Christina Owen is the Director of the University of Washington Botanic Gardens, within the College of the Environment at the University of Washington. She oversees operations and management of the programming and plant collections at the Washington Park Arboretum and the Center for Urban Horticulture which houses the Elizabeth Miller Library and the Hyde Herbarium.
Christina has a Ph.D. in evolutionary genetics of flowering plants from the University of Washington. She has a strong commitment to public engagement, science communication, and inclusive outreach and connection with diverse communities. As an AAAS Mass Media Fellow, served as a journalist covering science and the environment for public radio in rural Colorado.
Prior to joining the Botanic Gardens, she spent 11 years as a Senior Program Officer in Agricultural Development at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation where she developed and managed grants in Research & Development to benefit smallholder farmers in low-income countries.
