Howard Scott Gentry Lecture

The Howard Scott Gentry Award honors those who have advanced the understanding and care of agaves and desert plants, continuing the legacy of Gentry’s foundational research in the Sonoran Desert.

In 2026, we recognize Wendy Hodgson is honored for her decades of leadership in agave and desert plant research and conservation, including field-based work documenting agave diversity, ecology, and cultural uses across the Sonoran Desert. Through her work at Desert Botanical Garden, she has connected science, conservation, and public education, leaving a lasting impact as a mentor and field botanist.

She traces the story of agave in the Sonoran Desert from pre-contact knowledge to present-day research and conservation, highlighting the importance of Indigenous leadership in stewardship.