2024 Star Award: Dr. Emily Coffey

Each year, the Center for Plant Conservation honors an individual in our network who demonstrates the concern, cooperation, and personal investment needed to conserve our imperiled native plants with the CPC Star Award. This year, CPC was thrilled to present the Star Award to Dr. Emily Coffey, Vice President of Conservation and Research at Atlanta Botanical Garden (ABG). As a longtime partner in the CPC network, Emily has made many meaningful contributions to the stewardship of the rare plants of Georgia and the rest of the southeast. Among Emily’s many successes, the incredible curation capacity she has built through partnerships and within ABG is a shining example for how one person can advance the field of plant conservation.

Widely known as a warm and generous colleague (who makes really good cookies!), Emily channels her passion for conservation into every initiative she’s involved in, large or small. She leads a talented and dedicated team at ABG and recognizes the critical need for both in situ and ex situ conservation–leading to maximum collaboration and impact. Emily embodies the CPC spirit of collaboration and knowledge sharing, and she utilizes best practices in her work to elevate the field of conservation. Emily is a truly extraordinary plant conservationist and partner, and we are so grateful to have her as part of CPC’s conservation community. Congratulations, Emily!