Richard Naskali was born in Jefferson, Ohio in 1935. He attended Ohio State University, receiving a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture, and a Master’s of Science and Ph.D. in Botany. He worked as an assistant instructor and instructor at Ohio State from 1960-1967 before coming to the University of Idaho as an acting assistant professor of Botany in 1967. He became an assistant professor in 1970, and associate professor in 1987. In 1975, Dr. Naskali was appointed to the committee created by then UI President Ernest Hartung to consider further arboretum development for the university. In 1987, he was named director to oversee the UI’s new 63 acre Arboretum and Botanical Garden and manage the reclamation of the 14 acre Charles H. Shattuck Arboretum. He became director emeritus upon his retirement in 2003.

In addition to managing the daily activities of the arboretum, Dr. Naskali advised the UI on matters of campus tree plantings and landscape management. He presented workshops on topics such as water gardens, origination of plant names, European gardens and the history of the arboretum throughout the community of Moscow as well as the immediate Pacific Northwest. He led tours to flower and garden shows in Seattle and Vancouver, B.C. and served on the City of Moscow Tree Committee. Dr. Naskali also acted as a reviewer or advisor on several books and textbooks. His professional memberships include the Botanical Society of America, Northwest Scientific Association, American Orchid Society and American Association of Botanical Gardens and Arboreta.