Who We Are
Staff
Contact the USF Botanical Gardens for general inquiries regarding the Gardens. For all other general inquiries, contact the ECORE System regarding all other properties and programs.
Nicole Brand
Director of Conservation and Greenspaces
Environmental Conservation Outreach, Research, and Education (ECORE) System
- Oversees the strategic direction of ECORE System properties - Botanical Gardens, GeoPark,
and Forest Preserve - in alignment with the USF Strategic Plan
- Identifies and coordinates interdisciplinary leadership teams to enhance botanical
and environmental conservation assets
- Approves and coordinates research usage on ECORE System properties
- Develops and coordinates the USF Burn Team
Craig Huegel, Ph.D.
Assistant Director
Botanical Gardens
- Directs Gardens plant acquisitions, maintenance and propagation
- Supervises and provides support to Gardens staff
- Provides overall direction to the Botanical Gardens collections
Australia Manning
Operations Manager
Environmental Conservation Outreach, Research, and Education (ECORE) System
- Provides overall direction to the Botanical Gardens programs
- Supervises and provides support to Gardens staff
- Directs Gardens plant acquisitions, maintenance and propagation
- Member of the USF Burn Team
Frank Manna
Superintendent of Grounds
Botanical Gardens
Tom Cook
Senior Groundskeeper
Botanical Gardens
Kimberly Boucireb
Senior Groundskeeper/Gardener
Botanical Gardens
- Manages plant collections
- Oversees plant propagation
- Coordinates all interns, regular volunteers, and special event volunteers
Leila Sujanani
Staff Assistant
Environmental Conservation Outreach, Research, and Education (ECORE) System
- Coordinates events and programs and assists with logistics
- Assists in operation of the plant shop
- Assists in the development of program related educational materials
- USF Burn Team member