Dara is an Herbalist and Geographer with a passion for native plants, public lands, and community engagement.  She is the founder and primary instructor of the Albuquerque Herbalism bioregional herbal studies program and the author of the book The Ecology of Herbal Medicine (University of New Mexico Press).  She is a graduate of Dr. Tieraona Low Dog’s Foundations of Herbal Medicine Program and is currently a Geography and Environmental Studies PhD student focusing on plant-people relationships in a joint program at New Mexico State University and the University of New Mexico.  Additionally Dara has many years of fieldwork and resource management experience with the National Park Service and well as a long history of community volunteer service with the City of Albuquerque Open Space and the Bosque Ecosystem Monitoring Program (BEMP).  She is also a board member of the Native Plant Society Albuquerque Chapter, an instructor in UNM’s Holistic Health program, a mother, gardener, and lover of wild places.

Shannon Jones has a B.S. in Environmental Science and a M.S. in Earth and Planetary Science specializing in Climatology from the University of New Mexico. Her Master’s thesis analyzing climate model projections for the Southwest region was published in the Journal of Climate. Shannon’s interest in environmental science started while exploring the Bosque as a kid growing up in Albuquerque. Her interest in science and nature along with her passion for working with the community have lead her to pursue education outreach work in Albuquerque as well as Oaxaca, Mexico. Shannon currently lives in the North Valley and enjoys walking in the Bosque with her husband and their young son.

Kiley is an herbal student of 10 years with Albuquerque Herbalism with an ever growing love of the natural world around her. Originally born and raised in North Carolina, she grew up in the woods of the Appalachian and Blue Ridge Mountains camping and exploring with her family. Her family inspired her to learn and know about local plants around her. Today the exploration of the plants around her continues in New Mexico as she learns and passes on knowledge to her two children and family. She currently is active in the Yerba Mansa Project as Secretary and Newsletter Editor, and has also assisted with editing Plants of the Middle Rio Grande Bosque Field Guide and Restoration Field Days.

Jim McGrath has been a field botanist performing rare plant surveys, botanical inventories, and wetland delineations as a contract botanist for over 25 years. Jim has specialized in wetland plants, especially sedges in the genus Carex and in recent years he has collaborated with several others in studying the taxonomy of Carex. Jim is especially interested in the preservation of natural areas and is currently working with the Cibola National Forest to protect Little Water Canyon in the Zuni Mountains. On the Yerba Mansa Project Jim provides advice regarding plant identification and habitat characteristics of various plant species that may be used for YMP plantings. 

Akashia Allen earned a Bachelor of Arts in Biology from The Colorado College and a Masters of Science in Geography, specializing in Geographic Information Sciences, from The University of New Mexico. Her studies focused on the remote sensing of native plant species in southwest desert landscapes. She has worked with the National Park Service, the Native American Water Rights Settlement Project, and currently is a GIS Planner with Albuquerque Public Schools. Akashia loves running and hiking, being outside with her kids, and exploring in nature. She has a deep respect for and curiosity about Earth’s systems.

Admin Team:

Dara Saville: President, Director

Kiley Spurlock: Secretary

Casey Nairn-Mahan: Treasurer

Sarah Sheesley: Grant Writing Coordinator

Shannon Jones: Vice-President, Grant Writing

Outreach Coordinator: Vacant

Field Staff:

Aurora Craig-McBride: Restoration Site Caretaker, Team Coordinator

Hollis Moore: Restoration Site Caretaker

Jonathan Tannis: Restoration Site Caretaker

Cyndi Bemis: Restoration Site Caretaker

Educators:

Laura Shank: Elementary Education Programs

Toni Gentilli: K-12 Educator

Pam McBride: K-12 Educator

Kiley Spurlock: Assistant Field Guide Editing

Shannon Jones: K-12 Educator

GIS Team:

Jonathan Tanis: GIS Support

Drew Seavey: GIS Support

Rick Altenberg: GIS Support

Akashia Allen: GIS Support