- 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.
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