News published: 18 May 2023

The Chicago Botanic Garden is pleased to announce the appointment of Kayri Havens, Ph.D., as its next Chief Scientist & Negaunee Vice President of Science.

Havens is a national and global leader in conservation ecology, advocating for restoration informed by science from her position at the Garden for the last 26 years. She was the Garden’s first full-time conservation scientist, and her vision was the basis for the Garden’s growth and development in plant science at the Negaunee Institute for Plant Conservation Science and Action.

Havens’ research interests include ex situ conservation, restoration genetics, reproductive ecology of rare plants, and invasive plant issues. She is a member of the Botanic Gardens Conservation International-U.S. board and chairs the Non-federal Cooperators Committee of the Plant Conservation Alliance. She recently served on a National Academy of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine working group to assess the need for native seed in the U.S. and the capacity of the industry to meet that need.

She will begin her role as Chief Scientist on May 29, following the retirement of current Chief Scientist, Gregory Mueller, Ph.D.