Names in the News

Jegede joins UCCE as agricultural toxicology specialist 

Olukayode “Kayode” Jegede joined UC ANR on Jan. 2 as an assistant professor of Cooperative Extension for agricultural toxicology with the Department of Molecular Biosciences, School of Veterinary Medicine and Department of Environmental Toxicology in the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences at UC Davis. 

Jegede will be studying contaminants of agricultural importance in California, such as pesticides, metals, microplastics, veterinary pharmaceuticals, PFAS, fertilizers and their effects on humans, animals (including aquaculture) and environmental health of soil and plants.

“I will also be looking at various exposure pathways of these contaminants and interactions through food, water, soil and how climate change or other major environmental change events can influence toxicity of these contaminants and mitigation strategies,” Jegede said. “My research will also have a “one-health” perspective to it.”

Prior to moving to California, Jegede was a postdoctoral research associate at the Department of Soil Science, University of Saskatchewan, Canada for a year before moving to Wageningen University and Research in the Netherlands to work as a research scientist focused on terrestrial ecotoxicology.

His past research has examined the effects of metals, pesticides and mixture toxicity on soil biota (mites, springtails, snails, earthworms) and soil enzymes, related ecosystem service function and generating data for environmental risk assessment of metals and pesticides.

“I look forward to helping solve toxicology issues in California through research, advising on and promoting good health for everyone and everything connected to small and large-scale agriculture in California.” Jegede said. “I am opened to collaborations with researchers across UC ANR.”

He earned his Ph.D. in toxicology at the University of Saskatchewan in Canada and bachelor's and master's degree in zoology at the Obafemi Awolowo University in Nigeria.

Jegede is based at UC Davis and can be reached at ojegede@ucdavis.edu and (530) 752-1086.

Celio named program manager for Southwest Regional Food Business Center 

Tracy Celio has been named program manager for the Southwest Regional Food Business Center and will oversee the center's efforts across Arizona, California, Nevada and Utah. The center provides direct business technical assistance, capacity building and coordination to small and mid-sized food and farm businesses.

Celio, who joined UC ANR in 2012, previously served in the Central Sierra as UC Master Gardener Program coordinator in El Dorado and Amador counties, working with volunteers to launch the UC Master Gardener Sherwood Demonstration Garden, and Heritage Rose and Community Garden. She also has served as an Americorps VISTA service member and United States Peace Corps volunteer.

She earned a bachelor's degree in social and environmental science from CSU San Diego. She is certified as a UC Climate Steward and a UC Master Gardener.

In her new role, Celio will focus on food security, program management and community engagement.

“I look forward to this new opportunity to build sustainable food systems with incredible partners across the region and hope it will be a model nationwide and beyond,” Celio said. 

Learn more about the Southwest Regional Food Business Center at https://swfoodbiz.org/programs. 

Volk joins UCCE as horticulture advisor for Santa Barbara and Ventura counties 

Emma Volk joined UC Cooperative Extension on Sept. 1, 2023, as the production horticulture advisor serving Santa Barbara and Ventura counties. Volk's role focuses on solving issues affecting greenhouse and nursery production. Her work can focus on anything from water quality and nutrient management, to pest and disease control in controlled environments.

A native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Volk earned a master's degree in horticultural science from North Carolina State University and a bachelor's degree in international agriculture and rural development from Cornell University. 

Volk brings experience in grapevines and strawberries. After graduating from Cornell, she was a full-time research assistant investigating how to produce strawberry plugs in a controlled environment. Her master's degree investigated soil steam disinfestation as an alternative to pre-plant fumigation in strawberry plasticulture systems.

In addition to her understanding of horticultural production, Volk's philosophy on education and extension will surely come in handy. Volk said that relaying scientific information in the simplest form is important because it allows everyone to engage with the topic at hand, from a backyard gardener to a grower who has been in the business for decades. 

As a UCCE advisor, Volk is interested in promoting sustainable pest management and improving irrigation practices. “I'm also looking forward to learning about the growers and how I can become one of their trusted partners,” said Volk.

“To get there, I can't rely solely on formal presentations to share scientific information. Everything before that point matters. I've got to be communicative and collaborative from the very beginning,” she said.

Now that she's made her way to California, Volk is learning to surf because “that's what you do when you live in Southern California.” 

Volk is based out of the UC Cooperative Extension office in Ventura County and can be reached at evolk@ucanr.edu.

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