Research Projects:
GPCA INDIVIDUAL MEMBER PROFILES AND CONTACT INFORMATION
Jim Affolter, Ph.D.
Director of Research
State Botanical Garden of Georgia
2450 S. Milledge Ave.
Athens, GA 30605-1604
706-542-6144; 706-542-3091 (fax)
affolter@uga.edu
Rare plant conservation, plant systematics, conservation education, medicinal plants
Jim is Director of Research at the State Botanical Garden and Assistant Professor of Horticulture at the University of Georgia. He received his B.S. from Williams College in 1973 and his M.S. and Ph.D. in Botany from the University of Michigan. Prior to joining the faculty of the University of Georgia, he held positions as Curator of the University of California Botanical Garden at Berkeley and Director of Cornell Plantation—the botanical garden, arboretum and natural areas of Cornell University. His primary research interests include rare plant conservation, medicinal herbs, and environmental education. Dr. Affolter has been involved in rare plant research and education programs for over a decade. He currently serves as Chair of the Georgia Plant Conservation Alliance.
Heather Alley
Plant Conservation Program Lab Coordinator
State Botanical Garden of Georgia
2450 S. Milledge Ave.
Athens, GA 30605-1604
706-542-6448; 706-542-3091 (fax)
alley@uga.edu
Restoration, reintroduction, Echinacea laevigata, project coordinator for the Botanical Guardians
Jim Allison
Botanist
GA Dept. of Natural Resources
2117 US Highway 278 SE
Social Circle, GA 30025
706-557-3032, or 770-918-6411; 706-557-3033 (fax)
Jim_Allison@dnr.state.ga.us
GA Natural Heritage Program, floristic surveys, special expertise with pteridophytes, graminoids, composites, mosses and liverworts
Jon Ambrose
Program Manager
GA Dept. of Natural Resources
2117 US Highway 278 SE
Social Circle, GA 30025
770-918-6411, or 706-557-3032; 706-557-3033 (fax)
jon_ambrose@dnr.state.ga.us
GA Natural Heritage Program, natural community surveys, rare species (plant and animal) surveys, landscape- and watershed-conservation planning, natural area protection
John Averett
Professor
Department of Biology
Georgia Southern University
PO Box 8042
Statesboro, GA 30460-8042
912-871-1586; 912-681-0845 (fax)
averett@gsvms2.cc.gasou.edu
Plant systematics, restoration ecology, live oaks, Solanaceae
Tracy Barlow-McClendon
Education Director
Atlanta Botanical Garden
1345 Piedmont Avenue NE
Atlanta, GA 30309
404-591-1542; 404-876-7472(fax)
tmcclendon@atlantabotanicalgarden.org
Education programming, general gardening, useful plant lore
Hank Bruno
Trail Manager
The Gardens at Callaway
P.O. Box 2000
Pine Mountain, GA 31822
706-663-5020; 706-663-5049 (fax)
hlbruno@callawaygardens.com
Ethnobotany, plant ecology, horticultural use of native plants, plant conservation, Torreya taxifolia
Hank earned undergraduate degrees in Botany and Anthropology from Duke University in 1976. Following Peace Corps service in Guatemala and two years of archeological fieldwork in the southeastern United States he entered graduate school at Texas A&M University. Working full-time as a landscape maintenance supervisor, he received his MA in 1988 with research in Ethnobotany. He arrived at Callaway Gardens in October 1991 where he cares for wildflowers and woody ornamental plant collections as the Trails Manager.
Richard Carter, Ph.D.
1040 Biology-Chemistry Building
Biology Department
Valdosta State University
Valdosta, GA 31698-0015
229-333-5759, ext. 5763
rcarter@valdosta.edu
Botany, plant morphology, plant systematics, floristics, weed biology
Professor Richard Carter is a botanist and received his M.S. degree from the Mississippi State University and his Ph.D from Vanderbilt University. Dr. Carter is Curator of the Herbarium. He is particularly interested in systematic and floristic botany. His research is focused on systematic and floristic studies of the sedge genera Cyperus and Eleocharis; the flora of the coastal plain of Georgia; and the identification, distribution, and biology of weeds. "I am interested in systematics of sedges, especially Cyperus and Eleocharis (Cyperaceae); flora of the Georgia coastal plain; and distribution, dispersal, and biology of weeds. In addition to field-oriented ecological and herbarium studies, my research in sedge systematics has involved anatomy and use of scanning electron microscopy to analyze surface features of leaves, stems, pollen grains and fruits. I have published research articles on floristic and systematic botany and have received research funding from a variety of sources."
Jennifer Ceska
Conservation Coordinator
State Botanical Garden
2450 S. Milledge Ave.
Athens, GA 30605-1624
706-542-6448; 706-542-3091 (fax)
jceska@uga.edu
Propagation, monitoring, restoration, environmental education, Georgia Endangered Plant Stewardship Network, Southeast Rare Plant Information Network
Jennifer is Conservation Coordinator for the State Botanical Garden and statewide coordinator for the Georgia Plant Conservation Alliance. She received an M.S. in Horticulture from the University of Georgia in 1994. She was the 1994 recipient of the Catherine Beattie Fellowship for horticulture conservation awarded by the Center for Plant Conservation and the Garden Club of America, which allowed her to travel to six botanical gardens with well-established conservation programs to study their work. In 2000, Jennifer received the Professional Citation from the American Association of Botanical Gardens and Arboreta for her work in conservation. Her research interests include habitat restoration, monitoring, propagation, and environmental education.
Kim Coder, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Forest Resources
UGA Extension Forest Resources
School of Forest Resources 4-436
Athens, GA 30602-4356
706-542-3446; 706-542-3342 (fax)
kcoder@uga.edu
Forest ecology, environmental management, endangered plants
Kim is Associate Professor of Forest Resources and Extension Forester, the University of Georgia, and faculty of Institute of Environmental Management, Tblissi, Republic of Georgia.
Patricia L. Collins
Director of Education
The Gardens at Callaway
P.O. Box 2000
Pine Mountain, GA 31822
706-663-5155; 706-663-6720 (fax)
plcolli@callawaygardens.com
Gardens interpretation, symposia and workshop facilitator, internship program coordinator, teaching school programs, guiding hikes and tours
Patricia is Director of Education, Callaway Gardens, horticultural interpretation as applied to native Georgia plants, both herbaceous and woody, and wildlife habitat.
Rachel Crumbley
Public Relations Manager
Callaway
P.O. Box 2000
Pine Mountain, GA 318222
706-663-5187; 706-663-5068 (fax)
rcrumbley@callawaygardens.com
GPCA Public Information Committee, film crew contact
Jennifer Cruse-Sanders, Ph.D.
Graduate Student
UGA Plant Biology Department
Miller Plant Sciences Bldg.
Athens, GA 30602-7271
706-542-0281; 706-542-1805 (fax)
cruse@dogwood.botany.uga.edu
Floristic surveys, monitoring, allozyme analysis, medicinal plants, historic species manual
Ron Determann
Conservatory and Conservation Director
Atlanta Botanical Garden
1345 Piedmont Avenue NE
Atlanta, GA 30309
404-591-1714; 404-876-7472 (fax)
rdetermann@atlantabotanicalgarden.org
Glasshouse management and maintenance, horticulture, conservation and restoration of nutrient-poor bog habitats and species, in particular carnivorous plants, orchids and woody species, botanical gardens (horticulture of tropical/temperate groups, including
palms, conifers, carnivorous plants and orchids)
Ron is the Conservatory and Conservation Director at the Atlanta Botanical Garden. Graduating in horticulture from the University of Florida in 1984, Ron has worked for a number of botanic gardens and private individuals within the U.S. His special areas of knowledge and expertise are orchids, carnivorous plants and conifers. Employed at ABG in 1987, he coordinated the construction of the Dorothy Chapman Fuqua Conservatory and the new Fuqua Orchid Center and developed ABG's plant collections and Conservation Program.
Don Drapalik
Associate Professor of Biology
GA Southern University
P.O. Box 8042
Statesboro, GA 30460
912-681-5494
don_drap@gasou.edu
Elliottia projects, ecology
Ken Fahey
Biology teacher
N. Forsyth High School
3635 Coal Mountain Rd.
Cummings, GA 30040
770-781-6637; 770-781-2273 (fax)
KenFahey@aol.com
Bog turtle expert
Willard Fell
Senior Forester
Georgia Forest Commission
18899 US Highway 301 N.
Statesboro, GA 30461
912-681-0490; 912-871-1719 (fax)
wfell@gfc.state.ga.us
Fire management, Elliottia
David Giannasi, Ph.D.
Director of Herbarium
UGA Plant Sciences Department
Miller Plant Sciences Bldg.
Athens, GA 30602-7271
706-542-1823; 706-542-1805 (fax)
giannasi@dogwood.botany.uga.edu
Biochemical systematics, both macro- and micromolecular, floristic inventories
Dr. Giannasi is Associate Professor and Director of Herbarium, University of Georgia Department of Botany; biochemical systematics, both macro- and micromolecular; floristic inventories.
Mary Jo Godt, Ph.D.
Assistant Research Scientist
Department of Plant Biology
University of Georgia
Athens GA, 30602-7223
706-542-0290; 706-542-1805 (fax)
godt@dogwood.botany.uga.edu
Population genetics, conservation biology' bog restoration, Elliottia racemosa
Dr. Godt is an assistant research scientist in the University of Georgia Botany Department. Research interests include plant conservation genetics, the genetic consequences of fragmentation of natural plant populations, and investigation of factors (particularly mating systems, gene flow and ecological correlates) that affect the genetic structure of plant populations. Rare plant species found in the Southeastern U.S. have been the recent focus of research in Godt's laboratory.
Robin Goodloe, Ph.D.
Biologist
US Fish & Wildlife Service
380 Meigs St.
Athens, GA 30601
706-613-9493; 706-613-6059 (fax)
robin_goodloe@fws.gov
Endangered species specialist, use of native plants in cultivation, extermination and control of exotic invasive species
Tom Govus
Field Botanist
3711 Big Creek Rd
Ellijay, GA 30540
706-276-3360
tgovus@ellijay.com
Field botanist, floristic surveys, habitat analysis, monitoring, endangered and threatened plants
Jim Hamrick, Ph.D.
Professor
Departments of Plant Biology and Genetics
University of Georgia
Athens GA, 30602-7223
706-542-1826; 706-542-1805 (fax)
hamrick@dogwood.botany.uga.edu
Plant evolutionary biology, population genetics
Dr. Hamrick is a professor staffed jointly in the Botany and Genetics Departments at the University of Georgia. Research interests include plant conservation genetics, the genetic consequences of fragmentation of natural plant populations, and investigation of factors (particularly mating systems, gene flow and ecological correlates) that affect the genetic structure of plant populations. Hamrick's research includes population genetic studies on tropical and temperate trees, columnar cacti and invasive plant species.
Carol Helton
Conservation Coordinator
Atlanta Botanical Garden
1345 Piedmont Ave.
Atlanta, GA 30309
404-591-1719; 404-876-7472 (fax)
chelton@atlantabotanicalgarden.org
Habitat restoration, ex situ/in situ conservation of rare and endangered plant species
Misty Herrin
Public Relations Coordinator
State Botanical Garden of Georgia
2450 S. Milledge Avenue
Athens, GA 30605
706-542-6151; 706-542-3091 (fax)
gardenpr@uga.edu
GPCA Public Information Committee, graphic art design
Malcolm Hodges
Conservation Ecologist
The Nature Conservancy
1330 W. Peachtree St. Suite 410
Atlanta, GA 30309
404-253-7211; 404-873-6984 (fax)
mhodges@tnc.org
Conservation of rare and endangered species, biological monitoring, ecological management and restoration, conservation planning
Malcolm is the Conservation Ecologist at TNC's Georgia Field Office in Atlanta. He is responsible for management and restoration at TNC preserves and managed lands in Georgia, works on conservation planning for important sites and landscapes, is one of two TNC fire leaders in Georgia, and supervises the state Land Steward. He also monitors populations of rare plants and animals on lands in which TNC has an interest throughout the state.
Carol Hoffman, Ph.D.
Curator of Education and Outreach
Georgia Museum of Natural History
University of Georgia
Athens, GA 30602
706-542-2280; 706-542-3920 (fax)
and
Institute of Ecology—UGA
Athens, GA 30602
706-542-6015
hoffman@uga.edu
K-12 education, genetic resources, Cucurbitaceae
John Jensen
Herpetologist
DNR Nongame Endangered Wildlife
116 Rum Creek Drive
Forsyth, GA 31029
478-994-1438; 478-993-3050
john_jensen@mail.dnr.state.ga.us
Herpetologist, mountain bogs, seepage bog interests, isolated depressional wetlands in the coastal plain
Nirmal Joshee, Ph.D.
Research Associate, Fort Valley State University
1005 State University Dr.
116 Stallworth Res. Bldg.
Fort Valley, GA 31030
478-825-6373; 478-825-6515 (fax)
josheen@mail.fvsu.edu
Plant tissue culture, medicinal plants (propagation and conservation)
Martha Joiner
16 Myrtle Lane
Statesboro, GA 30458
joiners@frontiernet.net
Propagation of endangered natives, Elliottia, Fothergilla gardenii, restoration ecology, bog habitats
Katherine Kirkman, Ph.D.
Associate Scientist
J.W. Jones Ecological Research Center
Rt 2 Box 2324
Newton, GA 31770
229-734-8850 (fax)
kkirkman@jonesctr.org
Lindera melissifolia, Schwalbea americana
Christi Lambert, Ph.D.
Director
Altamaha River Bioreserve (TNC)
P.O. Box 484
Darien, GA 31305
912-437-2161; 912-437-5368 (fax)
cllambert@tnc.org
Biogeography, ecology, planning
Geri Laufer
Public Relations Manager
Atlanta Botanical Garden
1345 Piedmont Avenue NE
Atlanta, GA 30309
404-876-5859 ext. 205; 404-876-7472 (fax)
glaufer@atlantabotanicalgarden.org
GPCA Public Information Committee, herbs, freelance garden writer, and columnist for Herb Companion and Floral Symbolism, author of Tussie-Mussies (Workman, 1993), dirt gardener, Shakespeare garden owner, chief of maintenance for Frog Holler in Roswell
Jeff Lewis, Ph.D.
Director
State Botanical Garden of Georgia
2450 S. Milledge Avenue
Athens, GA 30605
706-542-1244; 706-542-3091 (fax)
Botanical garden administration and management, environmental education, garden design
Ed McDowell
President
Georgia Native Plant Society
209 Cartwright Dr.
Bonaire, GA 31005
478-929-1267
ed.mcdowell@cox.net
Amateur naturalist with interest in protecting natural heritage through re-location of endangered native flora to safe havens and projects involving site restoration and research
Wayne Morris, Ph.D.
Professor of Biology
North GA College & State University
Attn: Biology Department
Dahlonega, GA 30597
706-864-1954; 706-864-1668 (fax)
wmorris@ngcsu.edu
Systematics of Orchidaceae, floristics of southeastern United States, conservation biology of vascular plants
Michael Wayne Morris is Professor of Biology at North Georgia College & State University where he teaches general botany, general biology, plant diversity, and plant systematics. He earned his Ph.D. in botany from the University of Florida. Wayne conducts research in plant systematics and carries out floristic studies primarily in the states of Georgia and Mississippi.
Elaine Nash
Georgia Native Plant Society
einash33@bellsouth.net
Native grasses
Carol and Hugh Nourse
Nourse Plant Photos
320 Ashton Drive
Athens, GA 30606-1622
706-353-8222; 706-613-0415 (fax)
hnourse@earthlink.net
Semi-pro botanical photographers with interest in native plants and conservation, represent the GA Botanical Society
John B. Pascarella, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Biology
Department of Biology
Valdosta State University
Valdosta, GA 31698
229-333-5766 (office); 229-245-3757 (lab); 229-245-6585 (fax)
chiron.valdosta.edu/jbpascar
Plant ecology, demography, pollination ecology
Associate Professor John B. Pascarella received his Ph.D. from the University of Miami (Florida) in Biology and his B.S. in Systematics and Ecology from the University of Kansas. He is a plant ecologist who studies plant population and community dynamics and plant-animal interactions in southeastern pine forests, the Everglades, and tropical forests in Puerto Rico. Current research includes studies of pollinator biodiversity in coastal plain longleaf pine forests, the evolutionary ecology of two sympatric Gelsemium (Carolina Jessamine) species, and the demography of an endangered beach vine (Jacquemontia reclinata) in South Florida. "I am interested in pollination biology, fire ecology, plant demography, and restoration ecology, including both theory and application."
Tom Patrick
Botanist
Georgia Natural Heritage Program
GA Department of Natural Resources
2117 US Highway 278 SE
Social Circle, GA 30025
706-557-3032 or 770-918-6411; 706-557-3033 (fax)
tom_patrick@dnr.state.ga.us
Georgia Natural Heritage Program, rare plants of GA, restoration and protection of natural areas, site specific data on rare plant populations, plant collecting permits for protected species, plans state-funded/federally funded research and status survey projects
Cindy Reittinger
Interpretive Specialist, Georgia State Parks & Historic Sites
2 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive
Suite 1352
Atlanta, GA 30334
404-657-0029; 404-651-5871 (fax)
Cindy_Reittinger@mail.dnr.state.ga.us
Support state parks interpretive efforts, coordinate Survey of Protected Species in State Parks, issue collection and research permits for state parks, State Parks Coordinator for Garden Club's Parks and Public Lands Beautification Program
Meredeth Renfroe
Landscape Area Manager, Meadowlark Gardens
The Gardens at Callaway
P.O. Box 2000
Pine Mountain, GA 31822
706-663-5020; 706-663-5049 (fax)
mcrenfr@callawaygardens.com
Native plant ecology, GPCA Torreya project
After graduating from the University of Georgia with a B.S.A. in Ornamental Horticulture in 1996, Meredith Renfroe was named Curator of the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Trail at The Gardens at Callaway. In 2002 her job expanded to include overseeing the Garden's collection of Hollies, Camellias, and Rhododendron. Her primary interests revolve around educating the public about native plants and the conservation of threatened and endangered plants, such as Torreya taxifolia, and habitats, such as the longleaf pine-wiregrass forest.
George A. Rogers, Ph.D.
Professor Emeritus
Georgia Southern University
402 Catherine Avenue
Statesboro, GA 30458
912-681-3147
Studying history of Elliottia, specializing in early botanic explorers
John Ruter, Ph.D.
Professor of Horticulture
Coastal Plain Experiment Station
Box 74 Moore Highway
Tifton, GA 31793-0748
912-386-3907; 912-386-3356 (fax)
ruter@uga.edu
Nursery crop production, container production systems, container fertility management, weed control, plant growth regulators, heat stress physiology, evaluation of native and non-native plants for Georgia landscapes
Dr. John M. Ruter is a Professor in the Department of Horticulture at the University of Georgia Coastal Plain Experiment Station in Tifton. Dr. Ruter has research and extension responsibilities for nursery crop production in Georgia with research being conducted on production systems, fertilization practices, weed control, plant growth regulation, heat stress physiology, and evaluation of native and exotic plants for use in Georgia landscapes. Tea oil camellia (Camellia oleifera) is being evaluated as a new oil crop for Georgia. He currently serves as chairman for the development of the Coastal Plain Research Arboretum in Tifton.
Anne Shenk
Director of Education
State Botanical Garden of Georgia
2450 South Milledge Avenue
Athens, GA 30605
706-542-6158; 706-542-3826 (fax)
ashenk@uga.edu
Teacher training, development of student curricular materials
Anne has served as the Director of Education at the State Botanical Garden of Georgia since 1985. Prior to coming to the Garden she taught, directed, and designed environmental education programs in New York, Rhode Island, Colorado, the South Pacific, and Georgia. Anne Received her M.A. in Science Education from the University of Northern Colorado in 1978. Her expertise lies in the development of programs that use the outdoors in creative ways to teach ecosystem concepts, causes of endangerment and appropriate stewardship actions. In 1996, she and Jennifer Ceska started the Georgia Endangered Plant Stewardship Network to train teachers to propagate native wildflowers and endangered species for their school site. Her interests include environmental education, endangered plant education, school site development, gardening with children and environmental puppetry arts.
Jonathan Streich
Georgia Prescribed Fire Council
917 Chartley Drive
Lilburn, GA 30047
770-279-1748
jstreich@mindspring.com
Natural areas management, environmental education, conservation planning, prescribed fire
Jim Sullivan
Field Botanist
Rt. 3 Box 3952
Toccoa, GA 30577
706-886-8265
jsullivan@hartcom.net
Upper Piedmont woodland and glade communities, Echinacea laevigata, Aster georgianus
Dena Thompson
Biologist (Endangered Species)
DPW Fish & Wildlife Branch
1557 Frank Cochran Drive
Ft. Stewart, GA 31314-4928
912-767-1508; 912-767-9344 (fax)
dena.thompson@us.army.mil
Pollination ecology of Elliottia racemosa
Now working at Ft. Stewart on fire regimes for Elliottia, Colorado State University Research Associate, also works locally.
Dorset Trapnell
Population Genetics Graduate Student
Department of Plant Biology
University of Georgia
Athens GA, 30602-7223
706-542-3732; 706-542-1805 (fax)
dorset@dogwood.botany.uga.edu
Herbaceous epiphytes, scientific illustration
Eric E. Van De Genachte
Ecologist
Georgia Department of Natural Resources
Georgia Natural Heritage Program
2117 US Hwy 278 SE
Social Circle, GA 30025
770-918-6411, 706-557-3032; 706-557-3033 (fax)
eric_vandegenachte@dnr.state.ga.us
Doug Watson
Biological Technician
USDA Forest Service
P.O. Box 1960
Clarkesville, GA 30523
706-754-6221; 706-754-1021 (fax)
dwatson@fs.fed.us
Wildlife and fisheries management, bog restoration
Cindy Wentworth
Forest Ecologist/Botanist
US Forest Service
P.O. Box 9
Blairsville, GA 30514
706-745-6928; 706-745-7494 (fax)
cwentworth@fs.fed.us
Rare species biologist, analysis of effects of forest management on rare plants and animals, conservation of rare plants and habitat on Forest Service land, bog restoration, Echinacea laevigata
Anand K. Yadav, Ph.D.
Professor, Fruit Biotechnology, Agricultural Research Station
Fort Valley State University
1005 State University Drive
Fort Valley, GA 31030-4313
478-825-6830; 478-825-6376 (fax)
yadav@mail.fvsu.edu
Peach, exotic fruits, medicinal plants biotechnology
Wendy Zomlefer, Ph.D.
Associate Research Scientist
Department of Plant Biology
University of Georgia
Athens, GA 30602
706-583-0389