ADMINISTRATION
Angie Mason
Executive Director
Angie Mason is the new Executive Director of Shangri La Botanical Gardens and Nature Center. Angie recently joined the team in April 2022 and comes from Chicago Botanic Garden where she was employed for 19 years. Angie most recently served as the Associate VP of Community Engagement and Senior Director of Windy City Harvest where she oversaw all facets of engagement with the community and directed the operations of Windy City Harvest, an urban agriculture education and job training program, with 200 participants and a $3.8M budget.
Mason has been recognized with multiple awards and accolades, including the North Lawndale Spirit of Youth Development Award and the Illinois Governor’s Environmental Hero Award. Angie is a graduate of Southern Illinois University Carbondale, where she earned a B.S. in Plant and Soil Science, and an M.S. in Plant, Soil and General Agriculture. During Angie’s early career she served as Adjunct Faculty in Horticulture, at the Harold Washington College in Chicago, Illinois.
Angie is known by colleagues as an outstanding and visionary leader, strategic thinker, collaborator, staff manager, and a national and international expert on urban agriculture.
Katie Krantz
Associate Director
Katie Krantz is the Associate Director of Shangri La Botanical Gardens and Nature Center. Katie has spent over 10 years in the non-profit public gardens field. She has contributed to the growth of the gardens over her tenure by serving many roles: overseeing the Volunteer Programs and Education Department, as well as being a key senior staff member, providing top-tier leadership to staff members, volunteers, and programs. Originally from northwestern Pennsylvania, Katie received her undergraduate degrees in Traditional Biology and Conservation Biology from Thiel College, and dual Masters Degrees in Environmental Education (M.Ed.) and Park and Resource Management (M.S.) from Slippery Rock University. In 2020, Katie earned her Masters of Business Administration (MBA) with a focus in Leadership from Lamar University. In addition to her role at the gardens, Katie serves her community through membership with several local volunteer organizations. Katie not only holds a passion for conservation and education, but also for innovative leadership to expand overall community connections.
GUEST RELATIONS
Marlene Cox
Guest Relations and Events Coordinator
Marlene Cox serves as the Guest Relations and Events Coordinator for Shangri La Botanical Gardens and Nature Center. She is responsible for working with groups to plan, schedule, and coordinate garden and Outpost Tours. Additionally, she supports event planning, general guest relations, and oversight of volunteers who provide visitor orientation/interpretation. Marlene has been working at Shangri La since 2008. She has served in a number of capacities during her tenure at Shangri La including Membership Coordinator. Prior to Shangri La, Marlene was in retail for more than 20 years.
EDUCATION
Katie Krantz
Associate Director
Katie Krantz is the Associate Director of Shangri La Botanical Gardens and Nature Center. Katie has spent over 10 years in the non-profit public gardens field. She has contributed to the growth of the gardens over her tenure by serving many roles: overseeing the Volunteer Programs and Education Department, as well as being a key senior staff member, providing top-tier leadership to staff members, volunteers, and programs. Originally from northwestern Pennsylvania, Katie received her undergraduate degrees in Traditional Biology and Conservation Biology from Thiel College, and dual Masters Degrees in Environmental Education (M.Ed.) and Park and Resource Management (M.S.) from Slippery Rock University. In 2020, Katie earned her Masters of Business Administration (MBA) with a focus in Leadership from Lamar University. In addition to her role at the gardens, Katie serves her community through membership with several local volunteer organizations. Katie not only holds a passion for conservation and education, but also for innovative leadership to expand overall community connections.
Kathryn Jeffers
Lead Environmental Educator
Kathryn Jeffers is the Lead Educator for Shangri La Botanical Gardens and Nature Center. She is responsible for curriculum-based outreach program development, organizing educational materials, supporting other members of the education team, and conducting curriculum based-education programming as well as a variety of public programs. Kathryn received her undergraduate degree in Biology from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and her Masters in Secondary Science Education from McNeese State University.
HORTICULTURE
Jennifer Buckner
Director of Horticulture
Jennifer is the Director of Horticulture and also manages the plant displays in the Epiphyte House, Exhibition Greenhouses, and Children’s Garden. She provides horticultural support for in-house activities that include environmental education, publications, and staff and volunteer training. Jennifer joined the staff at Shangri La Botanical Gardens in 2007 and holds a Master of Agriculture degree in Floriculture and a Bachelor of Science degree in Horticulture and Entomology from Texas A&M University. Prior to coming to Shangri La, Jennifer’s experience includes working at an independent garden center retailer and a wholesale nursery.
Deb Wiles
Senior Horticulturist
Deb joined Shangri La Botanical Gardens in 2019 as Senior Horticulturist. She is responsible for leading the garden staff in the cultivation and management of the gardens as well as supporting horticultural activities such as seasonal bedding display design and planning, plant selection, overseeing our organic Integrated Pest Management program and contributing to social media content. Deb has over 20 years of experience in horticulture spanning two continents. Her horticultural education includes a Certificate in Horticulture from UCLA and graduation from the prestigious two-year Professional Horticulture Program at Longwood Gardens near Philadelphia, PA. Upon graduating from Longwood, Deb worked as a trainee gardener at Great Dixter House and Gardens in the UK then earned a Master’s degree with distinction in Garden History at the University of Greenwich in London, England. Deb’s previous work experience includes managing the garden care division for a landscape design firm in Los Angeles, as Estate Gardener for a world-renowned luxury resort near Washington, DC, Head Gardener for a private estate in VA, and in public horticulture. Deb also holds a BS in Deaf Studies and is fluent in American Sign Language.
Cheryl Farmer
Production Greenhouse Supervisor
Cheryl Farmer is the Production Greenhouse Supervisor for Shangri La Botanical Gardens and Nature Center and is responsible for providing annual and perennial plants for the Stark Cultural Venues. Duties also include the design and assembly of decorative containers for seasonal displays and special events, conducting workshops, and mentoring staff greenhouse technicians and volunteers. Cheryl has held the Greenhouse Supervisor position for the last 7 years and been actively involved in plant propagation for 42 years. She attended Lamar University-Beaumont, New Orleans School of Creative Floral Design, and is a Texas Certified Master Nursery Professional with the Texas Nursery and Landscape Association.