three rows of people; first row is sitting down and two rows behind them are standing.

Friends Leadership

Friends Leadership

The Friends of the UC Davis Arboretum and Public Garden is led by a volunteer board of directors. Board members are key in building relationships and engaging regional community members with the people, programs, and impact of the Arboretum and Public Garden. As a result, the Friends support group is the leading community donor to the Arboretum and Public Garden.

Chancellor's Laureates

The Friends are honored to be a member of the Chancellor’s Laureates, a society that recognizes each individual and organization that cumulatively donates $1 million or more to UC Davis programs.

Friends Board 

Chris Craig-Veit

Christina Craig-Veit
Co-President

 

Ann Filmer
Ann Filmer
Co-President
woman sitting down wearing navy blue blouse. green foliage and tree behind her
Terry Davison
Co-Vice-President
Glenys Kaye
Glenys Kaye
Co-Vice-President
Chuck Foster
Chuck Foster
Treasurer
Kristen Bennett
Kristen Bennett
Member-at-Large
man with glasses wearing collared blue and green striped shirt sitting with tree and green foliage in background. a circular table sits in the background
Kent Bradford
Member-at-Large
Ann Trump Daniel
Ann Trump Daniel
Member-at-Large
Ernie Lewis
Ernie Lewis
Member-at-Large
John Lindbo
John Lindbo
Member-at-Large
woman wearing glasses sitting down wearing sky blue collared shirt. tree and green foliage in background
Donna Moyer
Member-at-Large
Warren Roberts
Warren Roberts
Member-at-Large
Bonnie Schmidt
Bonnie Schmidt
Member-at-Large
woman wearing glasses sitting down. tree and green foliage in background
Marty West
Member-at-Large
  • Past Presidents
  • 2022-2024: Kristen Bennett/ Ann Filmer
    2018-2022: Ann Trump Daniel
    2014-2018: Martha Rehrman
    2010-2014: Martha Ozonoff / Nancy Shapiro (Co-Presidents)
    2008-2010: Martha Ozonoff
    2002-2008: Mary Patterson
    2000-2002: Deb Cashatt
    1996-2000: Donald Crosby
    1994-1996: Paul Schneeman
    1992-1994: Marjorie March
    1990-1992: Eric Conn
    1988-1990: Marilyn Vilas
    1986-1988: Margaret Algazi
    1984-1986: Larry Mitich
    1980-1984: Eric Conn
    1976-1980: Makepeace U. Tsao
    1974-1976: Arthur Spurr
    1972-1974: Lloyd Ingraham
    1971-1972: Arthur Spurr

Friends Founders and Early Leaders

Nancy Crosby and Pat Miller, formally co-founded the Friends of the Davis Arboretum in 1971 in collaboration with other early leaders and community members who loved the Arboretum. They remained life-long Friends members and each volunteered with the Arboretum for more than 40 years.

Nancy and Pat organized the first Arboretum plant sale in 1974 and for decades remained active as leaders of the plant sale events and members of the volunteer propagation teams to supply the plants. Nancy and Pat were honored in 2007 as co-recipients of the city of Davis ‘A.G. Brinley Award’ in recognition of their many years of outstanding service with the Friends for the benefit of the UC Davis Arboretum.