- Author: Pamela Kan-Rice
Moon named director of Workplace Inclusion & Belonging
Elizabeth Moon joined UC ANR on March 3 as director of workplace inclusion and belonging. She will be responsible for developing and implementing ANR's diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives and programs for our community. This position, an inaugural appointment, will be an integral collaborative partner to the ANR DEI Advisory Council. Moon will partner with ANR administrative and academic units, affinity groups and other ANR constituents on engagement strategies.
Moon comes to ANR with years of experience in assessing and building inclusive relationships within communities. In her previous position as chief diversity officer at UC Davis Graduate School of Management (GSM), she created the Action for Diversity GSM Community Group for students, staff, alumni and business partners to explore and challenge each other to create a non-partisan conversation of learning on issues surrounding systemic and individual racism. She collaborated on the creation of the GSM DEI Strategic Vision and Goals and built bridges for a larger LGBTQ+ presence at GSM.
Moon has an M.A. in teaching English as a second language from California State University, Sacramento, a B.A. in anthropology from George Washington University, Washington, D.C., and a National Association of Diversity in Higher Education Standards of Professional Practice Certificate. She is also an MBA Certified Coach.
Read more in Mike Hsu's A conversation with Elizabeth Moon.
Colleagues are invited to meet Moon at the DEI Alliance meeting at the ANR Statewide Conference on Monday, April 24, from 3:15-5 p.m. in Salon D at the DoubleTree in Fresno.
Moon is located in room 155 in the ANR building on 2nd Street in Davis and can be reached at emoon@ucanr.edu and (530) 883-1174.
Kayad named ag engineering advisor at Intermountain REC
Ahmed Kayad joined UC Cooperative Extension in January as an agricultural engineering advisor at the Intermountain Research and Extension Center.
He will address regional needs in relation to integrating and adapting new technologies related to mechanization, automation and precision agriculture into intermountain cropping systems. Kayad is eager to investigate differences in crop growth and development within agricultural fields in Modoc and Siskiyou counties using satellite, drone and ground sensors.
To help farmers make informed management decisions across their farming operations, one of Kayad's first objectives is to map fields for spatial and temporal yield variability to better understand management practices that increase crop production.
Prior to joining IREC, he was a postdoctoral researcher at UC Riverside. His recent research activities include monitoring crop yield through ground and remote sensing for alfalfa and corn, using drone images for weed detection in vegetable crops, and investigating the impact of digital solutions in agriculture. He worked as a service engineer at farm equipment manufacturer CLAAS in Egypt, specializing in hay balers and forage/grain combine harvesters. In 2020, he was a visiting doctoral researcher at the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) in Mexico.
Kayad earned a Ph.D in digital agriculture from the University of Padua, Italy, studying corn yield mapping through ground and remote sensing techniques. He earned a bachelor's and master's in agricultural engineering from Alexandria University, Egypt and King Saud University, Saudi Arabia respectively.
Kayad is located at the Intermountain Research and Extension Center in Tulelake and can be reached at agkayad@ucanr.edu and (530) 667-5117.
Tanner named specialty crops and horticulture advisor
Eddie Tanner joined UC Cooperative Extension on Jan. 3 as a specialty crops and horticulture advisor serving Humboldt and Del Norte counties.
He will be supporting the region's vegetable, fruit, flower and nursery growers with research-based technical assistance, collaborating with community partners to increase access to locally produced foods, and supporting the UC Master Gardeners.
Tanner has been involved in agriculture in Humboldt County for over 20 years as a farmer and a farm and garden educator. He holds a B.S. in wildland soil science from Humboldt State University and an M.S. in agriculture from Washington State University.
Tanner is based in the Eureka office and can be reached at ehtanner@ucanr.edu.
Gilani named biomass and bioenergy advisor
Haris Gilani joined UC ANR on Jan. 9 as a UCCE biomass and bioenergy advisor serving Riverside and San Bernardino counties.
In this role, Gilani investigates opportunities and strategies for increasing the use of woody biomass through development of biofuels and bioenergy among other products. He will also work to enhance biomass management and natural resource manufacturing with strategies for reducing community risk from wildfires.
“I think the overarching aim is to develop sustainable markets for wood and biomass to support forest management and restoration activities across all forest lands in California,” Gilani said. “This will help achieve the state's climate change goals as well as promote long-term economic development and community resilience.”
Another important aspect of his role is communicating research-based information on efficacy of converting woody biomass into fuels for transportation and other products that are consistent with the state's Forest Carbon Plan, to the public, industry, government and relevant stakeholders.
Gilani earned a Ph.D. in forest products marketing from the University of British Columbia, Canada, a Master of Business Administration from Technical University Freiberg in Germany, and a bachelor's in mathematics and physics from the University of the Punjab in Pakistan.
Before joining UC ANR, Gilani worked at his alma matter in Canada as a postdoctoral fellow focusing on economic and market analysis of value-added wood products in BC. He also worked as an assistant project scientist at UC Berkeley researching biofuels, before he joined the State University of New York in Syracuse, where he developed a wood-based bioeconomy roadmap for NY State.
Gilani is based out of the UCCE Riverside County office in Palm Desert and can be reached at hgilani@ucanr.edu.
Nguyen named UCCE nutrition specialist
Cassandra Nguyen joined UC Cooperative Extension on Jan. 3 as a specialist in the UC Davis Department of Nutrition.
Nguyen's long-term goal is to bridge the gap between "what we know" and "what we do" about food insecurity. Her research encompasses three areas of interest: revitalization of local food systems to increase diet quality and well-being among Native communities and families; integration of food insecurity screening into healthcare services to better address chronic diseases; and advancements in the charitable food system to increase equity and empowerment of clients.
Nguyen recently published a journal article on food bank strategies to promote nutrition and health.
She earned a Ph.D. in human nutrition and M.S. in nutritional sciences, both from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and a B.S. in dietetics from Central Washington University.
Nguyen is located in Meyer Hall at UC Davis and can be reached at (530) 752-3817 and casnguy@ucdavis.edu.
Engelskirchen shifts to new role with SARE
Gwenaël Engelskirchen began as the new sustainable food and farming coordinator with the UC Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program in January.
After serving as SAREP's sustainable supply chain coordinator since 2015, Engelskirchen said she is looking forward to her new role as an academic coordinator to support farmers and ranchers in adopting more sustainable agricultural practices while strengthening regional food systems.
“Leveraging SAREP's emphasis and expertise on sustainability from ‘farm to fork,' I hope to bring research and resources to meet the needs of diverse clientele groups across California,” Engelskirchen said.
Key audiences and partners include agricultural producers, regional distributors, food hubs, institutional and retail buyers, community organizations and agencies that address food, farming and natural resource issues. In her previous capacity with SAREP, Engelskirchen launched the California Food Hub Network, a statewide learning network for regional, values-based food distributors.
In addition to earning bachelor's degrees in international development and women's studies from UCLA and a master's in community development from UC Davis, Engelskirchen has worked on and managed organic farms, both urban and rural. She has designed and organized workshops, field walks, webinars and educational events and delivered direct technical assistance for farmers in California and Arizona.
“I am continually drawing inspiration from my colleagues, collaborators, community and the land,” she said.
Engelskirchen is based at the ANR building in Davis and can be reached at gaengelskirchen@ucanr.edu and (530) 792-8253.
Hickman joins UC IPM as photographer/videographer
Krystle Hickman has joined UC IPM as a senior producer-director based in Southern California.
The main focus of her work will be to take photos and videos of all pests such as insects, diseases, weeds and vertebrates, including the damage they cause. She will be updating and adding to the photos in the UC IPM photo database. She will be traveling up and down the state.
“We would like to invite advisors to reach out to Krystle if they would be willing to spend some time with her in the field to show her pests and damage in the crops that they work with,” said Cheryl Reynolds, UC IPM writer and interactive learning developer.
Hickman is a TEDx speaker, National Geographic Explorer, artist, community scientist and photographer based in Los Angeles. Her photography has been featured in The Los Angeles Times, books and scientific journals. A skilled photographer of California native bees, Hickman's work can be seen on her Instagram account @beesip.
Hickman works remotely from Southern California and can be reached at khickman@ucanr.edu and (530) 231-1741.
Dean to communicate, amplify Forest Stewardship programs
Grace Dean joined UC ANR on Jan. 16 as a Forest Stewardship communications specialist and is based out of the South Coast Research and Extension Center in Irvine.
Dean is responsible for identifying outreach opportunities to promote and increase audience engagement in Forest Stewardship Education workshops and programs. These initiatives engage forest landowners in creating management plans, connecting with natural resource professionals, and navigating cost-sharing programs. In this new role, she will create comprehensive media strategies that target landowners of all backgrounds and will continuously assess how these strategies can improve over time.
Dean recently earned a bachelor's degree in public affairs from UCLA with a focus in public policy, communications and environmental affairs. Previously, Dean interned for forestry-related organizations including the USDA Forest Service and TreePeople, a nonprofit organization that inspires individuals to take responsibility for the urban environment.
Dean is excited to learn more about forest management from her team and find creative avenues for information to reach new audiences. When she's not working, you can find her crocheting, volunteering at the local cat shelter, or tending to her succulents.
Dean is based out of the South Coast Research and Extension Center in Irvine and can be reached at gndean@ucanr.edu.
Hanson selected as weed society fellow
Brad Hanson was selected as a Fellow of the Western Society of Weed Science at its 76th annual meeting held Feb. 27-March 3 in Boise, Idaho. The Fellow Award is the highest honor of the society and recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions to the society and to the discipline of weed science.
“Brad has a long record of serving the society in leadership roles and was previously recognized as WSWS Outstanding Early Career Weed Scientist in 2011,” wrote Carol Mallory-Smith, Oregon State University professor emeritus. “In addition to WSWS, he is active in the California Weed Science Society and the Weed Science Society of America.”
Hanson, who has been a UC Cooperative Extension specialist at UC Davis since 2009, studies weeds in orchard and vineyard crops. He also provides weed science support for agronomic and horticultural crops and supervises the UC Davis IR-4 Field Research Center. From 2005 to 2009, he was a USDA-ARS research agronomist in Parlier, where he conducted research on soil fumigants and weed control in nursery crops.
“The committee recognized the productive career that Brad has had as a weed scientist,” Mallory-Smith wrote. “He has co-authored 92 peer-reviewed articles, 16 book chapters and extension publications, and more than 60 research papers presented at WSWS meetings. Brad and members of his lab delivered more than 500 extension presentations during his career at UC Davis. Brad is considered an excellent mentor for graduate students and young weed scientists.”
One letter of support for Hanson becoming a fellow noted that he is “committed to solving problems. He has the ability to blend curiosity-driven scientific advances with a problem-solving Extension mindset.
Brim-DeForest receives weed society Award of Excellence
Whitney Brim-DeForest, UCCE director and rice advisor for Sutter and Yuba counties, received an Award of Excellence from the California Weed Science Society. She studies weeds in rice production systems.
California Weed Science Society gives Awards of Excellence to members who have made tremendous contributions to the society mission in the following areas: the information exchange through research, publications, facilitating cooperation among individuals, encouraging careers in weed science, and promoting professional growth of members. Two awards are given out annually to weed scientists or weed practitioners for an entire body of work, rather than a single achievement.
The award was presented by Anil Shrestha, CWSS past-president, at the California Weed Science Society's 75th meeting held Jan. 18-20 in Monterey
Clemons named 2023 Woman of Distinction
The women of Phi Mu Zeta Chapter of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. have selected , director for UC Cooperative Extension in Riverside, Orange and San Bernardino counties, as a 2023 Woman of Distinction for her outstanding contributions and years of service to the Inland Empire community. Zeta is a historically African American sorority formed in 1920 for college-educated women.
Born and raised in Pomona, Clemons knows firsthand the challenges associated with growing up in an economically challenged city. Clemons became the first in her family to graduate from college, earning degrees in paralegal studies and business administration and a master's degree in management. She has spent her career sharing her personal and professional experiences to help others achieve their goals.
Her first committee appointment was for the Inland Empire United Way, Women United Committee as vice chair. Clemons was then appointed to the board of directors for Ontario Youth Activities League, where she serves as Vice President. She is a current member of the Women of Hope committee for the Hope Through Housing Foundation. She has been a member of San Bernardino County Preschool Services Policy Council, Inland Empire United Way Executive Advisory Council, San Bernardino County Superintendent's West End Advisory Council, Mexican Consulate Education Liaison, California League of High Schools Educator of the Year Committee, Riverside County Early Literacy Conference Planning Committee, active member of Rancho Cucamonga, Ontario and San Bernardino Chamber of Commerce. She was also selected as a Fellow for the Center for Civic Policy & Leadership Healing Communities Through Racial Justice.
Clemons received the award at the sorority's Finer Womanhood Celebration in San Bernardino on March 25.
Dobbin appointed to SAFER Advisory Group
The California State Water Resources Control Board has appointed Kristin Dobbin—assistant professor of Cooperative Extension in the UC Berkeley Department of Environmental Science, Policy and Management—to the Safe and Affordable Funding for Equity and Resilience (SAFER) Advisory Group.
The SAFER Program is a set of tools, funding sources, and regulatory authorities designed to ensure all Californians are able to receive clean drinking water as quickly as possible. The program provides short-term fixes to address immediate public health needs while pursuing long-term solutions — ranging from water system upgrades to consolidation and regionalization — that make the state's water systems more sustainable and resilient.
Dobbin's research and outreach focus on water justice policy and planning, specifically the ongoing implementation of California's human right to water law AB 685. She will join members of the public and stakeholders from public water systems, technical assistance providers, local agencies, and nongovernmental organizations to advise the State Water Board as it advances the SAFER Program's goals.
The advisory group will meet up to four times a year across California to provide opportunities for public and community input.
For more information about the SAFER Program and advisory group, visit the State Water Board website.
- Author: Pamela Kan-Rice
Solins joins UC ANR as new environmental horticulture advisor
Joanna Solins joined UC ANR on Oct. 3 as a UC Cooperative Extension environmental horticulture advisor for Sacramento, Solano and Yolo counties.
Solins will focus on research and outreach related to urban plants, landscaping and climate change, while building relationships with county and municipal governments, nonprofits, landscape and tree care professionals, nursery growers and utilities, among others. She also will support the UC Master Gardener coordinators in her assigned counties, collaborating to extend knowledge and resources to community members.
“My core goals are to improve the climate suitability and ecological performance of urban landscaping and promote the equitable distribution of benefits from urban plants,” Solins said.
After attaining a bachelor's degree in environmental studies at Vassar College, Solins began her career leading outreach education programs for the New England Aquarium and writing for educational publishers. She also worked in communications at the Coral Reef Alliance in San Francisco before starting graduate school at UC Davis, which culminated in a master's in geography and Ph.D. in ecology.
Solins' research at UC Davis combined field studies and geographic information system analysis to investigate plant communities, tree canopy and soils along urban creeks in the Sacramento area. She also carried out postdoctoral research on green stormwater infrastructure, urban forest composition, and the water demand of urban vegetation across California, and contributed to projects examining residential landscaping and urban heat in Sacramento.
Solins is based in Sacramento and can be reached at jsolins@ucanr.edu or (916) 875-2409.
Mar named UCCE organic materials management advisor
Stephanie Mar joined UC Cooperative Extension on Oct. 3 as the assistant organic materials management advisor serving Los Angeles, Orange and San Diego counties. Mar is responsible for investigating ways to divert organic wastes from landfills to alternative end markets, such as circular food economies, composting and wastewater reclamation.
“To me, waste doesn't have an end life, just a next life,” said Mar. “A lot of people don't know what happens to their waste after the garbage truck comes or they flush a toilet, so a part of my job is to understand what we are wasting and what happens to it.”
Mar attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where she earned a master's degree in public health focused on environmental science and engineering, and a master's degree in city and regional planning focused on land use and environmental planning. She also has a bachelor's degree in public health from UC Berkeley.
Much of Mar's professional experience, like her time working for the City of Berkeley, is centered on community outreach and policy development, two strengths that she believes will serve her well in this new role.
Previously, Mar worked as a public health analyst for UC San Francisco and as a social research analyst with the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services too. Both of which strengthened her understanding of policy and program development, implementation, and monitoring and evaluation.
“Research gives us a lot of information, but then there's a need for translation from what we know to what it actually means,” she said. “There are a lot of people doing different things [to manage their waste], so there's a need for coordination and dispersal of information."
Mar's background in policy development is something she'll rely on to operationalize the research being done by herself and her colleagues.
Behavioral change is one of Mar's anticipated challenges in this role. Even if research and policy efforts yield successful results, encouraging the community to adapt can be an uphill battle.
“Sorting trash, for example, is more of a mental burden than a physical one,” she explained. “We know what the research says and what we need to do, it's just about developing the market to make it happen.”
Mar is based out of Irvine at the South Coast Research and Extension Center and can be reached at samar@ucanr.edu.
Dobbin named UCCE water justice policy and planning specialist
Kristin Dobbin has joined UC ANR and the Department of Environmental Science, Policy, and Management at UC Berkeley as a UC Cooperative Extension specialist focused on water justice policy and planning.
Originally from Utah, Dobbin comes to Rausser College from UC Los Angeles' Luskin Center for Innovation, where she was a National Science Foundation postdoctoral fellow. Dobbin pairs her love for rural communities, community natural resource management and environmental justice organizing with a strong belief that research can and should play an important role in advancing policy. She hopes to leverage her new position, the first of its kind for UC, to uplift community water managers and impacted residents as leaders and experts in conversations surrounding water management and access.
“It's a dream and a responsibility to be assuming a role that so perfectly weds research and impact,” Dobbin tweeted about her new UC Cooperative Extension water justice policy and planning specialist role.
Dobbin earned her Ph.D. in ecology with an emphasis in environmental policy and human ecology from UC Davis and B.A. in environmental analysis from Pitzer College in Claremont. Prior to graduate school, she worked for the Community Water Center – a grassroots environmental justice organization that advances community-driven solutions for water justice in the Central Valley.
Dobbin is based at UC Berkeley and can be reached at kbdobbin@berkeley.edu and on Twitter @kbdobbin.
Shive named UCCE forest and fuels management specialist
Kristen Shive has joined UC ANR and the Department of Environmental Science, Policy, and Management at UC Berkeley as a UC Cooperative Extension specialist focused on forest and fuels management.
Bringing more than 20 years of experience in conservation, forest and fire management, and ecology, her work broadly focuses on restoring fire to fire-adapted ecosystems, prioritizing areas for restoration, and understanding shifting fire regimes. Prior to joining UC ANR, Shive led the forest program science team for The Nature Conservancy's California Chapter and was the director of science for Save the Redwoods League. She also has worked for the National Park Service in Alaska, California and Wyoming, most recently as the fire ecologist for Yosemite National Park.
She earned her master's degree in forestry from Northern Arizona University and a Ph.D. in ecosystem science from UC Berkeley.
Shive is based at UC Berkeley and can be reached at kshive@berkeley.edu and (630) 917-5170 and on Twitter @klshive.
Bacon joins NPI as policy analyst
Kassandra Bacon joined the Nutrition Policy Institute on Oct. 12 as a project policy analyst.
Bacon earned her Master's in Public Health with a concentration in public health nutrition and Graduate Certificate in Food Systems at the UC Berkeley School of Public Health and B.S. in nutritional sciences from the University of New Hampshire, Durham.
During her academic journey, she contributed to several research projects pertaining to sustainable food systems, program evaluation, and improvement of public nutrition policy. Additionally, her experience includes program coordination and evaluation, data analysis, and development of communication materials to advance equity-based public health solutions.
At NPI, Bacon will continue to support public health nutrition through policy and program evaluation. She will work on projects related to nutrition and increasing consumption of drinking water and in childcare and universal school meals.
Bacon is based at UC Office of the President in Oakland and can be reached at kabacon@ucanr.edu.
Rodriguez joins 4-H as advisor in Northern California
Matt Rodriguez joined UC Cooperative Extension on Sept. 5 as a 4-H youth development advisor for Nevada, Placer, Sutter and Yuba counties. As a 4-H advisor, Rodriguez implements extension education and applied research programs grounded in positive youth development theory. He also provides expertise to enhance volunteer engagement in 4-H youth development programs.
Rodriguez earned his Ph.D. from the University of Maryland's School of Public Health in the Department of Family Science. His dissertation, “Influence of Latinx Fathers' Behaviors, Cognitions, Affect, and Family Congruence on Youth Energy Balance-Related Health Outcomes,” investigated Latinx father involvement in the context of youth energy balance-related behaviors. During his doctoral training, Rodriguez also supported several USDA-funded research initiatives involving Latinx fathers and youth. His recent publication, "Predictors Associated with Fathers' Successful Completion of the FOCUS Program,” investigated a sample of fathers in Texas who participated in a child welfare parenting intervention.
Rodriguez currently co-chairs the Men in Families focus group at the National Council on Family Relations. He was also recently elected as Section Counselor for the American Public Health Association's Health Informatics Information Technology section.
Prior to his doctoral studies, Rodriguez was a professional web developer for several large nonprofits in the Midwest. Growing up in a multicultural family with ancestry deriving from Puerto Rico, Japan, Nigeria and England, he embraces the importance of cultural diversity and competency in his family science research.
Rodriguez is based in Auburn and can be reached at (530) 889-7391 and mrro@ucanr.edu and on social media @MattR_Rodriguez.
Martinico named human-wildlife interactions advisor
Breanna Martinico joined UC Cooperative Extension as a Human-Wildlife Interactions Advisor on July 5. She will work on issues that involve wildlife as agricultural pests and beneficial species. She will be conducting a needs assessment to learn about priority issues in Napa, Lake and Solano counties.
Martinico is a wildlife biologist and ecologist, specializing in ornithology. Her past research addressed the role of birds on farms as pests and pest control agents. She has worked on projects investigating the important role farmland plays as habitat for California birds. In other work with the USDA Western Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education program, she investigated the implications of agricultural land-use and pest management practices on raptor ecology and conservation.
Martinico is a UC Davis graduate with a B.S. in wildlife fish and conservation biology, MS in avian sciences, and has nearly completed her Ph.D. in ecology.
Martinico is compelled by the co-existence and mutual benefits of humans and wildlife in agroecosystems and is committed to working to find solutions that benefit both people and wildlife. She is excited to be part of UC ANR where she can develop a research and extension program that has the power to increase knowledge and adoption of management practices that promote ecological sustainability and increase farm viability in California.
Martinico is based in Napa and can be reached at bmartinico@ucanr.edu or (707) 253-4141.
Forest Stewardship Education Initiative wins award
UC ANR's Forest Stewardship Education Initiative received the national Family Forest Education Comprehensive Program Award from the National Woodland Owners Association and the National Association of University Forest Resources Programs.
The award is shared by the UC ANR forestry team which includes co-principal investigators: Susie Kocher, UCCE forest and natural resources advisor for the Central Sierra; Mike Jones, forestry advisor for Mendocino, Lake and Sonoma counties; and Kim Ingram, Forest Stewardship Education Initiative academic coordinator.
Other UC ANR forestry team members include Yana Valachovic, UCCE forest advisor for Humboldt and Del Norte counties; Ricky Satomi, forestry and natural resources advisor for Sutter, Yuba, Placer, Nevada and Butte counties; Ryan Tompkins, UCCE forest and natural resources advisor for Plumas, Sierra and Lassen counties; Rob York, UCCE specialist and co-director of Berkeley Forests; Bill Stewart, UCCE specialist emeritus; Rachelle Hedges, Berkeley Forests project and policy analyst; and Ariel Roughton, Berkeley Forests research stations manager.
The initiative – developed in 2019 as a project through input by the Forest Landowner Education and Outreach Working Group of the California Governor's Forest Management Task Force – is focused on educating private forest landowners to better understand, manage and protect their forests by developing a forest management plan, engaging with natural resource professionals, and taking advantage of cost-share opportunities that can help them meet their management goals.
The program was implemented using three-day forest stewardship workshops prior to COVID-19 and an educational construct involving self-study in advance of online sessions with resource educators during the pandemic.
Currently the program involves nine weekly online sessions and one in-person field day. Completion of the workshop series entitles participants to an initial site visit by a resource professional. To date, 335 individuals attended, with 98% indicating improvement in the understanding of forest management planning, 89% planning to consult with a professional, and through May 2022, 49 participants have had site visits from professionals using the program's $800 stipend that supported the visit.
Evaluators felt that the sessions reflected “Excellent submission and programming,” and that it was “Highly complementary that personnel follow-up with participants AFTER the program to determine impacts cited.” Some were also impressed when recognizing the narrative that program managers would like to reach more private landowners about participating in the program using a benefit/barrier assessment.
One evaluator commented, “This is a very high-quality program. It easily rates very high in each of the criteria categories. The nomination package was thorough and it is evident that those involved in the development and delivery of these workshops are knowledgeable and passionate about landowner and professional education. Kudos to California!”
“Our funder CAL FIRE was so pleased with the program that they funded an expansion starting in 2022, which includes additional field days for people not in the workshops, and additional outreach to broad audiences across the state,” Kocher said. “We have funding for two community education specialists and a communications person, which are under recruitment.”
The award was presented on Sept. 22 at the 2022 Society of American Foresters national convention in Baltimore, Maryland.
Roche and multi-state team win NIFA Partnership Award
Leslie Roche, UCCE rangeland management specialist, received on Oct. 6 the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture Partnership Award for Multi-State Efforts on behalf of the National Connections Team for Forest and Rangeland Resources.
The certificate reads, “NIFA recognizes the National Connections Team for Forest and Rangeland Resources, based at the University of Hawaii-Manoa, for developing a webinar series around Renewable Resources and Extension Act critical issues. The team's goal for the webinar series was to strengthen RREA programming by increasing renewable resource Extension and outreach professionals' capacity to provide scientific and technologically relevant content. It showcased innovative programming developed by forest and range professionals from Land-grant universities across the nation. Evaluations showed the series had both national and global appeal. Additionally, the webinar series were influential with participants indicating that they had learned ways to enhance their own programming.”
The multi-state team was led by Mark Thorne (University of Hawaii-Manoa) and Barb Hutchinson (Rangelands Partnership/University of Arizona) and includes Kris Tiles (University of Wisconsin), Retta Bruegger (Colorado State University), Adam Downing (Virginia Tech), Sheila Merrigan (Rangelands Partnership/University of Arizona), Martha Monroe (University of Florida), Dave Bogner (University of Arizona), Elise Gornish ( University of Arizona), and Roche.
The web-based conference series can be viewed at https://globalrangelands.org/rreasp/webinars.
4-H receives national recognition
At the National Association of Extension 4-H Youth Development Professionals annual conference, UCANR 4-H was recognized. Fe Moncloa, 4-H advisor for Santa Clara County; Martin Smith, UCCE specialist; Charles Go, former 4-H advisor for Contra Costa County; and Lynn Schmitt-McQuitty, statewide 4-H Youth Development director and interim director of County Cooperative Extension, received awards for 25 years of service to the organization. JoLynn Miller, 4-H youth development advisor, received the distinguished service award for 7 to 15 years of service to NAE4-HYDP. Stephanie Barrett, 4-H community education supervisor for Southern California, received an achievement-is-service award for serving 3 to 7 years.