Leadership

Student Founders

Faculty Support

Community Support

Collective Structure

There are three overarching collective teams with their own leadership roles: the Plant Care Collective, the Communications Collective, and the Research Collective.

Each collective has a “Collective Leader” who oversees the collective’s missions and responsibilities, and scaffolding positions to allow for more student leadership and collaboration. If a position is unable to be filled within a collective, the Collective Leader will assume that position’s responsibilities. There is also a General Membership Collective for students: West Valley Gardeners. This allows for students to choose their level of engagement and participation without responsibility. It is also possible with this model to have more than one of each kind of Collective Member, in preparation for organizational growth. 

In addition, there will be a Logistics Coordinator who helps to oversee all three collectives, assisting in the completion of short-term tasks and long-term planning/projects. The logistics coordinator works closely with all three collectives and their leadership to help delegate tasks, manage projects and timelines, and address logistical issues. 

As faculty and staff have always helped to assist the West Valley Gardens, they have their own collective - the Mentorship Collective. Each collective will have a mentor from the Mentorship Collective to guide their projects and ensure safety, adequate knowledge, and comfort. These mentors are chosen through their dedication to West Valley Gardens and their specific realm of expertise. 

 Logistics

• Logistics Coordinator: Overarching Collective Leader (Alyssa Anderson) 

  • • Responsibilities include: Overseeing all collectives, Assisting in the completion of tasks/projects, Working with Collective Leaders/Mentors to delegate tasks, Addressing Logistical Issues and Overseeing the Collective Leaders and/or assuming their responsibilities if their positions are vacant.

Plant Care 

• Planting Manager: Collective Leader (Open) 

  • • Responsibilities include: Planning planting and harvesting schedule and event dates, Communicating with partners/mentors regarding plant care such as Kim Rillero, AISSS, local nurseries, Working on the West Valley Almanac and Overseeing the Seedling/Harvesting Manager and the Plant Care Technician and/or assuming their responsibilities if their positions are vacant. 

• Seedling/Harvesting Manager: Collective Member (Chandlee Begay) 

  • • Responsibilities include: Heading seed-starting outside of and seeding into the garden beds, Developing the schedule for seed starting, planting, and harvesting, Monitoring the daily well-being of the plants, and Working on the West Valley Almanac. 

• Plant Care Technicians: Collective Members

  • • Responsibilities include: Monitoring daily health of plants, Diagnosing and aiding plants during times of planting, transportation, sickness, + stress, Handling pest management and pruning tasks, and Working on the West Valley Almanac. 

Communications 

• Communications Director: Collective Leader (Rebecca Lopez) 

  • • Responsibilities include: Planning and Holding Weekly and Monthly Meetings, Answering communications regarding the garden and being available to answer or direct questions to the proper leadership, Heading faculty/student communications including communications with facilities, faculty, ASU executives, and student populations, Ensuring the success of events and programming, Engaging the general members- West Valley Gardeners and Overseeing the Event Coordinator, Marketing Manager, and Head of Food Distribution and/or assuming their responsibilities if their positions are vacant.

• Event Coordinator: Collective Member (Ali Nelson)

  • • Responsibilities include: Attending Bi-Weekly/Monthly Meetings, Planning monthly event calendars, Ensuring all events detailed planning and success, Receiving student and community feedback about past events or upcoming event ideas, Helping to secure and assist volunteers/West Valley Gardeners, and Attending/Facilitating event days. 

• Marketing Manager: Collective Member ((Ali Nelson) (OPEN))

  • • Responsibilities include: Creating marketing materials for upcoming events and activities, Posting marketing materials on social media pages, Updating Website, Managing Communications through social media, and posting in-person marketing at ASU’s WV Campus. 

• Head of Food Distribution: Collective Member (Sana Al Obaidi)

  • • Responsibilities include: Work with WVGs Teams to establish best donation distribution dates and times, Collaborate to schedule, market, and be present for all distribution dates and efforts, and Ensure any excess food is utilized appropriately

Research 

• Funding and Research Director: Collective Leader (Mitzy Bejarano) 

  • • Responsibilities include: Managing funding regarding grants, donations, and allocations, Managing EPICs Engineering Courses and Barrett Honors Courses, Facilitating research plans and implementation, Ensuring financial records and transparency through reports, Managing overall data collection within the WVG, and Overseeing the Director of Finance, Grant Manager, and Data Managers and/or assuming their responsibilities if their positions are vacant. 

• Director of Finance: Collective Member (Maddy O’Brien) 

  • • Responsibilities include: Attending Bi-Weekly/Monthly Meetings, Managing the annual budget, Overseeing financial reporting, and Ensures the responsible and sustainable allocation of resources, materials, and supplies.. 

• Grant Manager: Collective Member (Mitzy Bejarano (OPEN))

  • • Responsibilities include: Head of locating and applying for grants to supplement the garden, Sending communication and appreciation to funders, Managing and facilitating donations, Assisting with the leadership of Barrett Honors Courses.

• Data Manager: Collective Members

  • • Responsibilities include: Collecting and managing the data within the garden, including plant health, engagement within the garden, success of the initiative, amount and type of student/community members served, Creation of processes to track data in the future, and Assisting with the leadership of EPICs Engineering Courses. 

General Membership 

• West Valley Gardener: General Members

  • • Responsibilities include: Attending bi-weekly, monthly meetings if possible, Volunteering and assisting with WVG Events and Initiatives, Providing feedback for the betterment of the WVG and WV community, Assisting with any tasks within the West Valley Gardens as availability allows. 

Mentorship Collective 

• Plant Care Collective: Collective Mentor (Dr. Peter Rillero & Kim Rillero) 

  • • Responsibilities include: Mentoring the Plant Care Collective, attending planting/meetings when available, guiding through advice and support. 

• Communications Collective: Collective Mentor (Dr. Susannah Sandrin) 

  • • Responsibilities include: Mentoring the Communications Collective, attending tablings/presentations/meetings when available, guiding through advice and support. 

• Research Collective: Collective Mentor (Dr. Ken Sweat) 

  • • Responsibilities include: Mentoring the Research Collective, attending research gathering/data processing/meetings when available, helping to lead Barrett Honors and EPICS students, guiding through advice and support.