Helena graduated from the University of Arizona with a B.S. in Plant Science and Minor in Biochemistry with a focus in genetics, genomics, and propagation.
She was born and raised in Tucson and is part Navajo and Hopi. Helena has dedicated her life to crop conservation and research to preserve the diversity and the history of heirloom crops. She uses this knowledge at NS/S to assist in organizing and maintaining seed samples in the seed bank, working in the Conservation Garden, and processing seeds in the Seed Lab.
She enjoys gardening, caring for animals and critters, learning new things, eating sweets, and playing games.