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UC ANR adds expertise in beneficial burning, water, youth development, soil, pests
As California faces new challenges, University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources has been hiring UC Cooperative Extension experts with different skills to help Californians, including residents in urban areas.
Recently hired UC Cooperative Extension specialists, advisors and coordinators bring expertise in youth development, pest management, healthy families, soil health, urban water quality, urban agriculture, animal science, woody biomass and forest products, small farms, livestock and innovation for small food-related businesses to their communities.
To better connect Californians with research developed at UC campuses, UC ANR has hired its first UCCE specialist based at UC Irvine.
Since 1914, UC Cooperative Extension researchers have been working directly with community members to improve their lives and livelihoods.
To see a list of UC Cooperative Extension experts who have joined in the past few months, visit https://ucanr.edu/About/DirectorySearch/Recent_Hires. The most recently hired scientists are introduced below.
Berris to advise on water management, soil health in northern Bay Area
Helaine Berris joined UC Agriculture and Natural Resources on Nov. 4 as the UC Cooperative Extension water and soil advisor for Sonoma, Marin, Napa and Mendocino counties. Berris will conduct research and extension activities that promote sustainable, innovative and economically viable on-farm water management.
“My program will be shaped around practices that help agricultural producers improve water efficiency and soil health, meet local regulations and adapt to environmental extremes,” Berris explained. “This may include soil health practices to improve water-holding capacity, irrigation management, research around soil-plant-water dynamics and more.”
Originally from northern Nevada, Berris attained her bachelor's degree in eco-hydrology from University of Nevada, Reno. She went on to earn a master's in hydrologic sciences – and another master's in international agricultural development – from UC Davis, where she studied farmer needs in water-stressed basins and soil-water dynamics in cover-cropped rice systems.
Her career path included some time at an agricultural technology company and four years as a teacher in China and Spain. Most recently, Berris worked as a soil conservationist for the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service in Seattle.
“I love working on applied projects that have tangible outcomes, and working with passionate people,” Berris said. “I'm constantly inspired by the many incredible scientists, partners and producers working in this space – and it's a great feeling when we can all combine our strengths for a common goal.”
Berris said she looks forward to developing collaborations with clientele and community members to solve challenges across Sonoma, Marin, Napa and Mendocino counties.
“My main career goal is that my work is relevant to the local community; for me, that's what being an advisor is all about – to live and work in a few counties, where I can focus my energy on really understanding the nitty-gritty of the water/agriculture challenges at a local scale,” Berris said. “These challenges will be continuously changing, which will require me to be constantly learning and adapting – but that's the fun of the job.”
Based in Santa Rosa at the UCCE office for Sonoma County, Berris can be reached at hmberris@ucanr.edu or (707) 565-2621.
Belt to improve family, community health along North Coast
“I am responsible for providing leadership and research expertise in nutrition and youth development, as well as providing academic oversight of the local 4-H Youth Development Program and the local Expanded Food Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP),” Belt said. “I have lived in Humboldt for many years and am excited to make a difference in a community that means so much to me.”
While earning her bachelor's degree in psychology from Cal Poly Humboldt, Belt became interested in research related to the improvement of communities large and small – which motivated her to pursue a master's in psychology from the same school.
“The focus of my research projects, both qualitative and quantitative, has been on community success, economic development and social motivations for human behavior,” Belt said.
Equipped with that academic foundation, Belt is excited to share her perspective and partner with people and organizations along the North Coast to improve lives and livelihoods.
“I've always aspired to a position that allows me to bridge the gap between research and community improvement strategies,” Belt explained. “In this advisor role, I can bring novel, evidence-based solutions and strategies to challenges facing my community.”
Belt is based at the UC Cooperative Extension office in Eureka and can be reached at kbelt@ucanr.edu.
Daly joins 4-H as community education specialist in Alameda County
Tanya Daly joined UC ANR on Oct. 23 as the community education specialist for the 4-H Youth Development Program in Alameda County.
The long-time 4-H volunteer is excited about being involved again with 4-H. A former homeschooling parent, Daly said her focus has been on education.
Daly earned a bachelor's degree in art history at San Francisco State University and recently completed her master's degree in museum studies with an emphasis on education and public programming at San Francisco State University. She is interested in applying that background to educating children through 4-H.
Daly is based at the Hayward office and can be reached at tdaly@ucanr.edu.
Sung-Jereczek named UCCE's first beneficial burning and tribal land stewardship advisor
In this new role, Sung-Jereczek will be working alongside tribes to help identify needs and build capacity towards long-term sustainable land stewardship goals that align with the tribes cultural, social, and economic priorities.
She is currently working on connecting and listening to each of the tribes throughout the region. She hopes to build relationships to provide tools, resources and funding opportunities for partnerships among tribes, state agencies, private landowners, organizations and policymakers to support beneficial burning, climate adaptation planning and resiliency projects.
Born and raised on Muwekma Ohlone land in the East Bay Area, Sung-Jereczek always had an interest in humans and their connections to place and the environment. She earned a bachelor's degree in geography and conservation biology at UCLA.
Following graduation, she worked as an environmental planner and wildlife biologist. “I began to notice how our personal connections to the land shape our perspectives and define our decision-making,” she said.
Sung-Jereczek earned her master's degree at the University of Michigan, working on an interdisciplinary degree at the School for Environment and Sustainability specializing in environmental justice, behavior change, communication and ecosystem science management.
Her graduate research primarily focused on community-based participatory research and strengthening university and tribal partnerships alongside the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians, facilitating listening circles and developing an ecological assessment that would support the priorities of the tribe for stewardship of the Chase Osborn Preserve (~3,000 acres of hemiboreal forest) located in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. She also worked on the Western Forest Fire Initiative at Michigan studying the relationship between wildfire, forests and communities in a changing climate as a social-ecological system.
“I am looking forward to going beyond checking the regulatory box set by federal and state regulators and working towards building reciprocal relationships rooted in cultural humility, respect and responsibility,” Sung-Jereczek said. “Although I understand the current fear and trauma of fire that climate change and fire suppression regimes have caused, I also hope to empower communities and shift the ways in which we currently think, interact and live with fire in the future.”
She will also be working alongside the UCANR Fire Network supporting the use of fire as a tool for land managers and climate resilience.
Sung-Jereczek is based out of the UC Hopland Research and Extension Center on ancestral and unceded Shóqowa (Sho-Ka-Wah) territory and can be reached at asungjereczek@ucanr.edu.
Warner becomes UCCE livestock and natural resources area advisor
Excited to serve the community in which she grew up, Warner will help ranchers solve their most pressing issues. Currently, small ranchers with up to 15 cows, for reference, need support establishing their operation. Commercial ranchers, however, are interested in technology and developing research that will help improve health and nutrition of their cattle.
“If a rancher's animals aren't healthy, they can't make money,” she said. “If they can't make money, they can't support their family or their business.”
Despite profitability being “priority zero” for consumers, Warner said that staying in business and/or expanding business operations is a primary goal for many ranchers. As an advisor, she's excited to not only support ranchers' endeavors to increase profits, but challenge consumers' perspectives on the matter, too.
Although a new advisor, Warner has worked for UC Cooperative Extension since 2022. First hired as a staff research associate at the Sierra Foothill Research and Extension Center in Yuba County, Warner said her research work has focused on nutrition and health of beef cattle, oak regeneration and rangeland management.
Warner earned a master's degree in animal science from Oklahoma State University and a bachelor's in animal science from California State University, Chico. While her academic training will certainly be useful, Warner said that the mentorship she's received from colleagues has been instrumental during her transition.
She succeeds Dan Macon, UCCE livestock and natural resources advisor, who transferred to UCCE in Calaveras County.
Warner is based at the UCCE Placer-Nevada counties office in Auburn and can be reached at alnwarner@ucanr.edu.
Palta named first UCCE specialist based at UC Irvine
Palta is an urban ecosystem ecologist and environmental scientist who has conducted applied research in aquatic and coastal ecosystems throughout the U.S. Before taking the position with UC ANR, she was an associate professor in the Department of Environmental Studies and Science at Pace University in New York City.
The main goal of Palta's research is to develop sustainable and mutually beneficial relationships between natural ecosystems and human populations in urban watersheds. A central focus of her work is on interactions between infrastructure, ecosystem functions and associated environmental benefits to humans in urban waterfronts, and how these interactions may be altered by global change.
Her research investigates sources and mitigation strategies for water pollution, as well as develops green infrastructure and environmental management strategies to facilitate greater environmental benefit, equity, access and resilience in marginalized waterfront communities.
In 2023 she co-founded Participatory Science Solutions, LLC. This organization has provided research, training and evaluation on the social impact of urban environmental restoration projects (e.g., restoration of urban forests, wetlands and oyster reefs) conducted by nonprofit organizations and government agencies.
Palta earned a Ph.D. in ecology and evolution from Rutgers University and conducted postdoctoral work at Arizona State University. She earned a master's in ecology from the University of Georgia and a bachelor's degree in biology from Grinnell College.
In her new position with UC ANR, she is excited to collaborate with UC faculty and UC ANR colleagues from diverse disciplines as well as local communities and water managers. Her work will inform management for long-term resilience and reliability of water resources in Southern California under climate change, with a strong focus on strategies that sustain health and social equity within local populations.
Palta is jointly based at UC Irvine's Department of Civil Engineering (School of Engineering) and the Department of Urban Planning and Public Policy (School of Social Ecology) and can be reached at mpalta@uci.edu and @MonicaMPalta on X.
Azadfar joins UCCE as woody biomass and forest products advisor
His work will involve collaborating with forestland owners, rural communities and local organizations to develop science-based solutions for managing woody biomass, reducing wildfire risks and advancing forest products.
“I am committed to developing innovative strategies for forest management that empower communities and protect our natural resources,” Azadfar said. “By working closely with stakeholders, we can create sustainable practices that benefit both the environment and the people who rely on it.”
Originally from northern Iran near the Hyrcanian forests, Azadfar grew up immersed in the rich biodiversity of these ancient woodlands, which inspired his lifelong dedication to forest stewardship. His early experiences witnessing the impact of forest degradation on both the environment and local livelihoods motivated him to pursue a career in natural resources.
“The moment I saw how utilizing old, corrugated container waste for paper production could reduce the need for deforestation was a pivotal turning point in my career,” Azadfar said. “It showed me the power of innovative, sustainable solutions in protecting our natural resources while still meeting industrial needs.”
Azadfar holds bachelor's and master's degrees in natural resources engineering with a focus on wood science and engineering from Iran, as well as a Ph.D. in biological and agricultural engineering from Washington State University. He completed a postdoctoral fellowship at Washington State University's Composite Materials and Engineering Center, where he specialized in sustainable woody biomass utilization.
“I look forward to working with local communities to continue addressing their needs by advancing sustainable woody biomass utilization and forest products, and improving forest resilience,” he said.
Azadfar is based at the UC Cooperative Extension office in Yreka and can be reached at mazadfar@ucanr.edu.
Beal joins UC IPM as advisor for Monterey, Santa Cruz, San Benito counties
“I hope to serve the growers of the three counties and develop more sustainable integrated pest management programs that are centered on their experiences and knowledge,” he explained. “My major goal is to support growers of leafy greens, cole crops, berry crops, grapes and other crops in ways that empower and elevate growers.”
A native of Valencia in Los Angeles County, Beal ventured east to Cornell University where he earned bachelor's degrees in entomology and plant sciences. As an undergraduate research assistant at Cornell, he had his first experiences with Cooperative Extension and the mission of the land-grant university system.
After attaining a European master's degree in viticulture and enology from Montpellier SupAgro in France and Universita degli Studi di Torino in Italy, Beal returned to the U.S. to complete a Ph.D. in environmental science, policy and management at UC Berkeley. His dissertation focused on studying spittlebug vectors of a bacterial pathogen, Xylella fastidiosa, which causes Pierce's disease in vineyards of California's North Coast.
Beal then went to Washington State University, where he worked as a postdoctoral researcher with growers on sustainable management strategies for spotted-wing drosophila in Washington cherry orchards and blueberry farms.
“Inspired by my Extension mentors at Cornell, UC Berkeley and WSU, I aim to be a bridge between growers and researchers,” he said.
Beal is based at the Monterey County UC Cooperative Extension office in Salinas and can be reached at djbeal@ucanr.edu and (831) 759-7359.
Okella joins UCCE as 4-H animal science youth advisor
“My focus is to partner with local communities to create new and innovative approaches that are responsive to the unique needs of the communities so as to strengthen and expand the 4-H animal science experience,” Okella said.
Prior to joining UC ANR, he was a postdoctoral researcher in veterinary science and molecular biology at the UC Davis Veterinary Medicine Teaching and Research Center.
Originally from Dokolo, Uganda, Okella was born and raised in an extended family that cherishes goats, sheep, swine and poultry farming – a childhood experience that nourished his passion in animal science. In the past 15 years of his career, Okella witnessed the infinite potential of young people amid limited or no opportunities among the underserved youth living in multicultural communities of Uganda, India and United States.
“I envision extending more support with emphasis on animal science so that young people can discover and develop their full potentials,” he said.
Okella earned a Ph.D. from Mbarara University of Science and Technology in Uganda, with a focus on fish immunology, specifically bioprospecting of novel antimicrobial peptide drug candidates for potential application in veterinary and human medicine. He also holds a master's degree in biotechnology from Saurashtra University, Gujarat, India, and a bachelor's degree in science education (biology major) from Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda.
“I hope to leverage my expertise to develop and implement applied research and extension programs focusing on animal science, particularly centered on livestock such as cattle, swine, sheep and goats, tailored for youth in San Benito, Monterey and Santa Cruz counties,” he said. “I am so excited to partner with the groups and community organizations to continue to address the needs of the communities we serve.”
Based at UC Cooperative Extension's San Benito County office in Hollister, Okella can be reached at hokella@ucanr.edu.
Weinberg joins F3 as academic coordinator for food innovation and small business
Weinberg will help promote specialty crops and support food business development in the valley. By enhancing local food distribution, processing and preparation, he hopes all valley residents get to taste the region's delicious food and benefit from the value it provides.
Before joining UC ANR, Weinberg studied European and Asian food systems. He earned master's degrees in resilient farming and food systems from Wageningen University in the Netherlands and in agroecology from Institut supérieur d'agriculture Rhône-Alpes in France. He also earned a bachelor's degree in history, technology and society from Georgia Tech.
His master's thesis centered on why conventional farmers in England transitioned to organic and regional markets on their own. He then researched the effects of indigenous farmers' transition to conventional practices in Cambodia. Later, he worked for a local nongovernmental organization to build a farmers market in Battambang.
Weinberg said he seeks to “harness his research and professional interests to nourish a bright future for the San Joaquin Valley's farming and food systems.” He will be working with food entrepreneurs who process, cook, sell and distribute local produce and foster connections among them across the food system in the valley.
“We are building out Instagram pages for F3Local and our flagship event Central Valley Flavor Fest,” he said. “We very much would love some follower-love from the community; our handles are @cvflavorfest and @f3local.”
He earned masters degrees in resilient farming and food systems from Wageningen University in the Netherlands and in agroecology from ISARA in France. He earned a bachelor's degree in history, technology and society from Georgia Tech.
Weinberg is based in Fresno and can be reached at yweinberg@ucanr.edu.
Levy becomes UCCE soil health and organic materials management advisor
To reduce food waste and greenhouse gas emissions, Levy is working on recovering edible food for human consumption and diverting organic material from landfills. She will collaborate with diverse clientele to develop closed-loop systems that replicate natural decomposition cycles that sequester carbon and improve soil health in both urban and agricultural settings.
“I am particularly excited to be working towards solutions to climate change and to promote carbon sequestration in California. What makes this role interesting is that the pathway to achieving these broader goals is through simple but powerful solutions,” said Levy.
For instance, applying a 3-to-4-inch mulch layer in a landscape not only improves soil water retention but also sequesters carbon and reduces landfill emissions by diverting and repurposing green waste. “In this role, I am also very excited about supporting food waste recovery and addressing food insecurity in the three counties that I serve,” she added.
Prior to becoming an advisor, Levy worked for UC ANR as a staff research associate at South Coast Research and Extension Center in Irvine, where she partnered with the California Department of Pesticide Regulation to study urban runoff and water quality monitoring in Orange County.
Later, she became a UCCE associate specialist for water resources at South Coast REC, focusing on all phases of applied water resource management research and extension efforts. As a specialist, she managed national and statewide collaborative projects centered on water conservation, including the UC Landscape Plant Irrigation Trial program and the U.S. Department of Agriculture-funded, multistate Climate Ready Landscape Plants project.
Levy earned a Ph.D. in agricultural and extension education and evaluation from Louisiana State University. Her dissertation research studied the types of management practices Louisiana homeowners were using to apply fertilizers in urban landscapes. Through this exploratory research, she identified behaviors that can increase nonpoint source nutrient runoff and designed Cooperative Extension programming to help change those behaviors. She also obtained a master's degree in agronomy from LSU and a bachelor's in environmental science from UC Berkeley.
Levy is based at South Coast REC and can be reached at nlevy@ucanr.edu.
Smith aims to improve community health, nutrition in Central Valley
“My focus is on promoting nutrition and health initiatives responsive to the unique needs of the communities and ensuring that the programs are impactful and sustainable,” Smith said.
Originally from Champaign, Illinois, Smith also lived in Thailand, the Dominican Republic and Kenya during her youth, as her father worked for the Foreign Agricultural Service. Her experiences overseas were a significant motivating factor in pursuing a career in community nutrition and health.
“Witnessing health disparities firsthand in different areas of the world highlighted the critical need for equitable access to nutrition and health care,” she explained. “These experiences have fueled my passion to address the root causes of these disparities and work towards creating healthier communities.”
Smith earned a bachelor's degree in psychology from North Carolina A&T State University, and a Ph.D. in human sciences from the University of Nebraska, Lincoln, where she studied obesity prevention in rural communities.
That focus continues in her current role, as Smith seeks to partner with local communities to promote health and wellness in underserved segments of California's population.
“I hope to leverage my experience to develop and implement strategies and programs that promote equitable access to healthy lifestyles,” she said. “I am also excited to collaborate with the teams and community partners to continue to address the needs of the communities we serve.”
Based at UC Cooperative Extension's San Joaquin County office in Stockton, Smith can be reached at jasm@ucanr.edu.
Robinson returns as urban ag, food systems and environmental issues advisor
Currently, he aims to serve San Diego County residents, especially those in urban interfaces. Robinson brings a wealth of knowledge about San Diego County's food system to his advisor role and his network consists of nonprofits and their members in North County and in the City of San Diego, mostly concentrated in low-income and traditionally marginalized communities in the region.
“I'm also eager to identify policy issues that need to be addressed, especially as it relates to my scope of work – policies involving worker standards or climate-change impacts, for example,” said Robinson.
His new role builds on work he did for UCCE in the past. From 2016 to 2019, he was a UCCE academic coordinator serving California. He developed and taught the “Living on My Own” curriculum for 14- to 24-year-olds, an expansion of the “Money Talks” financial literacy series promoting positive youth development. Before returning to UC ANR, Robinson worked for the Center on Policy Initiatives, a policy think tank focused on economic justice policy issues.
Originally from Atlanta, Robinson moved across the southeastern part of the U.S. in pursuit of higher education. He earned a doctorate in applied economics from Auburn University in Alabama after obtaining bachelor's degrees in communication and economics from the University of North Florida. Robinson also earned an associate's degree in geography from Florida State College.
Before moving to California, Robinson was an economics professor at the University of North Florida as well as at Tuskegee University in Alabama, where he taught agricultural economics. While in graduate school, Robinson conducted coastal resource evaluations with Sea Grant as a collegiate fellow for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Just prior to returning to UCCE, he helped to develop San Diego County's State of the Food System 2020 report and the Food Vision 2030 plan based on his outreach and community organizing.
Robinson is based at the UCCE office in San Diego County and can be reached at drobinson@ucanr.edu.
Babu joins UCCE Imperial County as entomology advisor
Babu earned his undergraduate degree in agricultural science from Kerala Agricultural University in Kerala, India. He started his career as an agriculture consultant on a project sponsored by the government of India, serving as an advisor for small-scale subsistence farmers of Southern India, providing technical assistance to a diverse clientele of underserved growers in making crop management decisions.
In 2011, Babu moved to the United States to join the master's program in entomology at Mississippi State University, where he studied why Helicoverpa zea, corn earworm, was becoming resistant to Bacillus thuringiensis (Berliner) (Bt) toxins in transgenic field corn.
During his Ph.D. studies and postdoctoral research at North Carolina State University, Babu worked extensively on integrated pest management in field crops, focusing on pests such as brown stink bugs, Euschistus servus, corn earworm and aphids in various crop systems. These studies generated tangible results with direct economic benefits for growers and crop consultants.
In further postdoctoral research at the University of Georgia, he focused on monitoring and sampling, behavioral and chemical management of the invasive pest Drosophila suzukii in small fruit crops. Results from his trials enhanced adoption of IPM practices in managing D. suzukii in small fruit crops and helped growers reduce their dependency on frequent insecticide applications.
As an entomology advisor for Imperial County, Babu is committed to working with growers, pest control advisers, industry partners, government agencies and others. He is dedicated to developing practical, cost-effective solutions for the various pest management problems faced by the growers in Imperial County.
Babu is based at the UCCE Imperial County office in Holtville and can be reached at arbabu@ucanr.edu, (442) 265-7708 and @_ArunBabu_ on X.
Kraus named small farms advisor for Fresno County
Kraus aims to find solutions to small farms' production issues such as pests and soil nutrition. Some of her specific goals are to investigate the range and management strategies for Mexican rice borer, identify pest problems for longbean, and determine sustainable strategies for diversified cropping systems.
Prior to joining UC ANR, Kraus was a Cooperative Extension scientist for pesticide knowledge and safety in the Pesticide Information Office at the University of Florida.
The Indiana native earned her bachelor's degree in entomology at Purdue University, where she focused on both biological control and medical entomology. She earned her master's degree at Kansas State University, studying mosquito-transmitted diseases.
Then she took a break from academia to serve in the U.S. Peace Corps in Senegal, West Africa. Upon her return, she resumed her studies by working in integrated pest management in rice production at Louisiana State University.
While working on her Ph.D. she traveled extensively to rice-producing regions of the world. Her desire for travel carried her through her postdoctoral fellowship at Rhodes University in South Africa, where she again studied biological control. This experience set her up for a position with the Florida Department of Agriculture.
Kraus is based in Fresno and can be reached at ekraus@ucanr.edu.
