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

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.

Craig Huegel

Assistant Director

Botanical Gardens
  • Directs Gardens plant acquisitions, maintenance and propagation
  • Supervises and provides support to Gardens staff
  • Directs the overall operations, direction and strategic planning for the Botanical Gardens collections

Australia Manning

Australia Manning

Operations Manager

Environmental Conservation Outreach, Research, and Education (ECORE) System
  • Provides direction to the overall financial operations of the Botanical Gardens
  • Supervises and provides support to Gardens Temporary and Federal Work Study staff
  • Monitors and maintains purchasing initiatives and budgets
  • Member of the USF Burn Team

Frank Manna

Frank Manna

Superintendent of Grounds

Botanical Gardens
  • Directs the overall maintenance of the grounds and facilities at the Gardens
  • Directs the structural and grounds improvements at the Gardens
  • Supervises grounds staff and grounds volunteers at the Gardens

Tom Cook

Tom Cook

Senior Groundskeeper

Botanical Gardens
  • Assists with the daily maintenance of the grounds and facilities at the Gardens
  • Assists with the structural and grounds improvements at the Gardens

Kimberly Boucireb

Kimberly Boucireb

Senior Groundskeeper/Gardener

Botanical Gardens
  • Manages plant collections
  • Oversees plant propagation
  • Coordinates all interns, regular volunteers, and special event volunteers

Leila Sujanani

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