Summer J Cortez

Summer Cortez serves as the Small Farms Communication Specialist for UC SAREP. In this role, she will lead strategic communications for the Small Farms Network, working with UCCE small farms advisors and staff and UC SAREP statewide program personnel to communicate program impacts and uplift the voices of the farmers they serve. Cortez has a background in program management specializing in strategic communications, storytelling, community-centered outreach, and accessible education across California’s food and farming systems, including cooperative extension and community-based initiatives. Prior to joining UC SAREP, she served as CalFresh Healthy Living evaluation unit manager at the UC ANR Nutrition Policy Institute.

Cortez is based at the UCOP Building in Oakland, with regular visits to Davis, and can be reached at sjcortez@ucanr.edu. She is on LinkedIn.