Directors

Greg Bonito, Ph.D. – President

Gregory Bonito is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences at Michigan State University. He received a Ph.D. in Biology from Duke University, an M.S. in Conservation Ecology and Sustainable Development from the University of Georgia, Athens, and a B.Sc. in Ecology from Appalachian State University in Boone NC. His primary research interests are systematics and taxonomy of truffle fungi, biology of Pezizales, fungal biodiversity, and inter-kingdom interactions between fungi plants and bacteria. For more details on his research click here. 



Tim James, Ph.D. – Treasurer

Tim is an Professor in the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at the University of Michigan and Assistant Curator of Fungi at the University of Michigan Herbarium. He received a Ph.D. in Biology from Duke University and a B.Sc. in Botany from the University of Georgia. His primary research interests are mushroom genetics, the systematics and taxonomy of fungi, and a group of aquatic fungi known as chytrids. For more details on his research click here.

Erik Lilleskov- Secretary

Erik Lilleskov is a research scientist with the US Forest Service, Northern Research Station, in the Climate, Fire, and Carbon Cycle Sciences unit, located in Houghton Michigan. He received a Ph.D in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from Cornell University; an M.S. in Botany, Field Naturalist Program, from University of Vermont; and a B.A. in Biological Anthropology from Harvard University.  His primary research interests are in the community and functional ecology of soil biota, especially fungi, in the context of global change phenomena; as well as understanding the drivers of carbon cycling in peatland ecosystems. For more details on his research click here or here

Heather Johnson, MAMI Program Administrator

Heather Johnson graduated from the University of Michigan’s School of Natural Resources and Environment in 2017 with a Master Degree of Science in Conservation Ecology and Behavior, Education and Communication.

Heather joined the Michigan Mushroom Hunters Club in 2016; currently serving as the Vice-president of Science and History and Spores Illustrated Newsletter editor.

Her primary interests include creating an environment to educate people about mycology while advocating for equitable, responsible, safe and sustainable mycophagy.

“As MAMI Program Administrator, my goals include:

  • Facilitating workshops which connect people to mycology at all levels of experience
  • Maintaining and providing people with curriculum for certification to legally and safely sell mushrooms in Michigan
  • Building and expanding community partnerships
  • Continuing to learn about fungi through science and Nature in order to share that knowledge through meaningful, informative dialogue

I look forward to meeting fellow mycophiles who share the same passion for the wondrous world of fungi .”

Founding Director, Dr. Chris Wright

MAMI and the mycological community continue to miss the presence of MAMI Founder, Dr. Chris Wright. Read more about his inspiring journey here: Dr. Chris Wright

Previous Board Members  Phil Tedeschi- Secretary

Phil Tedeschi

Phil Tedeschi served as MAMI Secretary from the inception of MAMI in 2015 through 2023. Phil took his first mushroom class in 1971 from Dr. Robert Shaffer through the Ann Arbor Public Schools Systems adult education program.  The course consisted of 4 3-hour classroom sessions and 4 3-hour forays. Mushroom hunting has been a hobby ever since.  He joined the Michigan Mushroom Hunters Club in 1997 and became a hunt leader in 1998. He served as a club vice-president for 4 years and as president for 6.  He is still a hunt leader and identifier for the club and is a life member.  Amateur mycology has always been a vocation, his vocation was to serve as a programmer analyst at the University of Michigan for 30 years supporting research programs in medical economy and in medical research. 

Thank you, Phil, for your services to MAMI and the invaluable lectures you provided at workshops!

Board of Advisors

Dr. Heather Hallen-Adams – Associate Professor (Mycology), University of Nebraska; North American Mycological Association, Chairperson – Toxicology Committee

Dr. H. Van T. Cotter – Herbarium Research Associate, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Herbarium (NCU).

Matthew Foltz – University of Michigan, Herbarium Project Coordinator (Macrofungi TCN)

Dr. Sister Marie Kopin – North American Mycological Association, Co-Chair for the Education Committee; Michigan Mushroom Hunters Club Member; she has hunted mushrooms since she was 7 years old and is an emeritus retiree from Central Michigan University

Dr. Dana Richter – Research Scientist II, School of Forest Resources and Environmental Science, Michigan Technological University

Marilynn Smith – University of Michigan, Biological Station, External Advisory Board

Jerry Watson – Member Michigan Mushroom Hunter’s Club