13th Annual Santa Barbara Botanic Garden Conservation Symposium

Doug Tallamy, T.A. Baker Professor of Agriculture, University of Delaware & New York Times Best Selling Author

Our 2026 John C. Pritzlaff Conservation Award winner. Doug Tallamy is the T. A. Baker Professor of Agriculture in the Department of Entomology and Wildlife Ecology at the University of Delaware, where he has authored 115 research publications and has taught insect related courses for 45 years. Chief among his research goals is to better understand the many ways insects interact with plants and how such interactions determine the diversity of animal communities. His books include Bringing Nature Home, The Living Landscape, co-authored with Rick Darke, Nature’s Best Hope, a New York Times Best Seller, The Nature of Oaks, winner of the American Horticultural Society’s 2022 book award, and his latest book How Can I Help.    In 2021 he cofounded Homegrown National Park with Michelle Alfandari (HomegrownNationalPark.org). His awards include recognition from The Garden Writer’s Association, Audubon, The National Wildlife Federation, Allegheny College, Ecoforesters, The Garden Club of America, The Herb Society, and The American Horticultural Association.

Heather Schneider, Ph.D., Director of Conservation & Research, Santa Barbara Botanic Garden

Heather Schneider, Ph.D., is the Director of Conservation and Research at Santa Barbara Botanic Garden. Heather’s research interests and experience are in plant ecology, seed banks, conservation, invasive plants, and evolutionary biology. She earned a doctorate in botany and plant sciences from the University of California, Riverside, worked as an ecologist for the U.S. Geological Survey, and was a postdoctoral scholar at the University of California, Santa Barbara, before joining Santa Barbara Botanic Garden. Heather has been working to understand and protect the California flora since 2005. 

Zach Phillips, Ph.D. Terrestrial Invertebrate Conservation Ecologist, Santa Barbara Botanic Garden

Zach Phillips, Ph.D., is an ecologist, entomologist, and naturalist. As an invertebrate ecologist for Santa Barbara Botanic Garden, he studies invertebrate ecology and diversity in California, from the Channel Islands to residential backyards. He explores invertebrate communities associated with plants and those hidden in plain sight, including communities of insects and spiders that live in dead wood, bird nests, beach wrack, and ant colonies. Zach received his bachelor’s degree in zoology from University of California, Santa Barbara, and his doctorate in integrative biology from University of Texas at Austin, where his research focused on symbionts of ant colonies (“myrmecophiles”), including a miniature cockroach that lives with leaf-cutter ants, Attaphila fungicola, and an invasive ant-mimicking spider that feeds on ant heads, Falconina gracilis.

Alejandro Lemus, Horticultural Educator, Santa Barbara Botanic Garden

As the Garden’s horticultural educator, Alejandro develops and implements horticultural education programs for residential gardeners and professional landscapers. Born and raised in Los Angeles, he has fond memories of helping his family with their landscaping business. Gardening has instilled Alejandro’s appreciation and curiosity for the natural world, whether pulling weeds or stumbling upon new insect friends.

Alejandro graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles with a bachelor’s degree in biology with a focus in ecology and evolutionary biology. He has worked for land trusts, nature centers, and native plant nurseries, advocating California native plants. Alejandro comes to the Garden with experience in habitat restoration, landscaping, native plant nursery management, propagation, and education.

Helene Schneider, Board Chair, Santa Barbara Botanic Garden

Helene Schneider’s passion stems from connecting with leaders on complex policy issues to create positive results. She currently serves as the regional development director for California State University Channel Islands (CSUCI), expanding awareness and support of CSUCI in Santa Barbara County. She also works as a regional coordinator for the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness, focusing on reducing homelessness in communities throughout California and Arizona.

Helene served for over 17 years in municipal government, as mayor, city councilmember, and housing authority commissioner for the City of Santa Barbara. Additionally, in her previous role as a human resources management consultant, she developed and conducted various effective training programs for local businesses focusing on strategic planning, team building, and sexual harassment prevention. In addition to the Garden, she also serves on the Santa Barbara Arts Collaborative board.

Helene earned a certificate in executive leadership from Harvard Kennedy School of Government and a bachelor’s degree from Skidmore College. She loves beach walks, singing it out, and “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” — and believes that a good year requires a passport. 

Hugh Ranson, Home Gardener

A lifelong birder, Hugh Ranson’s love of wildlife gradually expanded to include dragonflies, butterflies, and ultimately the native plants that sustain them. Three years ago, he led an effort to transform a common area in his condo complex into a native plant garden. Since then, he’s witnessed an incredible response from local insects and arachnids, discovering something new almost every day.

Dean Noble, Executive Director, Elings Park

Dean Noble is the Executive Director of Elings Park in Santa Barbara. A Honolulu native, his marketing and management resume includes Universal Studios Japan in Osaka, the beautiful Santa Barbara Zoo, feature film development for ITC Entertainment in Los Angeles and representing an extensive roster of deceased celebrities at the Roger Richman Agency in Beverly Hills.