About

Dr. Ari Novy is Elizabeth Newman Wilds Executive Director of the Cornell Botanic Gardens. Previously, he was President and CEO of the San Diego Botanic Garden in Encinitas, California, and before that Executive Director of the United States Botanic Garden in Washington, D.C.

Dr. Novy is a plant biologist with a wide range of expertise in plant science and education. He holds a research appointment as Adjunct Associate Professor at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies in San Diego. He is the author of numerous peer-reviewed scientific papers and regularly speaks on various horticultural and botanical topics nationally and internationally. Dr. Novy is a Board Member of the American Public Gardens Association and former Board Chair of Botanic Garden Conservation International-US. He has also served on task forces and advisory panels for diverse groups including the White House Council on Environmental Quality, Garden Club of America, Cornell Alliance for Science, Rock Creek National Park, European and Mediterranean Plant Protection Organization, and many others. Ari enjoys translating science into best management practices and public education, including serving as a science advisor for mass media and entertainment producers such as Disney Animation Studios, Marvel Studios, and Netflix’s The Magic School Bus.

Dr. Novy completed his Bachelor of Arts degree at New York University and his doctorate in Plant Biology at Rutgers University.