Karen Brown, M.A.

Karen oversees the APIRS office and manages the online Aquatic Plant Information Retrieval System database. She also serves as editor of AQUAPHYTE, and Wildland Weeds magazine for the Florida Exotic Pest Plant Council (FLEPPC), of which she is a board member. Karen has worked at the Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants since 1983. She has authored and co-authored numerous articles and has played a key role in most of the educational ventures of the Information Office. She has a master’s degree in Library and Information Sciences.
KPBrown@ifas.ufl.edu

Mary Langeland, M.A.

Mary Langeland identifies and catalogs research publications for the APIRS database, and contributes material for AQUAPHYTE.

Amy Richard, B.F.A.

Amy is the Education Initiative Coordinator of Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants at the University of Florida/IFAS where she is responsible for overseeing the production and dissemination of much of the educational material produced by the Center. Her latest endeavors at the Center include overseeing the development of a new Invasive Plant Education curriculum as well as a variety of public outreach materials for our state parks. She has been with the Center since 2004. Prior to that, Amy served as Sr. Information Specialist for the Florida LAKEWATCH program, producing dozens of information circulars and newsletters about lake ecology and water management in Florida.

Beth Hathaway

Beth maintains a total of six web sites for the Center, including the two existing APIRS web sites. She developed and maintains the web sites for the Florida Invasive Plant Education Initiative, the Osceola County Hydrilla & Hygrophila Demonstration Project, and the IFAS Assessment . She also attends conferences/meetings, assembling and monitoring photo-displays, information kiosks, and display tables of educational materials, distributing them to specific user groups and the general public. When not at the Center, Beth enjoys a variety of hobbies including web design, cooking and hiking Florida's trails.

Lynda Dillon

Program Assistant

Lynda is a program assistant for the APIRS database and the CAIP Education Initiative.She assists in expanding the database and develops and maintains systems to track production and distribution of CAIP's educational materials.  When not in the office, Lynda enjoys riding her bicycle, making crafts, and outdoor activities with her grandchildren.

Rob Horsburgh

Education Initiative Assistant

Rob facilitates the development, production and dissemination of educational materials for the Center.  He also serves as an information liaison to the public.  Rob recently moved to Gainesville from Columbus, OH where he worked in a variety of educational settings and served on the Board of Directors for the Stratford Ecological Center.  In his free time, Rob enjoys hiking, canoeing, and beekeeping. 

Josh Huey

Josh is a student at Santa Fe Community College majoring in Graphic Design. He maintains the Slide & Digital Photo Archives, and handles requests for image use from people outside the Center. Josh also helps develop graphics for the various web sites and education programs developed by the Center. Josh's interests outside of work are completing school, learning to play bass, and collecting records and other musical goodies.

Victor Ramey, M.S.

Mr. Ramey established the APIRS office in 1981. He authored this web site, and produced many educational materials during his 25 year tenure with this office. He passed away on November 24, 2005. Read more about Vic here.