Jimmy Friery

“A mountain climber may be close to freezing, utterly exhausted, in danger of falling into a bottomless crevasse, yet he wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.”
—Martin Seligman

A native of Ventura County, Jimmy Friery earned his bachelor’s degree in history from University of California, Santa Barbara. While in college, he developed a deep appreciation for the unique natural world between the Santa Ynez Mountains and the Pacific Ocean. Prior to joining Santa Barbara Botanic Garden, he spent nearly five years just down Mission Canyon at the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History in many roles including exhibits, butterflies, and membership. Jimmy now enjoys welcoming members to the Garden and stewarding its rich space of native plants, history, and community.

When not at work, you can find him going for a sunset run, exploring a new spot along the California coast, or playing with his cats.