Our Team
Shelly Casto
Executive Director
Shelly Casto has served Highland Youth Garden since April of 2020. Highland Youth Garden is an impactful community development nonprofit embedded in an under-resourced neighborhood focused on gardening, education and nutrition. During her first four years, she has led the Garden in growing the programming dramatically, expanding the physical footprint and laying the groundwork for sustainable future expansion. In 2019 she completed a 30-year career in art museum education with her most recent years working as Director of Education at the Wexner Center for the Arts. During her time at the Wex, she developed specialized knowledge on working with ecology and contemporary arts, establishing two artist-created fruit parks in Columbus and working on several projects related to agriculture. Her focus for the future will be on ecology and food justice issues. She has an MA in Art Education from the Ohio State University and a BA in Art History from Oberlin College.
Nande gilbert
Manager of School and Teen Programs
Nande Gilbert has over 6 years of experience in youth development. She’s dedicated her life to giving back to her community, the Hilltop, and learning how to better serve the youth. In previous years she served local elementary schools with City Year Columbus and worked throughout Columbus with Godman Guild, and the Boys and Girls Club. Since coming to Highland Youth Garden in 2021, she has earned Life Labs certification as a garden educator, Project Wild/Growing Up Wild facilitator training and 4H Green Teacher certification. She has a BA from University of Toledo in Japanese and Education.
Paul Kemmer
Garden and Facilities Manager
Paul Kemmer possesses over 25 years of experience in organic gardening. Driven by a passion for food security, he has operated a free vegetable stand for more than a decade, utilizing produce from his family's home garden. His expertise includes cultivating over 100 different varieties of heirloom tomatoes, and he has achieved recognition by winning the top prize for the heaviest tomato at the Reynoldsburg Tomato Festival. Additionally, Paul has contributed to his community through volunteer work, donating tomato seedlings and conducting gardening seminars for Habitat for Humanity, where he teaches children and community members sustainable gardening practices.
JANE MARTIN
Manager for Afterschool and Family Programs
Jane joined the HYG team in the Spring of 2026, bringing a teaching background in ecology, biology and marine sciences. She taught project based learning in Florida, Massachusetts, and here in Columbus. After leaving the traditional classroom, Jane recognized how lacking real world skill development was in education, and has been in programming development since. In addition to science, Jane has developed and facilitated curriculum on creativity, cooking and social emotional communication. When she’s not teaching, you can find her perfecting her veggie roasting skills, creating abstract mixed media art, or planning her next road trip to be surrounded by as much nature as possible. Mostly, Jane is just excited to share her curious nature with those who join us at Garden Club, Summer Camp and all the other fun programming we can dream up.
CAROL CHOUP
Manager of Outreach and Administration
Carol Choup has held various roles in administration, social media management and community organizing. She completed the Ohio Women’s Alliance Action Fund’s 2023 Change Makers cohort before joining HYG in November 2023. She plays a critical part in capturing and sharing our organization's work with the public through social media, newsletters and community outreach. Over the past two years at HYG, she has participated in numerous community events on the Westside, forging connections with local residents and community organizations, consistently bringing new visitors to the garden. Looking ahead to 2026, she is eager to attend more community events and contribute to the garden's growth. Most importantly, she is enthusiastic about strengthening relationships within the community.
SAVANNAH BROWN
Assistant Gardener & Educator
Savannah Brown, a Florida native with a lifelong passion for nature, brings a deep love and understanding of U.S. agriculture to her work. Rooted in a belief that outdoor learning can inspire and empower, she is dedicated to sharing her knowledge with Highland Youth Garden and the community it serves. Savannah’s goal is to help nurture curiosity, growth, and connection to the natural world for every young learner she meets.