7601 Irvine Blvd.
Irvine, CA 92618
(424) 366-0897
ssope@ucanr.edu
Links
Biography
Saoimanu (Saoi) Sope joined University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources (UC ANR) as a digital communications specialist in early June 2022.
Prior to her arrival, Sope worked in tobacco control policy for the state of California and focused on how to generate effective messaging when targeting elected officials and priority populations. In her role as a project coordinator, Sope developed and produced a policy-based podcast as a new communication platform. She produced episodes featuring representatives from cities that successfully phased out the sale of commercial tobacco products such as John Mirisch, former Mayor of Beverly Hills.
When she started working in agriculture, Sope worked as a communications specialist for Driscoll’s in Watsonville, CA. Spending time with the plant scientists and researchers inspired an interest in environmental health and a fascination with food production for Sope. In her current role, Sope reports on the efforts and impact of ANR's academics and programs in Southern California. She is also responsible for creating digital content for ANR's social media platforms and offering her expertise to problem-solve at the county and/or programmatic level.
Sope earned a bachelor's degree in film and digital media as well as community studies from the University of California, Santa Cruz. She also earned a master's degree in public health, concentrated in environmental health science, and a certificate in toxicology from Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health.
Based at the South Coast Research and Extension Center in Irvine, she can be reached at ssope@ucanr.edu or (424) 366-0897, and you can connect with her on social media @saoimanu.