Field Studies: Naomi Fraga, Ph.D.; Director of Conservation Programs (nfraga@calbg.org): Naomi joined the staff in 2001 and is responsible for programmatic leadership and management of the Conservation Program.  Naomi earned her Ph.D. and M.S. in Botany from Claremont Graduate University and her B.S. in Botany from Cal Poly Pomona.  Naomi is broadly interested in plant conservation and her research focus includes floristics, rare plant biology, reproductive biology, and systematics of monkeyflowers.  You can learn more about Naomi's research on her website.

Lab Studies: Carrie Kiel, Ph.D.; Lab Manager & Conservation Geneticist (ckiel@calbg.org): Carrie earned her doctoral degree from Claremont Graduate University (Class of 2016). Her dissertation was titled: "Unraveling relationships among the morphologically diverse and taxonomically complex ‘justicioid’ lineage (Acanthaceae) and the evolution of androecial form in New World Justicia".

Restoration Nursery: Billy Sale; Restoration Project Manager (bsale@calbg.org): Billy joined the Conservation Department in 2013 after completing her Masters Degree from the University of Hawaii at Manoa in Terrestrial Ecology. She currently manages the restoration staff and works in collaboration with the Seed Program and the Production Nursery. Her interests include restoration ecology, horticulture, and conservation.

Seed Conservation: Cheryl Birker; Seed Conservation Program Manager (cbirker@calbg.org): Cheryl has a degree in Biology with a concentration in Biodiversity, Ecology and Conservation Biology from California State University Fullerton. She started in May of 2014 as a seed collector for the BLM Seeds of Success Program, then worked in the Restoration Nursery growing native plants for restoration and mitigation projects. Cheryl has been managing the Seed Conservation Program since August 2016.