Jonni Zeman, Program & Communications Coordinator

Pronouns: she, her, hers

At the Coalition, I work to keep you updated on our ongoing and upcoming projects, events, and achievements for the desert. This includes writing for our newsletters, social media, and blog posts. I also work with my team on program design, creating outreach materials and working with our amazing volunteers. It’s a joy to share with you the details of our work and to bring awareness to the beautiful intricacies of the Sonoran Desert and its biodiversity!

Before the Coalition, I graduated from the University of Arizona with a B.S. in Environmental Science and a minor in Plant Sciences. Through these programs, I ignited my passion for science communication, environmental justice, botany, and ecological restoration. In my senior year of college, I was an intern for Pima County Natural Resource Parks and Recreation (Now Conservation Lands and Resources). This position allowed me to gain experience implementing restoration and conservation projects and manage invasive plant species within Pima County. I’ve battled buffelgrass, collected native seeds to revegetate areas of Tucson Mountain Park, and studied the anatomy and phenology of Sonoran Desert plants. My favorite plant here is creosote – from its fragrance to its glow in the early morning sun, I find so much comfort in its abundance here.

I joined the Coalition to use these skills to help protect this beautiful desert we call home and to make a difference for all who live here, wildlife and humans alike. I am grateful to contribute my art to the Coalition, which takes form in our merch designs, our office mural, and interpretive signage at the Big Wash Trailhead about the Oracle Road wildlife crossings.

My hobbies include hiking and staying creative through painting and mixed media artwork. I also have a strong interest in the wildlife and insects of the southwest! One of my favorite creatures are palo verde beetles, Derobrachus hovorei, who greet me with their clumsy flying every summer. Green is my favorite color.