Neil Xu

Finance Manager

Neil Xu joined the Joshua Tree National Park Association in 2022. As the Finance Manager, Neil works on the financial analysis and improvement of the association. After graduating from UC Riverside, he enjoys new work and new life in the high desert. Besides his daily work, Neil is also an archer, leather craftsman, and music lover.

Kara Messina

Development Manager

Prior to joining JTNPA, Kara Messina was the Development Officer at FIND Food Bank, the Patron Circle Associate at the Napa Valley Film Festival, and began her career in political fundraising. She also worked many years in advertising for companies including American Apparel, HD Buttercup, and Young & Rubicam. Kara is a California native and loves that she now calls the desert home.

Patty Angel Somerville

Membership Coordinator

Patty Angel Somerville, a California native and resident of the Morongo Basin, is an animal lover, big sister, and is enamored with the desert night sky. She began working for the Joshua Tree National Park Association as an Information Specialist in 2016. She has been the Association's Office Assistant, Desert Institute Assistant, Office Manager and is now extremely thankful for the opportunity to serve as the Membership Coordinator. Patty loves learning, exploring, and researching ways to make the member and donor experience most pleasant, and enjoys engaging with park supporters on a daily basis.

Pronouns: She, Her, Hers

Brandy Dyess

Content Manager

Brandy Dyess joined JTNPA in the spring of 2021. Prior to moving to Joshua Tree, Brandy worked as the administrative director at New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts, Department of Photography & Imaging, as a grants analyst for The California Endowment and in the ABC Entertainment finance division of The Walt Disney Company. She holds a Bachelor of Arts from Northwestern University and a certificate in fundraising from UCLA.

Pronouns: She, Her, Hers

Benny Lopez

Desert Institute Assistant

Benazir (Benny) Lopez is the mother of three beautiful children and one Weimaraner. She is currently obtaining her Associate in Science in Administration of Criminal Justice. She has always been outdoorsy and her love for the outdoors has only grown due to JTNP being in her backyard. She is mostly found outdoors when the opportunity presents itself, and her typical adventures include but are not limited to hiking, kayaking, shooting, archery, bowling, VR gaming, Seaworld, and random road trips. She started with JTNPA in July of 2021 working in the visitor centers as an Information Specialist. She is excited about her role as the Desert Institute Assistant continuing to work alongside her wonderful colleagues and DI volunteers.

Pronouns: She, Her, Hers

Christine Grimes

Executive Assistant

Christine Grimes is a Joshua Tree native, wife, and mother of two. Growing up here, she spent a lot of her outdoors, exploring and becoming familiar with the desert’s unique landscape. Prior to working with JTNPA, Christine worked for a prestige cosmetic company for over 11 years, where she developed her management, marketing, and merchandising skills. She takes great pride in working to protect and spread awareness about the importance of preserving sacred places like Joshua Tree National Park and is thrilled to be apart of JTNPA!

Always live by the words of Margaret Mead “never doubt that a small groups of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world.”