Dark to serve as strategy advisor for UC ANR-Online learning platform

Shawna Dark joined UC ANR on May 1 as the UC ANR-Online strategy advisor. Dark will work collaboratively with UC ANR program leaders, subject matter experts and content creators to assess the feasibility and long-term potential for aggregating and expanding UC ANR’s client-facing digital learning and online Cooperative Extension offerings on a single new platform envisioned as UC ANR-Online.

A UC Davis (B.A.) and UCLA (Ph.D.) alum, Dark has over 20 years of experience advancing digital learning, academic innovation and technology across the California community college, CSU and UC systems. 

Most recently, she served as vice chancellor for information and education technology at the West Valley-Mission Community College District, a position she took after serving as UC Berkeley’s inaugural chief academic technology officer and CSU Long Beach’s associate vice president for academic technology. In those positions, she led large-scale online learning initiatives, developed institutional strategies for digital education, and advanced learner success through technology-enabled programs. 

Earlier in her career, Dark served as a tenured faculty member and chair of CSU Northridge’s department of geography. Her research is focused on biogeography, geospatial science and natural resource management, including wetlands conservation. She founded the Center for Geospatial Science and Technology, a nationally recognized research and workforce development center. 

Dark is based at the UC Office of the President in Oakland and can be reached at shawna.dark@ucop.edu.

Dhukuchhu joins ANR to study vegetable crops in Stanislaus, Merced and San Joaquin counties

Ajay Dhukuchhu joined UCANR on May 4 as a limited term assistant specialist for vegetable crops production and management, serving Stanislaus, Merced and San Joaquin counties.

In this position, Dhukuchhu assists and leads applied research and extension efforts focused on improving the sustainability and resilience of U.S. vegetable production systems. His work integrates innovative practices such as biofertilizers, vegetable grafting and irrigation decision-support tools to enhance nutrient and water-use efficiency while supporting grower productivity and environmental stewardship.

Dhukuchhu earned his Ph.D. in plant sciences from North Dakota State University, where he conducted multidisciplinary research across field, greenhouse and laboratory settings in fruits and vegetable production. His work focused on crop physiology, resource-use efficiency and data-driven agricultural management strategies.

He completed a master’s degree in biology at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology, specializing in ecology, behavior, evolution and biosystematics, and a bachelor’s degree in agriculture science from Tribhuvan University, Nepal. Earlier in his career, Dhukuchhu worked as a technical instructor and program coordinator in a government school.

Dhukuchhu’s goal is to bridge research and practice by delivering actionable knowledge that improves soil health, optimizes resource efficiency and supports the long-term sustainability of vegetable production systems.

Dhukuchhu is based at the UCCE Stanislaus County office in Modesto and can be reached at (701) 630-9735 and adhukuchhu@ucanr.edu. He’s active on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ajay-dhukuchhu/en.