About: Roseann Beggy Hanson

Roseann greets Nane Ole Timpaine
in Olkiramatian, Kenya.

Roseann Beggy Hanson is a native of southern Arizona, and grew up in the rural Tanque Verde Valley east of Tucson.


She studied journalism and ecology and evolutionary biology at the University of Arizona, and has worked in the American Southwest, Mexico, and East Africa as a conservationist, naturalist, and writer for non-profits for 25 years. Please see the Publications page for samples of her writing, design, and marketing work; download a full CV for Roseann here (PDF format).

With her husband, Jonathan, she has authored over a dozen natural history and outdoor books, including the Southern Arizona Nature Almanac and San Pedro River: A Discovery Guide. Their Ragged Mountain Guide to Outdoor Sports won the 1997 Outdoor Book Award and their 50 Common Reptiles was cited for Interpretive Excellence by the National Park Service in 1997. (Publications page, for full list.)


Roseann is also a lapidary and metalsmith, creating one-of-a-kind gemstone and precious metal jewelry. She has sold her creations under the name Desert Rose Design Studio online and at galleries throughout the West. Currently, her jewelrymaking is limited to custom orders and a small number of web sales.

Desert Rose Design Studio, a set on Flickr.

On her 1981 BMW R80 G/S
 (photo courtesy of Murphy Robert,
 WheretheHellisMurph.blogspot.com)

ConserVentures began as a consultancy to assist small non-profits with development and communications. Clients included African Conservation Fund, South Rift Association of Land Owners, Uaso Ngiro Baboon Project, Biosphere Expeditions, and several other businesses and conservation efforts. ConserVentures has expanded to include the Overland Expo, and a mission that strongly emphasizes tying together exploration and conservation of the world’s natural and cultural resources.

Roseann is a research fellow at the University of Arizona's Southwest Center, and was named a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society for her conservation and expedition work.

Jonathan and Roseann celebrated 25 years of marriage in 2009; they share their remote, off-the-grid property 35 miles southwest of Tucson, Arizona, and work together on Overland Expo and ConserVentures.org.


Follow Roseann on Twitter, Facebook, or Tumblr

Click to see Jonathan's bio