People of the Conservatory
Adam Wegren, Conservatory Service Coordinator (he/him)
With a background in nursery greenhouse management, Adam is responsible for directing the horticultural care of the Conservatory's living collection. Currently in the MPS Horticulture program, he is interested in how horticultural science can be applied to the realm of plant conservation. Adam also has a BA in Anthropology from the University of Minnesota, with an emphasis on people-plant interactions.
Betsy Custis, Education and Outreach Coordinator (she/her)
Betsy earned her Master of Biological Sciences degree at the University of Minnesota, focusing on plant biology and conservation. Her research was focused on storing seeds of exceptional plant species for conservation. She is interested in ex-situ conservation and botanical institutions' role in germplasm preservation for reintroduction support. Betsy works to connect people from inside and outside of the University with all the CBS Conservatory offers.
Valentine Sattin, Conservatory Assistant (he/him)
Valentine is an undergraduate student in CFANS studying Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology. He particularly enjoys researching plants, insects, and reptiles and loves sharing interesting facts he learns with others. Valentine hopes to learn more about how to protect imperiled organisms and ecosystems and how to make nature and science more accessible to everyone. In his free time, Valentine has fun growing carnivorous plants, playing the mandocello, hiking, and making art.
Hilary Major, Conservatory Assistant (she/her)
Hilary is finishing her Master of Biological Sciences degree with a focus on ecology with a thesis on soil health. She enjoys sending her friends and family pictures of all the cool plants she gets to water on Sundays, it's the best part of this job.
Ava Gregorich, Conservatory Assistant (they/them)
Ava is an undergraduate student in CBS majoring in General Biology. They love Philodendrons due to their broad variations of leaf shapes, colors, and textures. Their favorite plant is a toss-up between a Philodendron mexicanum and the Philodendron Glorious hybrid. Some of their favorite things to do are take care of their personal plant collection, travel to the Northernmost part of Minnesota, obsess over birds, make arts & crafts, and spend time with their super awesome pet guinea pig Kenneth.
Caitlin Seaman, Conservatory Assistant (she/her)
Caitlin is an undergraduate student studying environmental science, policy, and management, with a minor in climate change. She is vastly interested in tropical ecosystems, specifically the diversity of plant species and tropical rainforests' role in mitigating climate change and improving air quality. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, yoga, reading, meditating, and making art.
Calista Swensen, Conservatory Assistant (she/her)
Calista is an undergraduate student studying plant science with a minor in music performance. She is interested in plant biodiversity and enjoys growing vegetables and finding and identifying fungi. Some of her favorite types of plants include hoyas and orchids for their vast diversity in leaf or flower appearance. She also loves art, photography, and spending time with friends outdoors.
Niah Larson, Conservatory Assistant (she/her)
Niah is an undergraduate student studying Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology in CFANS. She loves all plants and hopes to learn about different biomes abroad. Her favorite plants are lilies, and she plans on having a huge vegetable garden someday. Some of her favorite things are hiking, walking her dog, and hanging out with friends and family.