Meet the SAAB President (2025-2027):
Prof Kelsey Glennon
Kelsey Glennon is an Associate Professor in the School of Animal, Plant, and Environmental Sciences at the University of the Witwatersrand. As an NRF C1 rated researcher, she investigates how genome size (particularly through polyploidization) shapes plant evolution and ecosystem assembly. Her research integrates field ecology, genomics, and experimental approaches to understand how environmental pressures drive evolutionary patterns in polyploid plants. Over her career, she’s thought about reproductive isolation in the context of polyploidy and hybridization and has spent countless hours working on understanding trait variability and polyploid evolution in the Drakensberg Rhodohypoxis species.
Recently, grasses have lured her into thinking about ecological filters of genome size and how factors like fire may present an evolutionary paradox for polyploid evolution and genome size selection. When not thinking about genomes, Kelsey volunteers as a classroom scientist in her daughter’s school, facilitates primary school STEM activities (particularly botanically oriented activities!), and supports primary school STEM curriculum development. Growing an enthusiasm for plants and science starts early! As a result of these activities, she was featured in PlayAfrica’s Women in STEM series on Youtube.
The opportunity to lead SAAB is an honour, and she is excited to serve the South African Botanical community.