Welcome GrizzlyCorps Fellow: Jessica Garces

My name is Jessica Garces (she/her), and I am excited to join the UC Hopland Research and Extension Center (HREC) team as an Oak and Education GrizzlyCorps Fellow for the 2026–2027 term. GrizzlyCorps is an AmeriCorps fellowship program administered by UC Berkeley’s Center for Law, Energy & the Environment, connecting recent college graduates with rural California communities to accelerate local-led climate solutions, promote regenerative agri-food systems, and build fire and forest resilience. During my fellowship, I look forward to working alongside Community Education Specialist Hannah Bird to lead environmental education programming through specialized field trips for K-12 audiences, as well as advance oak regeneration efforts across the site in partnership with the Quercus Collaborative.

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I was born and raised in the East Bay, and I hold a B.S. in Conservation Resource Studies from UC Berkeley with concentrations in forestry, Environmental Policy, and Environmental Justice. Prior to the beginning of this fellowship, I gained hands-on experience as a Habitat Restoration intern with an environmental nonprofit in Marin County where I helped lead the revegetation of a major Wetland Enhancement Project, and facilitated community engagement events. I am eager to blend my passions for environmental science and interactive learning at such a beautiful site, and I can’t wait to meet the site’s resident flock of over 300 sheep and their new lambs this spring!