Chandra Richards

In Chandra's current role as an Area County Director for San Diego and Imperial Counties, she is excited to strengthen partnerships, support the growth of the team, and expand the visibility of UCCE for communities, ecosystems and landscapes. She collaborate with stakeholders to manage projects and provide strategic guidance to ensure alignment with the goals and mission of the University of California. Her work emphasizes fostering partnerships, supporting research initiatives, and delivering impactful learning experiences that address climate resilience and resource management.

Previously, Chandra served as UC ANR's Land Use Academic Coordinator II, where she contributed to a wide range of climate action and environmental initiatives across Southern California. Her work spanned agriculture, habitat restoration, and forest health, with a strong focus on climate-smart carbon farming. Chandra provided planning, education, and technical assistance to promote healthier food systems across diverse agricultural operations. Additionally, she led riparian and habitat restoration projects aimed at removing invasive species and enhancing urban greening, particularly along the San Diego River and within North County national forests.

Chandra has a Ph.D. in soil biogeochemistry from U.C. Berkeley, where she studied the impacts of climate change on biodiversity; and double B.S. degrees in chemistry and mathematics from Penn State University. She hopes to continue elevating the role of UCCE within the southernmost region of California and improving community knowledge about agriculture and natural resources issues.