Members of the Council
Members of the council, as appointed by VP Glenda Humiston:
Jaki Hsieh Wojan (Chair, she/her)
Contact: jhsiehw@ucanr.edu
Title: Chief Information Officer (interim) | Chief Information Security Officer
Location: Davis
Description: "I joined the Inclusive Community Advisory Council to help create an environment where people feel safe, supported, and uplifted. I feel a responsibility to help remove barriers, so the next generation doesn’t have to endure them."
Kait Murray (Chair-Elect, she/they)
Contact: kamurray@ucanr.edu
Title: Community Engagement and Youth Outreach Academic Coordinator
Location: Davis
Description: "As the Community Engagement and Youth Outreach Academic Coordinator with California 4-H, Dr. Kait Murray is deeply committed to advancing access and equity for marginalized communities across California, and ensuring that 4-H is a space where all youth can belong through her research, policy advisement, and practice. Kait is a lover of bodies of water, throwing theme parties, and yapping with their friends."
Ricardo Vela (Former Chair, he/him/él)
Contact: rvela@ucanr.edu
Title: Manager News & Information Outreach in Spanish
Location: Palm Desert
Description: "Ricardo Vela is an Emmy Award–winning journalist and communications strategist with UC Agriculture and Natural Resources, specializing in inclusive, Spanish-language science communication and community-engaged outreach. He served as Chair of the UC ANR Inclusive Community Advisory Council (2024–2025), advancing the UC ANR Principles of Community by fostering access, mutual respect, trust, and meaningful participation among Latino and Indigenous communities across California."
Teghpreet (Preet) Ahluwalia
Contact: tkahluwalia@ucanr.edu
Title: Area Director - Colusa, Glenn, Butte, Sutter-Yuba Counties
Location: Colusa
Description: Teghpreet “Preet” Ahluwalia, MBA, currently serves as the University of California Cooperative Extension Area Director for Colusa, Glenn, Butte, Yuba and Sutter counties, where she provides administrative leadership and supports UCCE advisors and staff in delivering community-focused programs. She holds an MBA from UC Davis and brings a background in finance, real estate, entrepreneurship and public-sector administration, having previously co-founded investment ventures and managed county finances in rural Northern California. Ahluwalia is passionate about strengthening community partnerships, expanding outreach for Cooperative Extension services, and streamlining administrative processes to support local food systems, health, and economic development.
John T. Bailey (he/him)
Contact: jtbailey@ucanr.edu
Title: Director
Location: Hopland Research and Extension Center
Description: "John has a diverse background which includes work in business, non-profits, and public institutions ranging from owning his own farm, running a body-care business, establishing a food hub, and managing a wine storage business. His focus is on creating ways for people of all backgrounds to live more sustainably with each other and on the land."
Christina Becker (Alternate, she/they)
Contact: christina.becker@ucop.edu
Title: Program Policy Analyst 4
Location: Oakland
Description: "I have a background in program evaluation, which helps me to identify challenges and potential solutions that support both leaders and staff at UC ANR. I am excited to work with this group to lift up underrepresented voices within UC ANR and empower employees to better serve our communities."
Karyn Utsumi (Alternate, she/they)
Contact: ktutsumi@ucanr.edu
Title: Community Education Specialist
Location: Berkeley
Description: Karyn Utsumi (she/they) serves as a Community Education Specialist (CES) for UC Environmental Stewards. In this role, Karyn collaborates with partners across California to offer California Naturalist and Climate Stewards certification courses, creating educational and service opportunities for all Californians. Karyn has a background in environmental education and riparian land management. She enjoys exploring California's diverse ecosystems, reading fiction novels, and singing showtunes in the car.
Elizabeth Bezark (Alternate, she/her)
Contact: ebezark@ucanr.edu
Title: Projects Analyst
Location: Business Operations Center, Davis
Description: "Elizabeth supports the UC ANR Business Operations Center with project management, operational efficiency, and communications. Outside of work, she's a multimedia artist who loves working with clay, photographing found objects outside, and planning exhibitions."
Eliot T. Freutel (he/him)
Contact: etfreutel@ucanr.edu
Title: CES II
Location: UC Environmental Stewards / UCCE LA
Description: "Eliot is the Southern California Community Education Specialist, based on Kizh/Tongva/Gabrieleño Land, for the UC Environmental Stewards Program who focuses on identifying and removing systemic barriers to participation for the UC Climate Stewards and California Naturalist courses. Eliot is a father, husband, musician, and free-diver, frequently found with his head underwater."
Melissa Guillen (she/her)
Contact: mpguillen@ucanr.edu
Title: 4-H Youth Development Advisor
Location: Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, Ventura
Description: "I am a UC ANR Youth Development Advisor with experience in youth development, leadership, partnerships, and community-based programming and applied research across central coast California. I bring a commitment to equity, representation, and listening to community-identified priorities to inform meaningful and sustainable action."
Janessa Hartmann (she/her)
Contact: jlhartmann@ucanr.edu
Title: Community Nutrition and Health Advisor
Location: Shasta County (Redding, serving Trinity and Tehama also)
Description: "I bring a background in community health, and focus my efforts in partnership with local coalitions and organizations. I am excited to collaborate internally on improving workplace belonging at UC ANR."
Rachel Lloyd (she/they)
Contact: rjlloyd@ucanr.edu
Title: Project Policy Analyst
Location: Davis
Description: "I grew up in a rural community and experienced firsthand the challenges and inequities that can shape access to opportunity. Those experiences drive my commitment to ensuring that every voice within UC ANR and across California’s diverse communities is valued, included, and has the opportunity to contribute meaningfully."
Dax London (he/him)
Contact: dlondon@ucanr.edu
Title: Community Education Specialist II
Location: San Diego County
Description: "4-H Coordinator dedicated to advancing equity, access, and culturally responsive youth development across California. My background in applied psychology, youth mental health, and community-centered DEI work guides my commitment to creating inclusive spaces where all young people can thrive as their authentic selves."
Joji Muramoto (he/him)
Contact: jmuramoto@ucanr.edu
Title: CE Organic Agriculture Specialist
Location: UC Santa Cruz
Description: "I'm a soil scientist/agroecologist working at UC Santa Cruz since 1996. ANR is such a diverse community, and I enjoy working with my colleagues with diverse backgrounds."
Devii Rao (she/her)
Contact: deviirao@ucanr.edu
Title: Livestock & Natural Resources Advisor
Location: Sonoma and Marin counties
Description: "My research and extension activities focus on economic and ecological sustainability of livestock grazing. Beyond my academic program, I'm interested in making the rangeland profession and the UC ANR work environment welcoming and attractive to people from all backgrounds."
Amira Ruth Resnick (she/her/ella)
Contact: arresnick@ucanr.edu
Title: Statewide Director, Community Nutrition and Health
Location: Davis
Description: "I am a values-driven and community-oriented social impact leader who leverages strategic cross-sector partnerships, relationship building, and program development to create organizational change and build systems that foster vibrant and equitable communities. My approach nurtures open communication and a culture of inclusion to deepen the experience of connection and possibility needed to sustain positive results."
Pia Marie Wright (Alternate, she/her)
Contact: pwright@ucanr.edu
Title: ELR Compliance Coordinator
Location: Davis
Description: "I'm a queer, disabled woman with a passion for advocacy work and making the world better than I found it. I try to find the joy and wonder in every day and look for where I can make an impact to improve the lives of those around me and beyond. I love to learn and try to continue my growth in every area of my life!"
Tina L. Jordan (Ex-Officio Member)
Contact: tljordan@ucanr.edu
Elizabeth Moon (Ex-Officio Member)
Contact: emoon@ucanr.edu
Title: Director, Workplace Inclusion & Belonging
Location: Davis
Recent Alumni
Keith Nathaniel (Former Chair)
Contact: kcnathaniel@ucanr.edu
Fadzayi Mashiri
Contact: fmashiri@ucanr.edu
Mohammad Yaghmour
Contact: mayaghmour@ucanr.edu
Esther Lofton
Contact: enmosase@ucanr.edu
Nominations
Calls for Nominations for the Council are made in accordance with the terming of current members. Each Council member has a three-year term, with an opportunity to request a second term.They usually occur once a year in the August/September time frame.
2025 Nominations are closed for this year.
If you have any questions, you can email emoon@ucanr.edu