Meet the Fellows

After a rigorous selection process, we are pleased to announce the selection of five accomplished horticulture professionals for the 2025–2026 cohort of our prestigious Fellows Program.

2025-2026 Cohort

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Nathaniel Cody, Norfolk, Va.

Nathaniel Cody’s career is rooted in his dedication to creative storytelling and inclusion. As Digital Content and Marketing Project Manager at Norfolk Botanical Garden in Virginia, Cody oversees strategic digital campaigns and spearheads projects such as the Diversity Gallery, which celebrates cultural richness through art. His experience includes content creation and executive support at Norfolk Botanical Garden, and curating student art exhibitions at Virginia Commonwealth University. A dedicated community leader, Cody volunteers with Hampton Roads Pride and Stonewall Sports Norfolk. He holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in sculpture and extended media from Virginia Commonwealth University and serves on Norfolk Botanical Garden’s President’s Council on Inclusion and Diversity.

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Jennifer Dick, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada

With two decades of experience in science communication and heritage interpretation, Jennifer Dick has worked in gardens, museums, nonprofits, and most recently at Royal Botanical Gardens Canada. An advocate for connecting people with plants and places, she has served on the board of Interpretation Canada for 10 years, including two terms as Chair. She holds a Bachelor of Science in biology with a concentration in wildlife and habitat ecology, a Bachelor of Arts in anthropology, and a graduate diploma in science communication. Dick is also a certified heritage interpreter and certified interpretive trainer.

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Carmen Grey, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada

Carmen Grey joins the Longwood Fellows program from Assiniboine Park Conservancy in Winnipeg, Manitoba, where she oversees plant records and documentation development for the living collections. A graduate of the Niagara Parks Commission School of Horticulture, Grey also holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Winnipeg. Over the past 17 years, Grey has worked across Canada in public horticulture, urban agriculture, and community-focused education. Her experience includes coordinating rooftop farms in Calgary, managing community gardens in the Northwest Territories, and leading public garden operations in Winnipeg. As an Indigenous horticulturist, Grey’s work is guided by the teachings of her culture and a deep respect for the land. Grey is committed to fostering inclusive, reciprocal connections between people and the natural world.

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Yan Li, Shenyang, China 

Yan Li, Ph.D., brings extensive experience in plant management and academics. For 12 years, she has led the Basic Information Department at the Shenyang Arboretum as an engineer and Shenyang Senior Talent. She is experienced in managing plant information, compilating plant catalogues, and organizing international conferences. Additionally, Li has published scholarly articles and patents on plant diversity conservation and contributed to the compilation of botanical monographs. She holds a Master of Science in botany and a Ph. D. in Ecology from the Chinese Academy of Sciences. In 2017, she earned a certificate of completion in ex-situ conservation from the Chinese Union of Botanical Gardens. 

 

2024–2025 Cohort

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Laurel Dunning

Laurel Dunning entered the 2024-25 Fellows cohort from Hearst Castle, California’s most visited state park, where she held the position of Supervising Groundskeeper II. Dunning has experimented with plants and design concepts throughout the course of her career, spending 16 years at the Madonna Inn, an eclectic resort known for its themed rooms and vibrant aesthetic. With a degree in landscape architecture from Cal Poly State University, Dunning honed her skills through an internship at Longwood Gardens before returning to California.

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Vânia Pereira

Vânia Pereira joined the Fellows Program from the University of Florida (UF) as a forthcoming Ph.D. graduate in Environmental Horticulture, specializing in the development of production protocols for the native palm, saw palmetto. Pereira completed her bachelor's degree in Agronomy Engineering in Brazil and a master's in Agriscience at Illinois State University (ISU). Her passion for plant discovery, propagation, and display was developed during her youth in rural Brazil. Pereira’s previous roles include horticulturist at the Horticulture Center of ISU and docent at the Harn Museum of Art at UF.

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Anastasia Sallen

Anastasia Sallen joined the Fellows Program from Sarasota, Florida, where she served as Associate Vice President for Education at Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, overseeing education programming across two campuses. With a background in horticulture and education, she passionately pursues the intersections between plants and humanity. Anastasia holds a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology from New College of Florida and a Master of Arts in Education and Globalization from the University of Oulu in Finland.

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Clare Shearman

Clare Shearman joined the 2024-25 Fellows cohort from Wellington, New Zealand, bringing with her a wealth of international garden experiences. Serving as the Plant Collection Team Manager at Wellington Botanic Garden since 2016, Shearman also represents Botanic Gardens Australia and New Zealand through her involvement in the Royal New Zealand Institute of Horticulture. She previously developed gardens at both private and public estates, including Hever Castle, the childhood home of Anne Boleyn. Shearman previously owned and operated a garden design business for 15 years in Turnbridge Wells, Kent, England, and has shared her expertise through teaching adult education courses in gardening. She is a graduate of Hadlow College in England.

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E. Yvette Weaver

E. Yvette Weaver's horticultural journey is defined by her dedication to enriching New York City's public gardens. As the Horticulture Supervisor at The Friends of The High Line, she oversees the 10th Ave Square and Northern Spur sections. Weaver’s extensive experience includes nearly a decade at The Met Cloisters Gardens, where she assisted in curating medieval-inspired gardens. Her experience extends to the Heather Garden of Fort Tryon Park, and she served as a John Nally Intern at Wave Hill in 2011. Prior roles as a floral designer and Program Coordinator for The Student Conservation Association shaped her passion for horticulture. Weaver holds a certificate in Sustainable Landscape Management from the New York Botanical Garden and she studied Environmental Studies at Ohio Wesleyan University.