Garry Rogers’ life journey spans diverse fields, from academia and business to environmental conservation and writing. Growing up on a small farm in Oklahoma and later moving to northern Arizona, Garry’s early life instilled in him a deep curiosity and a love for independent learning. He pursued his academic interests, earning a Ph.D. in physical geography, and faculty positions with UCLA and Columbia University in New York. His passion for understanding the natural world was evident in his research on landscape changes and environmental science.
After a successful career in academia, Garry ventured into the business world, co-founding and leading a technology distribution company. However, his innate connection to nature eventually drew him back to environmental work. In 2006, he became the President of the Agua Fria Open Space Alliance, a nonprofit dedicated to nature conservation in central Arizona. Through this role, he has championed projects focused on his local community and local wildlife and ecosystems, addressing issues like invasive species and the impact of desert fires.
Garry is also a prolific writer, with a bibliography that includes 24 books and thousands of articles on nature conservation. His blog, garryrogers.com, has a significant following, where he shares his insights and observations on the environment. His writings reflect his concern for the planet and his desire to inspire others to appreciate and protect it. Beyond his scientific and conservation work, Garry has also delved into fiction, with his novel “Corr Syl the Warrior” receiving critical acclaim, including the Kirkus Star and the Arizona Librarians’ OneBookAZ award. A recent revision and expansion of the book, “Corr Syl,” is now available on Amazon. His contributions have not gone unnoticed; he is a member of the Scientific Research Society (Sigma Xi) and has been honored with an induction into the Phoenix College Hall of Fame. Garry lives in central Arizona, where he continues to write and observe the rich wildlife around him, including butterflies, deer, turtles, and many bird species. His life is a testament to a lifelong pursuit of knowledge, a commitment to environmental stewardship, and a dedication to sharing his experiences and insights with a broad audience.
Dr. Rogers is an elected member of Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Honor Society, and the Phoenix College Hall of Fame. He served as a UNESCO Man and Biosphere Director and he is active in other scholarly associations. Several of his wildlife books received awards and his first novel (Corr Syl) received a Kirkus star and was chosen by Arizona librarians for the OneBookAZ program.
Since becoming President of AFOSA, Dr. Rogers has worked to develop and manage projects that meet the organization’s community and nature-conservation goals. He has published 24 books, hundreds of articles, and almost 3,000 posts on his blog.
Dr. Rogers and his wife manage and defend the Coldwater Farm Conservation Easement, a rare wildlife habitat near the center of Dewey-Humboldt, Arizona. The Farm is 20 acres in size, a rarity among the typically much larger easements in the U.S. In spite of its small size and location within a Town, the farm has large ponds, a rare perennial stream, and abundant wildlife.
