery; including collection and propagation of native plants from the wild, acquisition of native plants through nurseries, garden design, labeling and record keeping. Opportunities for volunteers within the Native Plant Program include helping to maintain the gardens and cultivating plants in the nursery.
Francis Campbell — Facilities Manager, Assistant Curator
Phone: 427-2998, voicemail ext.: 128
Email:
Amongst other things, I owned and operated a small plant nursery growing orchids, carnivorous plants and tropical plants before joining the Arboretum. I started at the Arboretum as a volunteer in 1998 and was then hired as Assistant Curator in September of 2004. I take care of the facilities and special collections. I have been collecting and growing a wide range of plants for 33 years, especially carnivorous plants, orchids, tropical plants, bulbs, and forbs of other geographic areas. My other interest included raising and breeding reptiles and tropical fish. Volunteers that work with me at the Arboretum tend to help on heavier labor projects.
Stephanie Hudson — Nursery Manager Assistant
Phone: 427-2998, voicemail ext: 125
Email:
I grew up between two of my family's farms, a U-Pick in Pescadero (just North of Santa Cruz) and vineyard in Redwood Valley (in Mendocino County), which led to my studying Biology at UCSC and receiving a BA in the field in 1997. A couple of years after graduating, I took a job working with insect pests at the Agricultural Commissioner's Office. I had the winters off, so I started volunteering in the Arboretum's Nursery and the New Zealand garden. The following year, I discovered the essentially abandoned Rare Fruit Garden that had been installed in 1992 as a collaborative project between the Arboretum and the California Rare Fruit Growers. With Helen Englesburg's help, I began restoring it, adding to the collections, and recruiting volunteers for a monthly work day. I joined the Arboretum staff in August of 2006 and will continue working with Helen and volunteers in the Nursery and Rare Fruit Garden.
