Tonda Cave, Administrative Officer, 202-225-5002, tcave@aoc.gov

  



Holly H. Shimizu
Executive Director
202-225-6670
hshimizu@aoc.gov
 
Holly Shimizu received her Associate of Science degree in Horticulture and Landscape Design from Temple University, a Bachelor of Science degree in Horticulture from Pennsylvania State University,and her Master of Science degree in Horticulture from the University of Maryland.  In April 2009 she received an honorary Doctor of Science Degree from Washington College in Chestertown, Maryland.

Prior to assuming her current position, Ms. Shimizu was the Managing Director of the Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden in Richmond, Virginia. She previously served as Assistant Executive Director of the U.S. Botanic Garden, as well as having worked at the U.S. National Arboretum, where she was Curator of the National Herb Garden.  Ms. Shimizu has also worked in public gardens in England,Germany, Belgium, France,and Holland,and has led plant tours in many parts of the world.

Since returning as Executive Director of the U.S. Botanic Garden (USBG) in November 2000, she has led the Garden in many new and exciting directions. The Garden was recently accredited by the American Association of Museums and has received numerous awards. With a staff of 66, Ms. Shimizu strives to ensure that the USBG is continually improving and serving the American people in the way that George Washington envisioned in 1796.

Under her leadership, the Garden has experienced a renaissance with opening of the National Garden in 2006, the published history book A Botanic Garden for the Nation, and continued creation of innovative exhibitions and inspiring gardens. The U.S. Botanic Garden also has gained national recognition for work in sustainability, plant conservation, hosting the American Public Gardens Association’s exhibits and national meeting in 2007,the One Planet, Ours!  exhibit on sustainability in 2008, and its national partnerships with botanical institutions.

Ms. Shimizu is well-known through her work as a host of “The Victory Garden” gardening show broadcast internationally on public television stations. In addition, she can often be heard on National Public Radio and has written and lectured extensively in her field. Her awards include: The American Horticultural Society Professional Award in 2008, The Architect of the Capitol Honor Award in 2007, National Garden Clubs, Inc. Award of Excellence in 2007, The Garden Club of America Honorary Member in 2005, The Architect of the Capitol’s Award for Leadership in 2004, Temple University Outstanding Alumna Award in 2004, Germantown Academy Outstanding Alumna Award in 2003, American Horticultural Society Distinguished Lecturer Award in 1997, International Herb Association Otto Richter Award for Outstanding Educator in 1996, The Herb Society of America Award for Outstanding Achievement in Horticulture in 1986, and Pi Alpha Zi Horticulture Honor Society in 1976.

Ms. Shimizu currently serves on the Board of Botanic Gardens Conservation International, U.S.,based at the Chicago Botanic Garden. She is an Advisory Committee Member for Longwood Gardens (Kennett Square, Pennsylvania), on the Advisory Committee of the American Botanical Council (Austin Texas), and as an Advisory Board Member of the American Horticultural Society (Alexandria, Virginia).In addition, she has served as: Director-at-Large for the American Public Gardens Association; panel reviewer for the National Academy of Sciences and the U.S. Agency for International Development Bureau for Economic Growth, Agriculture, and Trade; Honorary President of the Herb Society of America and as its National Chairman of Botany and Horticulture. She has also been an international and national flower show judge. Ms. Shimizu resides in Maryland with her husband Osamu, who is a garden designer, and their dog, Petey. Both of their children are now seasoned gardeners.

Christine Flanagan
Public Programs Manager
202-225-1269
cflanaga@aoc.gov

Christine Flanagan joined the staff of the U.S. Botanic Garden in 1996. As Public Programs Manager, Christine guides interpretive and collections planning, administers partnership programs, and directs a staff of 12 to carry out educational programs, exhibits, plant collection management, website services, visitor services, and public relations. She holds a Ph.D. from the University of Arizona in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology.

Christine is a member of the American Association of Museums and the American Public Garden Association, and serves on the board of the American Society of Plant Biologists Foundation. She gardens at her home on the Blue Ridge in West Virginia.

 Laura Anthony
Special Events Coordinator
202-226-7674
lanthony@aoc.gov

Currently, the United States Botanic Garden allows a limited schedule of after-hours functions to be held at the Conservatory. The policies governing after-hours functions are established by the Joint Committee on the Library of Congress and state that all functions must be Congressionally related, Congressionally sponsored, and attended by the sponsoring Congressional officer.

 

For more detailed information, please contact Laura Anthony.

 

Elizabeth Rhoads
Volunteer Coordinator (Mon./Wed./Fri.)
202-226-1047
erhoads@aoc.gov

Mary Chor and Libby Rhoads share the position of Volunteer Coordinator, working with more than 150 volunteers, who support the U.S. Botanic Garden in every capacity, from weeding and other horticultural duties to staffing the front desk, supporting educational programs and activities, and doing administrative work that helps every aspect of Garden operations. Libby works on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, and Mary is at the Garden on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Libby first came to the Garden as an intern while pursuing a master’s degree in museum education from George Washington University. She collaborated on the curriculum for How Plants Work exhibit, whose Discovery Journals are still in use, even though the exhibit is no longer on display. She also pursued a master’s degree in curriculum and teacher leadership at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, where she earned her bachelor’s degree in elementary education with a minor in Spanish. Libby also held an internship with IONA Senior Services in Washington, D.C., where she developed program for its Adult Day Health, Wellness, and Arts Center participants who had dementia. She continues to work for IONA Senior Services as Clubs Coordinator for its Clubs for Individuals with Early Memory Loss.

Mary Chor
Volunteer Coordinator (Tues./Thurs.)
202-226-1047
mchor@aoc.gov

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jim Kaufmann
Horticulture Manager
202-225-6647
jkaufmann@aoc.gov
 
Jim Kaufmann manages the daily horticultural tasks for the U.S. Botanic Garden, including overseeing horticultural collections, exhibits, displays, gardens and grounds, and the off-site production facility. Jim collaborates on and guides the USBG's plant curatorial duties, conservation efforts, and plant-record activities. He also participates in developing and executing the institution's long-range goals.

Jim came to the U.S. Botanic Garden in 2009, after nearly 15 years as a horticulturist with the National Gallery of Art. As its Sculpture Garden Manager, he led the Gallery to obtain a "Green Star" award from the Professional Grounds Management Society. Jim also gained professional public garden experience at Villanova and Temple Universities. He received a Bachelors of Science degree from Temple University and was conferred as an "Alumni Fellow" in 2007. Jim is also an ISA-certified arborist. He shares his passion for horticulture with his wife, Cynthia, who is also a professional horticulturist.

 

Ray Mims
Conservation Horticulture & Sustainability
202-226-4067
rmims@aoc.gov
 
Ray Mims oversees the ongoing development and implementation of sustainability efforts, conservation partnerships, and threatened plant collections at the United States Botanic Garden. He also curates special exhibitions and represents USBG on the Sustainable Sites Initiative Steering and Vegetation Committees. Prior to joining USBG, Ray served as the Director of Horticulture at Denver Botanic Gardens, Director of Horticulture and Grounds at the Washington National Cathedral, and Horticulturist at the Atlanta Botanical Garden.

Ray spent two years as a Peace Corps volunteer working on small-scale irrigation projects, seed collection, and vegetable gardens in the mountains of western Nepal. After working as an engineer and sales manager for the Dow Chemical Company, Mims returned to school in 1994 to study horticulture, a passion learned from his maternal grandmother. He also completed the Botanic Garden Management program at the Royal Botanic Garden, Kew, in the United Kingdom. 
 
 

 
Kyle Wallick
Botanist
Horticultural Hotline