Senuta joined UC ANR in 1994 after serving as an external member of the ad hoc review committee tasked to evaluate the future of publishing in the Division. She helped shape the Communication Services unit, which, in its early days, concentrated on publishing and gradually expanded to address the Division's growing information technology and strategic communications needs. With academics from the Communications Advisory Board, Senuta helped formulate all aspects of the ANR peer-review process, which ensures that ANR's education materials are accurate, useful and timely. With her staff, Senuta created a professional unit that produced, published, and marketed ANR research in awarding-winning books, online publications, California Agriculture journal, and provided attractive visual services of graphic design, photography and videography.
Senuta credits her creative staff, the committed scientists of ANR and her two supervisors – former CSIT executive director Bob Sams and AVP Tu Tran – for challenging and inspiring her. “When my son was little, he asked what I did at my job,” she said. “I told him that I help our scientists explain to Californians how to grow more food, use fewer chemicals, eat healthier and keep the land protected. That simplistic explanation has been my motivation for 24 years.”

In his new role, Downing will provide leadership of UC ANR publishing and advance Division strategic, business and operational objectives. Advised by the Communications Advisory Board, he will direct all phases of academic peer review, editorial planning and production for California Agriculture journal, print and electronic ANR publications, visual communications and, as appropriate, strategic communications materials. He will also manage the unit's professional staff, budget and physical resources.
Downing has served ANR for 3½ years as California Agriculture executive editor, steering the journal to its recent first-place award in the Periodicals category by the Association for Communications Excellence, the international professional association for agricultural communicators, educators and information technologists. Before joining UC ANR, Downing was the Sacramento Bee's agriculture, energy and climate reporter, and he produced publications on natural resources and agriculture for agency, NGO and corporate clients. He received a bachelor's degree in agricultural engineering from Cornell University and master's degrees in energy and resources and in environmental engineering, both from UC Berkeley.
- Author: Ann Senuta
The work of Communication Services and Information Technology's Publishing group supports the extension mission of UC ANR. Peer-reviewed publications and California Agriculture journal provide a conduit for applied research and programmatic expertise to be disseminated to clientele and broader audiences. They also provide an opportunity for ANR authors to receive professional credit for their peer-reviewed, published work. The Division supports these core efforts for its academic programs, and no publishing-related work is billed to authors, clients or programs.
The CSIT publishing and production group also provides graphic design, editing, video recording and photography to ANR. These services have been used for promotional materials, conferences, policy efforts and other communications needs. As part of the strengthening of the unit's sustainability, to better ensure that programmatic communication needs are met and to be more transparent and consistent in its operations, CSIT has renewed its recharge process for these additional production services.
Beginning Dec. 1, 2015, all work developing and producing materials that promote the Division and its programs will be billed on an hourly basis to the account determined by the client. This includes
- External promotional materials for Division (such as billboards, signage)
- Promotional materials for programs (such as logo development, brochures)
- Event and conference materials
- Internal training materials
- Strategic Initiative communications materials (such as fact sheets, policy briefs)
- Strategic communications and advocacy materials (such as targeted materials for stakeholders)
- Production consultation, print cost estimates and freelance production management for the above
In addition, video production for educational projects and MediaSite lecture capture time is also billable to clients' programs.
An initial consultation about the project's scope and estimated cost is uncharged. ANR personnel are urged to go to http://anrcs.ucanr.edu/Production_Request to get this discussion underway. —Ann Senuta
CSIT's 2015-16 hourly recharge rates
(established by the Division's Rate and Recharge Committee)
- Graphic design and illustration services $87.30
- Video production, lecture capture and photography $81.47
- Editing, cost estimating and project management $75.60
- Web programming $90.90 (since January 1, 2015)
- Author: Ann Senuta
- Author: Terri L White
Recruitment is now underway for ANR associate editors in two subject areas:
- Food and Nutrition
- Animal, Avian and Veterinary Sciences
ANR associate editors manage the anonymous peer-review process for ANR educational publications and materials. In doing so, associate editors ensure that the content of ANR publications is as accurate as possible. Associate editors also encourage authorship of needed publications, and they serve as a link between ANR Communication Services and Information Technology (CSIT) and the Division's programs. With their efforts, associate editors significantly contribute to the quality of UC ANR extension and outreach programs statewide.
ANR associate editors are nominated by the Communications Advisory Board (CAB) and appointed by AVP Bill Frostto four-year terms, beginning Nov. 1, 2015. After appointment, new associate editors are fully trained in the ANR peer-review process and the online review system.
To nominate yourself or a colleague for associate editor in food and nutrition or animal, avian and veterinary sciences, please provide the following information by Aug. 14 to CAB recruitment subcommittee chair Dustin Blakey at dwblakey@ucanr.edu:
- candidate's name
- address
- phone number
- email address
- areas of expertise
- length of service with ANR
- workgroup or continuing conferences to which candidate belongs
- description of candidate's prior involvement with both CSIT and ANR
- description of candidate's prior involvement other peer review processes
- a paragraph stating the candidate's interest and motivation for wanting to take on the associate editor role.
If you have questions about the responsibilities of ANR associate editors, contact associate editor chair Janet Hartin at (951) 313-2023 or jshartin@ucanr.edu, or Ann Senuta, CSIT director of publishing and production, at aesenuta@ucanr.edu.
- Author: Ann Senuta
- Author: Terri L White
The advisory board to ANR Communication Services and Information Technology (CSIT) is seeking to fill positions. Nominations for Communications Advisory Board membership can include, but are not limited to, specialists, advisors and faculty affiliated with UC ANR.
The board provides advice and support to CSIT leadership on Division program connection, resource allocation prioritization, major policy issues, budget and long-range planning. It also provides oversight of the peer review process for ANR educational materials.
Board members appointed by AVP Bill Frost,serve three-year, rotating terms. The board meets on a quarterly basis in Davis. The new appointments begin in November 2015. Existing board members whose terms are ending may reapply.
Nominations are due Aug. 14, 2015. You may nominate yourself or someone else. Send nominations, along with contact information, to Communications Advisory Board Subcommittee Chair Dustin Blakely at dwblakey@ucanr.edu.
If nominating yourself, please fill out the online application survey,
http://ucanr.edu/survey/survey.cfm?surveynumber=15900 and attach a curriculum vitae.
Current members of the advisory board are Sheila Barry, UCCE livestock and natural resources advisor, Santa Clara County; Dustin Blakey, UCCE county director and farm advisor, Inyo/Mono Counties, Surendra Dara, UCCE strawberry, vegetable crops and IPM advisor, San Luis Obispo County; David Doll, UCCE pomology farm advisor, Merced County; Rachel Elkins, UCCE pomology farm advisor, Lake/Mendocino Counties and Master Gardener advisor, Lake County; Allan Fulton, UCCE irrigation and water resources advisor, Tehama County; Brad Hanson, UCCE weed specialist, UC Davis; John Harper, UCCE livestock and natural resources advisor, Mendocino County; John Karlik, UCCE horticulture advisor, Kern County; David Lewis, UCCE county director and watershed management advisor, Marin/Napa Counties; Fe Moncloa, UCCE 4-H youth development advisor, Santa Clara County; Shannon Mueller, UCCE farm advisor, Fresno County/Madera Counties; Dennis Pittenger, UCCE environmental horticulture advisor, Riverside; Martin Smith, UCCE youth curriculum specialist; Terri Spezzano, UCCE county director and nutrition, family, consumer science advisor; and Patti Wooten Swanson, UCCE nutrition, family, consumer science advisor, San Diego County.