Employee wellness stood out among UC ANR strengths in the 2021 ANR@Work Survey. UC Cooperative Extension employees in Santa Clara County participated in UC ANR Walks in May. Photo by Susan Weaver

 

The results of the 2021 ANR@Work Survey are in and we're seeing more satisfaction in our work environment, reported Tina Jordan, academic human resources manager. At the Oct. 21 ANR town hall, Jordan presented the following highlights from the survey, which was conducted March 16 – April 9, 2021.

Scores for 2020 strengths increased in 2021:

1. I feel valued by my department
2. All people are welcomed
3. My department supports work-life balance
4. My department practices principles of community
5. I have the opportunity to participate in making decisions that affect my work

2021 strengths: 

1. UC ANR promotes a work environment where all people are welcomed
2. My department supports work-life balance
3. UC ANR promotes employee wellness
4. I understand how I contribute to the University's mission
5. Staff members value my contributions

The 2020 primary areas of opportunity remain the top five for 2021:

1. I feel valued as a member of the UC ANR Community
2. I feel I have a voice to provide my ideas and suggestions on how to improve UC ANR
3. Senior leaders have adequately communicated long-range goals and strategic direction
4. There are sufficient opportunities for contact with senior leadership
5. I am satisfied with my opportunities for career advancement

UC ANR employees offered ideas for improvement. To better foster a sense of belonging and feeling valued among employees and volunteers, they suggested focusing on diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI); improving hiring and onboarding processes; improving communication and relationships; increasing opportunities for promotion; prioritizing employee and volunteer recognition; making pay more equitable; and facilitating opportunities for employees to get to know one another.

Angela Song, UC San Diego senior director of organizational assessment and strategy, who assisted UC ANR with summarizing the results, lauded ANR's increases in scores across several dimensions and divisions. Song pointed to improved satisfaction in eight categories: senior leaders communicate goals, have a voice, ethical conduct, participate in decisions, promotes employee wellness, feel valued, satisfied with diversity programs and committed to diversity. The only statistically significant decrease was in responses related to total compensation.  

What is UC ANR doing with the 2021 survey results?

To use the survey results to further improve our work environment, Human Resources has shared the unit level summary reports with directors to discuss with employees in their units. HR is also working with Staff Assembly Council to cross reference ANR@Work Survey results with those of the systemwide survey conducted by the Council of University of California Staff Assemblies (CUCSA). Conversations addressing these subjects between leadership and the ANR community will continue through town halls and other Zoom sessions. The DEI Advisory Council is analyzing the survey results by employee demographic categories. The Strategic Planning Committee will continue to align survey results with UC ANR's organizational goals.

The survey was sent to 980 academics, staff and county-paid employees and 560 (57%) completed the survey (as compared to 708 respondents in 2020 for a 73% response rate).

For details about the survey and the results, visit https://ucanr.edu/sites/anrstaff/Diversity/ANR@Work_Survey_741/2021_ANR@Work_Survey.

A key to the success of UC Agriculture and Natural Resources for over a century has been its research-extension continuum.

UC ANR is composed of the Agricultural Experiment Station (AES) and UC Cooperative Extension (UCCE). The AES is not a place, it's the collective faculty members who are federally funded through the Hatch Act of 1887 and based at UC's AES-designated campuses in Berkeley, Davis and Riverside. UCCE specialists and advisors are federally funded through the Smith-Lever Act of 1914 and located on campuses and throughout the state.

Linda Forbes, Strategic Communications director, has been collecting examples of successful outcomes resulting from collaborations among AES and UCCE academics and sharing them in an email campaign to encourage further networking and partnerships.

In general, AES academics do most of their research on campus, UCCE specialists conduct more research in the field and UCCE advisors work directly with Californians to apply knowledge developed from AES research. In a simplified explanation of the research-extension continuum, UCCE advisors bring problems they see in the field to the attention of UCCE specialists and AES academics, who try to solve the problems, then recommend solutions for advisors to apply in the field. In effect, UCCE advisors and specialists bridge communication between campuses and communities.

Unlike in most other states, UCCE advisors also do their own field research, often collaborating with farmers and other community members.

Numerous successful collaborations take place across this network and the entire UC system to bring research-based solutions to local communities. See some examples at https://ucanr.edu/sites/anrstaff/Collaborations. Suggest other examples by emailing Forbes at lforbes@ucanr.edu. Visit the UC ANR directory to find AES and UC ANR experts working in your fields of interest.

Johnson named director of facilities planning and management 

Felicia Johnson

Felicia Johnson joined UC ANR as director of facilities planning and management on Oct. 25. Johnson will work with ANR units such as the research extension centers and other ANR-owned and leased facilities across the state to plan and execute maintenance and capital renewal work.

Johnson has over 15 years of experience in facilities management and design and construction management. Her experience includes managing multiple properties in multiple counties, wildlife preserves, historical landmark maintenance, compliance and restoration, budget management of projects and facilities design and construction, and Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification.

Most recently, Johnson was director of facilities at Westridge School for Girls in Pasadena, and Rio Hondo College in Whittier. She has created and implemented sustainability projects, including LEED-certified projects, in each facilities position she has held.

She earned a B.S. in mechanical engineering at UCLA, completed graduate coursework in project management at UC Irvine and is a Certified Educational Facilities Professional.

Johnson is based at the ANR building in Davis and can be reached at (530) 750-1292.

Goradia to lead UC ANR Aggie Enterprise project 

Raghu Goradia

Raghuvir (Raghu) Goradia has joined UC ANR as project manager for the UC ANR Aggie Enterprise project and the UC Systemwide Common Chart of Accounts project. 

Goradia will be responsible for leading and coordinating UC ANR's implementation in the upcoming UC Davis Oracle Enterprise system – Aggie Enterprise. The Aggie Enterprise system will replace several existing financial and reporting systems with one modern integrated solution to support the university and UC ANR's financial, reporting and business operations needs. 

For the last nine years, he worked on UCPath project implementation. 

He holds a bachelor's degree in electronic engineering from University of Pune and an MBA fromPrin. L. N. Welingkar Institute of Management Development and Research, Mumbai, India, and brings to UC ANR more than 18 years ofenterprise resource planning implementation and project management experience.

Goradia is based at the UC ANR building in Davis and can be reached at rjgoradia@ucanr.edu.

Horan named financial/budget analyst 

Maria Horan

Maria Horan joined the Business Operations Center team as a financial/budget analyst in October. Horan is working on UC Cooperative Extension fiscal and budgetary actions and various BOC financial matters.

She comes to UC ANR from the UC Davis School of Medicine, where she was a research contracts and grants analyst in the Department of Dermatology for three years and, prior to that, an executive analyst in the Department of Pharmacology for more than six years. Horan has worked with principal investigators on pre-award submissions and post-award management and financial reporting.

She earned a B.A. in interdisciplinary field studies from UC Berkeley. 

Horan is located at the UC ANR Building in Davis and can be reached at mhoran@ucanr.edu, or (530) 792-8258.

Zalom elected ESA honorary member

Frank Zalom. Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey

Frank Zalom, UC Davis distinguished professor and UC Cooperative Extension integrated pest management specialist, has been elected an Honorary Member of the Entomological Society of America (ESA), an honor bestowed for his “long-term dedication and extraordinary contributions” to the 7000-member global organization.

“Honorary membership acknowledges those who have served ESA for at least 20 years through significant involvement in the affairs of the society that has reached an extraordinary level,” an ESA spokesperson said. “Candidates for this honor are selected by the ESA Governing Board and then voted on by the ESA membership.”

“Dr. Zalom is phenomenal for his sustained service of leadership, research, teaching and mentoring, and in my opinion, he is one of the world's most influential, accomplished and inspirational entomologists,” wrote nominator James R. Carey, a UC Davis distinguished professor of entomology and an ESA Fellow. 

A 47-year member of ESA, Zalom is an emeritus professor with the UC Davis Department of Entomology and Nematology, and currently a recall professor, continuing his work on IPM of tree, vine and fruiting vegetable crops through several major USDA and CDFA research grants he has received since retiring. 

Zalom directed the UC Statewide Integrated Pest Management Program for 16 years (1986-2002). “Frank elevated it to 'the gold standard' of the world's IPM programs, emphasizing ecologically based pest management programs for agriculture, urban settings and natural resources,” Carey wrote. 

He served as the 2014 ESA president, 2015 Entomological Foundation president, and the 2002 Pacific Branch president. He has been editor-in-chief of the Journal of Economic Entomology since 2018. He also was the first editorial board chair (2008-09) of the Journal of Integrated Pest Management, serving on the board until 2012.   

Zalom will be honored at theESA's annual meeting Oct. 31-Nov. 3 in Denver. – Kathy Keatley Garvey

Read more at https://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=50675.

Do you have a learning topic you would like to present to our ANR colleagues that covers the ANR Strategic Plan 20-25 or one of these four strategic learning goals? Submit your webinar idea here.

Check below for upcoming opportunities or ICYMI (in case you missed it) recordings. 

Extension Methods & Delivery
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
Building Support
Office, Team and Personal Management
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Edtech and Teachers: Selecting Products to Support Diverse Learners (Sponsored by Digital Promise)
Wednesday, Nov. 3, 2021
2 p.m. - 4 p.m. Pacific

Click here for more information and to register.
A Learner Variability Project national survey of American public school parents and teachers found that teachers more comfortable with edtech were significantly less likely to say the pandemic has worsened their ability to work with each student's learner variability.

Yet, as our speakers will address, before developing a comfort with edtech is the need to understand the why within each student—their variability that can change over time and context. In this edWebinar, we will discuss:

• How equity, accessibility, and supporting the whole learner give products more opportunities to address the needs of the full diversity of learners
• Resources for teachers on how they can enable features that make tools they use more accessible
• Access to clear and trustworthy information about edtech to ensure teachers can easily find tools that align with their priorities
• Internal school district decision-making processes for tech tool selection

This edWebinar will be of interest to pre-K to grade 12 teachers, librarians, school and district leaders, ELL educators, and those involved in the edtech community. There will be time for questions at the end of the presentation.

 Image by Gordon Johnson from Pixabay

Innovation Skill-Building Experience (Q4, Session 2)
Tuesday, Nov. 9, 2021
Tuesday, Nov. 16, 2021
Click here to learn more and to register.

Do you have a project idea that needs incubation, innovation, and ways to get to implementation and impact faster? Are you looking to learn about design thinking and lean experimentation combined with Cooperative Extension's best practices for solving important community issues? Are you interested in becoming an Innovation Facilitator/Coach for future Impact Collaborative events and to support your institution's teams and teams across the nation? Are you already an Innovation Facilitator or a team member who would like a refresher on the Innovation Skill-Building process?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, then join us to explore the Impact Collaborative's Innovation Skill-Building experience in a whole new way: The ISBE will meet via Zoom for four sessions covering specific ISBE building blocks to spark ideas, increase innovation, and turbocharge implementation to ultimately create local impact.

Southern Region NUEL Urban Agriculture Zoom
Friday, Nov. 19, 2021
10 a.m.-12 p.m. Pacific
Click to learn more.

The Southern Region National Urban Extension Leaders Network will again host quarterly webinars during 2021-22. We will be covering the topic of Urban Agriculture: Extension programs/initiatives that support local food production in urban communities, whether through commercial farming, school, and community-based gardening, or home food production.

Our guest will be Dr. Drew Carson from the University of the District of Columbia. We will also have "lightning presentations" from three Southern Region agents/educators.

Zoom Link: https://uky.zoom.us/j/86193898011

2021 NAEPSDP Annual Conference (Virtual)
National Association of Extension Programs and Staff Development Professionals
Tuesday, Nov. 30 - Thursday, Dec. 2, 2021

Click here for more information and to register.
Click here for tentative schedule.
The theme of this year's conference is "Moving forward in a new world."

We are looking forward to getting together virtually to again interact with colleagues and share ideas and successes!

29 Days Left to Submit Presentation Proposals for the 2022 National Urban Extension Conference
Monday, May 23 - Thursday, May 26, 2022, Camden, New Jersey
Click here to learn more and register.

This event provides an opportunity for Extension professionals and applied researchers to share research and innovative educational strategies that address the needs of urban, suburban, and peri-urban populations as well as urban-rural interdependencies. The Conference will take place in Camden, New Jersey--part of the Camden-Philadelphia metro area! Learn more.

A Non-Traditional Route to Delivering Traditional Extension Programs
Recording (July 2021)

Master Gardeners, Youth Development and Field Days are a mainstay for most Extension programs. The pandemic allowed the Harris County (Texas) ANR unit to develop educational outreach programs that were only concepts prior to COVID-19 restrictions. We will look at what was implemented, what we learned and what's next. Julie Robinson will discuss the efforts of Virtual Field Tours that began before the pandemic and then improved and enhanced during the pandemic.

Texas A&M AgriLife Extension's Presentation: Slide deck.
Virtual Field Tours/Trip Presentation: Slide deck.

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Perspectives: Culturally Responsive Place-based Education Series
Thursdays - Nov. 4, Dec. 2, Feb. 3, March 3, April 7, May 5
3:30 – 5:30 p.m. Pacific
Click here to learn more and to register.

The Michigan State University Extension Tollgate Farm and Education Center is hosting a virtual professional development panel discussion series for formal and non-formal educators about learning to better incorporate the perspectives of those with whom we work in schools and educational programs. Moderators and panelists from each community provide a chance for educators to deepen their teaching practice in a safe online space for open conversation and community. SCHECHs are available for teachers.

Perspectives: Culturally Responsive Place-Based Education will begin November 4, 2021, with a session on indigenous perspectives and experiences of maple sugaring, especially as they connect to schools and place-based education centers.

Nov. 4 – Incorporating Indigenous Perspectives and Maple Sugaring Experiences in Place-based Teaching and Learning
Dec. 2 - Incorporating Black Perspectives in Place-Based Teaching and Learning
Feb. 3 - Special Needs Perspectives and PBE In and Beyond the Classroom
March 3 - Engaging with LGTBQ+IA Communities in PBE in Formal and Non-Formal Settings
April 7 - A Latinx Lens: Incorporating Latinx Perspectives through Place-Based Educational Programming
May 5 -Incorporating Asian Principles, Practices, and People in Community- and Place-Based Learning

Image by Clker-Free-Vector-Images from Pixabay

UC SAREP Racial Equity in Extension Webinar
Session 5: Understanding Disparities in Farmland Ownership
Friday, Nov. 19, 2021
1:30-3 p.m. (Pacific Time)
 Click here to register.

The goal of the UC SAREP Racial Equity in Extension webinar series is to provide a foundation of knowledge for extension professionals to foster relationships of trust with farmers, ranchers, and other land managers of color who have historically been underserved by extension institutions. By unpacking the history of how land is owned and by whom, this session seeks to draw attention to the importance of prioritizing equitable land ownership/tenure.

Who Should Attend:
Anyone who works in an extension capacity, including with organizations such as UC Cooperative Extension, Resource Conservation Districts, the Natural Resources Conservation Service, and related agencies and organizations.

It is not necessary to have attended the previous webinars in the series to sign up for the upcoming webinars.

Description: Land is foundational to food production, and access to land is a critical issue for the next generation of farmers. Yet ownership of farmland in the United States is vastly unequal, with White people owning 98%. This webinar – the first of two on the topic of land justice – will explore how present-day trends in farmland ownership are rooted in colonization, land appropriation/theft, discrimination, and violence. The webinar will also recognize ways in which Black, Indigenous, and other People of Color in California have always resisted racism and affirmed lasting ties to the land. Part two – the final webinar in our 6-part series, to be held in December – will highlight organizations working towards land justice solutions and how extension professionals might engage them.

Panelists:

• Brittani Orona is an enrolled member of the Hoopa Valley Tribe and an incoming Assistant Professor of American Indian Studies at San Diego State University. Her research focuses on Hupa, Yurok, and Karuk perspectives of visual sovereignty, memory, human and water rights on the Klamath River Basin.
• Caroline Collins, Ph.D. is a Postdoctoral Fellow at UC San Diego and the producer of the Cal Ag Roots podcast series "We Are Not Strangers Here," which shines a light on African Americans in the history of California agriculture and rural communities.
• Nikiko Masumoto is a yonsei (4th generation) farmer on her family's organic peach farm and the co-founder of Yonsei Memory Project, which creates inter-generational spaces for ‘memory keeping' within the Japanese American community and in alliance with other communities and movements for justice and healing.
• Megan Horst, Ph.D. is an Associate Professor in Urban Studies and Planning at Portland State University and author of the 2018 article “Racial, ethnic and gender inequities in farmland ownership and farming in the US”.

REGISTER HERE

Registration/Logistics: Email UC ANR Program Support or call (530) 750-1361
Program Content: Gwenael Engelskirchen or Sonja Brodt

Making the Unconscious Conscious: Understanding and Mitigating Bias (UC Learning Center Course)
Tuesday, March 8, 2022 
1 – 4 p.m.
Virtual Instructor-led Training

Thursday, May 26, 2022 
9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Virtual Instructor-led Training

Click to register and for more information.
Participants will be introduced to theory and language in understanding implicit and explicit bias. Using personal reflection, experiential exercises and case studies, participants will gain greater awareness when they engage in bias and gain essential knowledge and skills (tools) in how they recognize and mitigate biases in both personal and professional domains. This session includes an exploration of how the pandemic has impacted this area of diversity, equity and inclusion. NOTE: Class is subject to a minimum enrollment of 15 to proceed. Register with the wait-list if the class is full.

Save the Date: Understanding Neurodiversity: Breaking barriers
Wednesday Dec. 8, 2021
1 – 2:30 p.m.

Presented by Steve Ruder from the MIND Institute's Resource Center. Mr. Ruder assists families and people with disabilities who have questions regarding high school transition, adult services, and employment. Steve is the facilitator for the Northern California Business Advisory Council. He also assists families with questions regarding supported decision-making before considering conservatorship. Please contact Steve at sruder@ucdavis.edu to schedule an appointment.

Zoom Meeting: https://ucanr.zoom.us/j/5307501239?pwd=WDI3U2g5cXRvWUhVUlY3MitJWkVVUT09
Meeting ID: 530 750 1239 Phone +1 669 900 6833 US | Password: 4Collab

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Open Forum/Questions for Office of Contracts and Grants
Wednesday, Nov. 17, 2021
9:30 - 10:30 a.m.

The world of contracts and grants can sometimes seem complicated. Let us help you alleviate your concerns. Please join Kathy Nolan, Kim Lamar and the Office of Contracts & Grants team for an open forum to answer your questions. If possible, please send questions to kdlamar@ucanr.edu in advance (not required) for an informative discussion.

Zoom: https://ucanr.zoom.us/j/751701428?pwd=Q1ZrbUtoQVJwMXJVRkQydUlwNytJQT09
Password: 4Learning | +1 669 900 6833 | Webinar ID: 751 701 428

A State Perspective on Budget - Best Arguments for Increasing Funding
Thursday, Nov. 18, 2021
Noon-12:30 p.m.

Presented by our new Vice Provost of Research and Extension, David Bunn. Description coming.

Zoom: https://ucanr.zoom.us/j/751701428?pwd=Q1ZrbUtoQVJwMXJVRkQydUlwNytJQT09
Password: 4Learning | +1 669 900 6833 | Webinar ID: 751 701 428

Image by Clker-Free-Vector-Images from Pixabay

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Unafraid: How to Speak Up About Things That Matter (From the people who brought us Crucial Conversations, Crucial Learning® (formerly Vital Smarts®)
Tuesday, Nov. 9, 2021
10 – 10:45 a.m. Pacific
Click here to learn more and register.

Afraid to speak up? You're not alone. Our latest research shows 9 out of 10 people have felt emotionally or physically unsafe to speak their mind at least a few times in the past 18 months.

But what's really driving our silence? Are we just victims of divisive current events and a volatile social landscape?

The truth is, we've always struggled to master Crucial Conversations. It's also true that today's topics are so divisive and so difficult that they reveal, more than ever before, our style when under stress. And if we're not lashing out in anger, disrespect, and judgment, we're retreating entirely from social discourse.

The good news is we have more control than we think. Our study of 1,300 people found a correlation between the stories we tell ourselves about those who disagree with us and our confidence and ability to engage in dialogue. When we master our stories, we control our fear and ultimately the outcome of the conversation.

Join Joseph Grenny and Emily Gregory, co-authors of the new third edition of Crucial Conversations. In this 45-minute webinar, Joseph and Emily will share results from our fascinating study and talk about what we can do to confidently and civilly speak up.

Image by Tumisu from Pixabay

Change Management for Managers and Supervisors (Virtual- UC Davis)
Wednesday, Jan. 12, 2022
12:30-4:30 p.m.
Click here for more information/registration.

Managers are critical to change success; however, they sometimes underestimate their role or are unsure how to fulfill it. Change Management for Managers and Supervisors provides people managers with the tools and skills necessary to understand and process change themselves, while proactively leading their teams through change.

In this program, participants will:

• Gain an appreciation for the impact of change management on organizational results
• Understand foundational aspects of change management and the critical role managers play in the change process
• Learn a practical framework for planning for the many organizational changes that impact them and their teams
• Understand how to plan for and manage resistance to change

Technology Courses (UC Davis Learning Center)
Click here to learn more and register.

Collaboration Apps? UC Cyber Security Awareness? Database management? Or maybe Acrobat, PPT, Outlook or Excel?
Find courses on the UC Davis UC Learning Center and boost your technology versatility!

Project Management Foundations (LinkedIn Learning)
Click here to access course

Project management is a set of techniques that anyone can apply to achieve goals and make projects more successful. Project management can be used to guide small, simple projects as well as complex enterprise-wide initiatives. Bonnie Biafore has always been fascinated by how things work and how to make things work better. In this course, she explains the fundamentals of project management, from establishing project goals and objectives and building a project plan to managing resources and work, meeting deadlines, and closing the project. Along the way, she provides tips for communicating, holding meetings, keeping a project on track, and gaining customer acceptance. 

Request your LinkedIn Learning account by emailing ANR IT at help@ucanr.edu.

Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing (LinkedIn Learning)
Click here to access course

With easy-to-understand examples, Grammar Girl Mignon Fogarty shares ways you can instantly make your writing better, including using active voice, writing with rhythm, and using commas like a pro. She also dispels a few common grammar myths, gives pointers for breaking up run-on sentences, and much more. Watch just one video or the whole series of these quick tip videos any time you want to improve your writing skills.

Request your LinkedIn Learning account by emailing ANR IT at help@ucanr.edu.

Manage Your Well-being as a Leader
Click here to access course.

Research shows that today's leaders are suffering from poor well-being and mental health issues more so than ever before. Too often, they put the needs of the business or their team before their own needs. But, much like airline pre-flight instructions to “put your oxygen mask on first, before helping others,” leaders need to take a similar approach by managing their own well-being first. By doing so, they can become role models for their employees and build stronger team relationships that lead to better health and productivity outcomes. In this course, New York Times bestselling author, researcher, and workplace expert Dan Schawbel gives leaders the inspiration, advice, and real-world examples to guide them on their journey to better well-being.

Request your LinkedIn Learning account by emailing ANR IT at help@ucanr.edu.

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ANR Learning & Development
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