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Posts Tagged: June 2023
Names in the News
Wheeler-Dykes returns to roots with tree crops, weeds
“I was born and raised on a small prune and walnut farm in Gridley, in nearby Butte County, and am very excited to be putting down roots close to family,” said Wheeler-Dykes, who started in this role on June 1.
Covering olives, prunes, walnuts and almonds, with an emphasis on weed management research in those cropping systems, Wheeler-Dykes is spending her first months on the job getting to know the region's growers and broader agricultural community.
“I hope to really form great relationships with the clientele in my counties, providing a resource that they can trust and rely on,” she said. “I want to serve as an advocate for our region in developing research and finding answers for the unique systems we have here. My interests are alternative weed management in orchard systems and canopy management, but I look forward to hearing what other areas need to be addressed.”
After earning both a bachelor's in crop science and business management and a master's in entomology (with a focus on integrated pest management in tree crops) from UC Davis, Wheeler-Dykes has conducted extensive agricultural research.
“I'm excited to bring those experiences to the Sac Valley as the newest advisor,” she said, encouraging growers and producers in the region to contact her with the challenges they are facing.
Based at the UCCE Glenn County office in Orland, Wheeler-Dykes can be reached at bawheeler@ucanr.edu and (530) 884-9313.
Castiaux expands role with Small Farms and Specialty Crops Program
Aiming to build capacity to address growing challenges across California agriculture, she is excited to continue with the Small Farms and Specialty Crops Program in Fresno, where she has been working for the last 3½ years as a project manager for the Healthy Soils Program.
Castiaux earned a Master of Science in conservation leadership from Colorado State University and a bachelor's degree in ecology and evolutionary biology from University of California, Santa Cruz. She has eight years of practical cross-cultural experience in agriculture, teaching and implementing climate-smart agricultural practices and summarizing complex topics in a more simplified form to various diverse audiences.
Fluent in Spanish, Castiaux was a bilingual lead educator for community-based participatory climate change resiliency programs for sugar cane farmers in Paraguay and coffee farmers in Mexico. She also worked with the California Strawberry Commission as a grower education specialist for three years teaching farmworkers and growers food safety, practices and research.
Castiaux is based in Fresno County and is best reached by email at mjcastiaux@ucanr.edu.
Angeles brings weed expertise to San Joaquin Valley
“I was born and raised in Tulare County and have been working in agriculture my entire life,” he said.
After receiving his bachelor's degree in plant science from Fresno State, Angeles conducted pesticide efficacy trials at the DuPont Research Farm in Madera. He later earned a master's in plant science from Fresno State, writing his thesis under the supervision of weed science professor Anil Shrestha and retired UCCE advisor Kurt Hembree.
An employee of UCCE for the past six years, Angeles worked with a pair of emeritus UCCE academics, Steve Wright and Bob Hutmacher.
Currently, Angeles is talking with growers, pest control advisers and other farm advisors on the pressing weed management issues across the region.
“One of my main goals is to find alternative control methods for some of the herbicide-resistant and invasive weeds that are a problem in different agricultural crops,” he said.
Based in Tulare, Angeles can be reached at jaangeles@ucanr.edu and (559) 684-3300.
Johnson joins UC ANR as urban ag tech advisor
Johnson provides unbiased, research-driven information to people working in urban agriculture, with a focus on controlled environments such as greenhouses. His clientele is interested in adopting technologies that can improve plant production, ranging from nurseries and commercial growers to community members managing local gardens.
In his newly created role, Johnson's efforts will influence the scope of work for urban agricultural technology advisors to come. One of the challenges that he anticipates is “focusing knowledge” or choosing a specific problem to prioritize.
“I'm really interested in irrigation, soil and plant culture. There's a lot to consider and there's a lot that can be done,” said Johnson.
Before he was hired as an advisor, Johnson worked as a staff research associate for five years at the South Coast Research and Extension Center in Irvine under Darren Haver, director of UC ANR's Research and Extension Center system.
“I learned a lot while I was an SRA, but there was only so much that I could do. I wanted more freedom to explore as a researcher, so I decided I wanted to become an advisor,” Johnson said, adding that his career goal inspired him to return to school.
Johnson earned a master's degree in horticulture and agronomy from UC Davis, as well as a bachelor's degree in biology from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.
One of the exciting aspects of the job, according to Johnson, is the ability to get creative and explore new territory. “I have some fun research interests, like how to grow wasabi or maximize saffron production using hydroponics,” Johnson explained.
“I'm interested in the kind of things that might be culturally important or significant to certain communities, and how they can be made more affordable and accessible,” he added.
Johnson is based out of the South Coast Research and Extension Center and can be reached at gejohnson@ucanr.edu.
Cohen joins UCCE as entomology advisor in Ventura County
Cohen earned her Ph.D. from UC Santa Cruz, where she studied how to develop agricultural practices to promote a diversity of beneficial insects and ecosystem services. She then conducted postdoctoral research at UC Riverside, where she studied pollinator health in Yolo County sunflowers.
Her research has been presented at national and international conferences, published in more than 14 peer-reviewed publications, and shared through blogs, factsheets and field days with her local grower community.
Prior to joining UC ANR, Cohen worked as a commercial horticulture agent with the Institute for Food and Agricultural Sciences at the University of Florida. This summer she will work with industry and university partners across Ventura County to evaluate the needs of the local growers and design an applied research and extension program.
Cohen is excited to address a myriad of issues related to pest management, including identification and monitoring, pest biology and phenology, crop loss assessment, pesticide resistance prevention, and evaluation of integrated pest management methods with an emphasis on biological and cultural controls. She is eager to conduct this work in regional crops such as berries, avocado, citrus and more.
“Ventura County is an important place to advance agricultural practices that reduce economic damage from pests while minimizing impacts on the environment, farmworkers and consumers,” said Cohen.
Cohen is based out of the UCCE office in Ventura and can be reached at hcohen@ucanr.edu. You can also follow her on Instagram @beescientista.
Tang joins UCCE in Napa County to work on water issues
Tang will be developing water resiliency strategies for stakeholders and diverse ecosystems across Napa County. In addition, he will design and implement creative research, acquire and share technical knowledge, and promote stewardship of surface and groundwater resources to meet the needs of competing users and natural systems.
This summer, Tang will collaborate with growers, UC Davis researchers and UC ANR colleagues to measure the crop coefficient of Napa grape vineyards.
“This work aims to support groundwater sustainability planning with water budget calculations and to provide crucial information for irrigation management,” he said.
Prior to joining UC ANR, Tang earned a Ph.D. in soil science from Pennsylvania State University, where his work focused on the ecohydrology of oak-maple forest. Fluent in Mandarin, he also holds a bachelor's degree in hydrogeology from Nanjing University in China. Tang took a one-year training at North Carolina State University as a postdoctoral scholar working on large-scale nutrient modeling.
He is looking forward to applying his experience and learning new skills in his new role.
“I am very excited about this new journey,” said Tang. “Water problems are pressing, important and interesting.”
Tang is based at the UCCE office in Napa and can be reached at qictang@ucanr.edu, LinkedIn and Twitter @qicheng_tang.
Water Talk podcast wins Conservation Innovation Award
The Water Talk Podcast Team received the 2023 Conservation Innovation Award by the Soil and Water Conservation Society, an international organization based in Ankeny, Iowa.
Water Talk is hosted by Faith Kearns, California Institute for Water Resources academic coordinator, and UC Cooperative Extension water specialists Mallika Nocco and Samuel Sandoval Solis, with production support from UC Davis students Victoria Roberts and Paloma Herrera-Thomas.
The goal of Water Talk is to bring communities across California together to talk about water issues, including climate change, scarcity and access.
The podcast's fourth season just wrapped, and the hosts have interviewed a wide range of guests. They have talked with UCCE colleagues Leslie Roche and Dan Macon about livestock water use, Angel Fernandez-Bou and Jose Pablo Ortiz Partida of the Union of Concerned Scientists about water equity, journalist Ian James of the Los Angeles Times about reporting on contentious water issues and Laurel Firestone of the State Water Resources Control Board discussing water governance, leadership and policy implementation and many others.
The award will officially be presented to the team at the SWCS International Annual Conference in Des Moines, Iowa, on Aug. 8.
LGBTQIA+ Employee Resource Group compiles articles, videos
To commemorate Pride Month in June, the LGBTQIA+ Employee Resource Group at UC ANR has assembled links to articles and videos that offer historical context and additional information for the community.
Pride Month & General Information
Pride Month
https://www.loc.gov/lgbt-pride-month/about/
https://youth.gov/feature-article/june-lgbt-pride-month
Milestones in the Gay Rights Movement: https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/stonewall-milestones-american-gay-rights-movement/
The first Pride march in New York City was held on the one-year anniversary of the Stonewall Uprising: https://www.loc.gov/lgbt-pride-month/about/#pride-50th-anniversary (including footage of early Pride march)
Numbers in the U.S.
https://news.gallup.com/poll/329708/lgbt-identification-rises-latest-estimate.aspx
Stonewall Uprising
Stonewall Then and Now: https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2019/06/harvard-scholars-reflect-on-the-history-and-legacy-of-the-stonewall-riots/
Arrest Reports from the 1969 Stonewall Uprising: https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/projects/documents/arrest-reports-from-the-1969-stonewall-uprising
How the Stonewall Riots Sparked a Movement (video): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q9wdMJmuBlA
The Stonewall You Know Is a Myth (video): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S7jnzOMxb14&t=86s
NYU Documentary celebrating 50 years of the Stonewall riots (video): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=31CX1Y0cen8
The Day the Stonewall Riots Shook America (video): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tCFwOJcMjM0
https://www.biography.com/news/stonewall-riots-history-leaders
https://guides.loc.gov/lgbtq-studies/stonewall-era
History of the Pride flag (video)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CMM-ybN3K5g
Wanda Sykes Take Us Through the History of LGBTQ+ (video)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wkzwDOCEDCo
Practices for Inclusion of Individuals of All Genders and Sexual Orientations (4-H PLWG - Program Leaders Workgroup)
LGBTQ America (2016): A Theme Study of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer History
https://www.nps.gov/subjects/tellingallamericansstories/lgbtqthemestudy.htm
This Is What LGBT Life Is Like Around the World | Jenni Chang and Lisa Dazols | TED Talks (video)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ivfJJh9y1UI
Aging as LGBT: Two Stories (video)
Exploring The Roots Of Chicago's Queer South Asian Community | NBC Asian America (video)
Introduction to Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer history in the United States
https://www.nps.gov/subjects/lgbtqheritage/upload/lgbtqtheme-history.pdf
NPS, in collaboration with History Pin, a nationwide, web-based project, is now available to enable individuals, communities, and other organizations to “pin” places of LGBTQ history and heritage, making a truly crowd-sourced and image-rich map.
Lesbian & Gay Communities
Background information
Definitions: https://lgbt.ucsf.edu/glossary-terms
LGBT identification in U.S.: https://news.gallup.com/poll/329708/lgbt-identification-rises-latest-estimate.aspx
Two-Spirit People: Sex, Gender & Sexuality in Historic and Contemporary Native America
https://www.ncai.org/policy-research-center/initiatives/Pruden-Edmo_TwoSpiritPeople.pdf
Queer Latino podcast ‘De Pueblo, Católico y Gay' aims to fight LGBTQ stigma
What Do All the Initials Mean? (video)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DE7bKmOXY3w
Two Spirits, One Dance for Native American Artist (video)
Journey of Indigenous Gender Identity (video)
When Black Lives Matter Meets Gay Pride (video)
What's it Like to be Latino and Gay? (video)
Inside the World Of Being Machismo And Gay In Latino Culture (video)
Tracing The Evolution Of Asian-Pacific Islander LGBTQ Nightlife Spaces | NBC Asian America (video)
Bi+ Community
Background information
Description of identity terms: https://rcsgd.sa.ucsb.edu/education/bi-education
Merriam-Webster definition: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bisexual
Pansexual: https://lgbt.foundation/news/5-things-you-should-know-on-pansexual-visibility-day/161
Understanding Bisexuality: https://www.apa.org/pi/lgbt/resources/bisexual
History of Bi+ Community: https://web.archive.org/web/20230604074642/https:/glaad.org/blog/us-bisexual-movement-biweek-history-lesson
Bisexual Resource Center
Information for Allies
https://biresource.org/bi-info/for-allies/
Getting Bi: Voices of Bisexuals Around the World
What Does It Mean to be Bisexual? (video)
Tania Israel: Bisexuality and Beyond | TEDxUCLA (video)
https://tedx.ucla.edu/project/tania_israel_bisexuality_and_beyond/
Tee Noir: Performative Bisexuality: Y'all Not Tired? (video)
Engage:
Follow @BiNetUSA on Twitter. BiNet USA is America's oldest advocacy organization for bisexual, pansexual, fluid, queer-identified and unlabeled people. #BiWeek #BiMenExist
Asexuality & Aromanticism
Asexual Community
Timeline of asexual history: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_asexual_history
Asexual history: http://wiki.asexuality.org/Asexual_history
Asexual pride flag: https://aceweek.org/stories/ace-flag-history
Asexual Census Summary Report: https://asexualcensus.files.wordpress.com/2017/10/2015_ace_census_summary_report.pdf
FAQ for Family/Friends: https://www.asexuality.org/?q=family.html
The Asexual Manifesto: https://www.scribd.com/document/414122159/The-Asexual-Manifesto-Lisa-Orlando
The Asexual Community is Predominantly White. Why?: https://medium.com/@Michael_Paramo/interrogating-the-whiteness-of-the-asexual-community-b5765a71f62b
Asexual Awareness Week (in late October): https://aceweek.org/
Laci Green and David Jay: “No Sex?! – Asexuality” (video): https://youtu.be/77o83_U8O5o
Yasmin Benoit: Asexuals Need Media Representation | TEDx (video): https://youtu.be/ifwRAT3DM2E
Aromantic Community
Ace and Aro: Understanding Differences in Romantic Attractions Among Persons Identifying as Asexual: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10508-019-01600-1
Aromantic pride flag: https://www.unco.edu/gender-sexuality-resource-center/resources/pride-flags.aspx
Introduction to Romantic orientations: https://asexuality.org/?q=romanticorientation
Definition of queerplatonic: http://wiki.asexuality.org/Queerplatonic
Coming out as Aromantic (video): https://youtu.be/Kox1NMdBVgg
Harassment and violence directed at ace and aro individuals (content warning)
https://www.reddit.com/r/asexuality/wiki/anti_ace_bias/
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/asexual-discrimination_n_3380551
Sherronda J. Brown: Romance is not the only love that matters
On Black love and non-romantic relationships: http://blackyouthproject.com/romance-not-black-love-matters/
Anonymous: “Testimonio 17”
A Chilean blog shares testimonies in Spanish of people's experiences with identifying on the asexual spectrum (content warning: mentions of sexual assault): https://asearrochile.tumblr.com/post/629371145710387200/martesdetestimonio-con-identidad-demisexual
auraboo: “My Asexual Story”
A comic artist shares her experience with asexuality and relationships: https://auraboo.tumblr.com/post/172390677318/my-asexual-story-2018-another-little
Jackie Bussjaeger: “Aces in Space: An Asexual Reading of Star Trek”
An analysis highlighting the limited representation of ace and aro characters in media: https://www.startrek.com/news/aces-in-space-an-asexual-reading-of-star-trek
Trans*, Non-Binary & Intersex Communities
Trans* Community
https://glaad.org/transgender/transfaq/
Non-Binary Community
https://lgbt.foundation/who-we-help/trans-people/non-binary
Intersex Community
https://www.hrc.org/resources/understanding-the-intersex-community
What and When is Transgender Day of Remembrance?
https://www.joincake.com/blog/transgender-day-of-remembrance/
Why We Ask Each Other Our Pronouns
https://www.hrc.org/resources/why-we-ask-each-other-our-pronouns
Mapping Attacks on LGBTQ Rights in the U.S.
https://www.aclu.org/legislative-attacks-on-lgbtq-rights
National Center for Transgender Equality
https://transequality.org/about-transgender
Toolkit for Allies
https://www.aclu-mo.org/en/toolkit-allies
Trans Agenda for Liberation
https://transgenderlawcenter.org/trans-agenda-for-liberation/
The Gender Unicorn
https://transstudent.org/gender/
National Center for Transgender Equality: Introduction to Transgender People (video)
https://www.facebook.com/TransEqualityNow/videos/vb.40078161989/10153582088701990/
5 Non-Binary People Explain What “Non-Binary” Means to Them (video)
Samy Nour Younes: A Short History of Trans People's Long Fight for Equality | TED talk (video)
Scott Turner Schofield: Ending Gender (video)
InQueery: What Does Intersex Mean? (video)
As/Is: What It's Like to be Intersex (video)
Know Trans Rights in the US
https://transequality.org/know-your-rights
National and State Action Centers
https://transequality.org/action-centers
Equality California
https://www.eqca.org/take-action/
Engage:
Follow @TransEquality on Twitter. The National Center for Transgender Equality is the nation's leading social justice advocacy organization winning lifesaving change for transgender people.
Follow @TransPOCC on Twitter. Trans People of Color Coalition (TPOCC) is the only national social justice organization that promotes the interest of Trans People of Color.
#WontBeErased #TransRightsAreHumanRights
L&D Messaging your clientele, Customer relations, Equity-minded review letters, Pcard vs. Travel card, Art of saying no
UC ANR LEARNING & DEVELOPMENT
Landing page| Presentation Recordings| Learning Resources
Extension Methods & Delivery
Building Support
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Office, Team, and Personal Management
Extension Skills July 2023: Marketing Research for Messaging
July 13
11 a.m. - Noon
Details & Registration.
Are you interested in learning how to develop messages that resonate with your Extension partners? Join us for a brief session with Lindsey Haynes-Maslow, to discuss how to identify and work with your priority populations to tailor messages that resonate with them.
How Customer Management Relations (CRM) can play a role in helping Cooperative Extension professionals co-create value between their programs and their clients and improve customer service experiences.
Image by talha khalil from Pixabay
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Administrative units at UC ANR are here to help you build your program and access funding:
Development Services
Government Relations
Office of Contracts & Grants
Fast Track to Contracts & Grants spring 2023 presentation recordings
April 12, 2023 | Introduction to Contracts & Grants (video) Slide deck, with Kim Lamar
April 14, 2023 | From Concept to Submission (AKA Proposal Development and Proposal Process video), Slide deck, with Vanity Campbell, et al
April 19, 2023 | Cost Share and Academic Cost Recovery-Salary Savings (video), Slide deck
April 21, 2023 | Proposal budget preparation basics (or Budget Basics and Calculator) (Video), Slide deck (PDF) with Kendra Rose
May 3, 2023 | Using the new ANR Workflow Automation program to route C&G Forms “800“and Advance Account Request (Video), Slide deck (PDF) Form 800 Quick Guide (PDF) Advance Account Quick Guide (PDF)
May 5, 2023 | Understanding the awards process (Video), Slide deck (PDF)
May 10, 2023 | Working with Subrecipients (Video), Slide deck (PDF)
May 12, 2023 | Post Award Process (Video), Slide deck (PDF)
An Equity-Minded Approach to Writing Effective External Review Letters for Tenure
Activate your account (All UC ANR employees have access)
July 18
11 a.m. – Noon
Details & Registration
Senior faculty are incredibly powerful. In a two-page tenure letter, they can make or break a career. This power has an outsized impact on scholars with marginalized identities, such as Black academics, who are promoted with tenure at lower rates than their White colleagues. We suggest that this difference in tenure rates is due to an implicit, overly narrow definition of academic excellence that does not recognize all contributions that Black scholars make to their departments, institutions and academia in general. Read more.
Diversity Certificate Series (UC Davis, Equity and Inclusion Program and Learning Center)
The Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Education Program, in partnership with UC Davis Learning and Development, offers the Cross-Cultural Competence Certificate Series and the Understanding Diversity Certificate Series, both of which are aimed at developing and strengthening competencies in the area of diversity, equity and inclusion. Image by Tumisu from Pixabay
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When to Use P-Cards vs. Travel Cards
UC ANR Business Operations Center (BOC)
Quarterly Webinars: Our Two Cents
July 20
12-12:30 p.m.
Zoom webinar link https://ucanr.zoom.us/j/751701428?pwd=Q1ZrbUtoQVJwMXJVRkQydUlwNytJQT09
Password: 4Learning | +1 669 900 6833 | Webinar ID: 751 701 428
Image by Memed_Nurrohmad from Pixabay
Fostering Health and Well-Being Across Extension (free - Sponsored by NAEPSDP - National Association of Extension Programs and Staff Development Professionals)
July 10-14
Noon – 1 p.m. Pacific Time
Register.
This year's theme is wellness and will focus on efforts at the organizational, managerial, employee and community levels to provide health and well-being programs and opportunities for employees and clientele. We will wrap up the week discussing ways to tell our health and well-being story more effectively. Who should participate in Virtual Summer School? Anyone! From Extension directors to mid-managers, to program and staff development specialists and
beyond. We welcome anyone interested in these topics to join us for any or all of the sessions.
The Art of Saying "No" (National Center for Faculty Development & Diversity)
Activate your account (All UC ANR employees have access)
July 13, 11 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Details & Registration
Are you confused about when to say "yes" and "no" to other people's requests? Do you often say "yes" to requests without realizing the impact that response will have on your time and productivity? Do you find yourself feeling angry and resentful because you've said "yes" too often? Come and learn our favorite strategies that you can implement immediately so you can add "no" to your vocabulary.
Tuesday, July 18
12:10 - 1 p.m.
Register for the Zoom webinar.
We will explore how to create quick, healthy balanced meals in minutes. You don't need a culinary degree to prepare healthy meals, but you do need to prepare. We will review how to prep, plan and get creative for quick, nutritionally balanced meals. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email with information on how to join via computer or phone. Share the event flyer with your colleagues! Presented by UC Davis Health Food and Nutrition Services and Staff and Faculty Health and Well-being. Image by OpenClipart-Vectors from Pixabay
Be the manager people won't leave (LinkedIn Learning)
Contact UC ANR IT to request your account help@ucanr.edu
Course link.
Manager relationships can be the make-or-break point for whether employees stay or go. Join veteran HR leader LaurieRuettimann as she reveals the data behind why it's more important than ever to be a manager who demonstrates empathy and inspires loyalty from the workforce. Ruettimann covers basics first: be someone people can trust, be an example of integrity and be relentlessly inclusive. She steps you through ways to inspire your employees to grow.
Evidence suggests that improvements in people management practices, especially the development of supportive managers paired with time and place flexibility, contribute to increased well-being.
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Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay
Everyone can learn something new.
UC ANR Learning and Development.
Three teams and 22 individuals win STAR awards
UC ANR staff appreciation and recognition awards were presented to 22 individuals and three teams on June 14 during a statewide Zoom event hosted by Human Resources.
Individual awards:
Stacey Amparano, Desert REC, for growing the Farm Smart program.
Sibani Bose, Nutrition Policy Institute, for her creative problem-solving.
Katie Churchill, UCCE Capitol Corridor, for sensitivity to the social, cultural and emotional needs of staff that clearly fosters inclusivity and a culture of open communication.
Julie Clark, UCCE Ventura County, for over 28 years of outreach on invasive insects and weeds, post-fire recovery and environmental issues.
Maria Fernandez, Development Services, for taking on tasks beyond her scope of work to help her team and bring projects to completion.
Terri Gonzalez, Kearney REC, for significantly improving organizational efficiency and productivity at Kearney, resulting in a greater level of effectiveness and customer service.
Jennifer Henkens, 4-H Capitol Corridor, for routinely going above and beyond, even in support of non-4-H colleagues.
Julia Kalika, Program Support Unit, for covering extra duties when PSU was short-staffed.
Rachel Lloyd, Office of the Controller and Business Services, for sustained exceptional performance, which helped her unit meet its goals for the client satisfaction survey.
Cristina Luquin, UCCE Central Sierra. As an Interim Program Supervisor, she has overseen four counties, five offices and 12 staff and mentored and trained all 12 staff in the CalFresh Central Sierra program.
Mario Monroy-Olivas, UCCE Tehama County, for his collaborative efforts with internal and external partners, which have resulted in expanded garden sites, an increase of extenders for nutrition education and youth engagement work.
Karen Motley, West Side Research & Extension Center, for helping the Lindcove REC staff review and improve their operational system, ensuring that they were executing tasks accurately and efficiently.
Kathleen Patrocinio, Sustainable Agricultural Research & Education Program, for coordinating the administrative and physical move of SAREP from the UC Davis campus to UC ANR, with five of seven staff positions vacant or in transition, including the director position.
Jacob Roberson, UCCE Fresno-Madera Small Farm Program, for assisting 52 farmers representing a total of 1,144 acres in applying to California's State Water Efficiency and Enhancement Program (SWEEP). The farmers received $4.3 million of incentives grant funding directly, which has been used to repair or install pump and irrigation system components.
Beatriz Rojas, UCCE Kern County, for initiating nutrition education with schools, head start classes and migrant worker families in locations where UCCE never before served clientele.
Becky Sisman, Human Resources, for helping resolve pay issues by working with ANR Payroll, HR Ops and UCPath.
Angela Urrea, Human Resources, for providing stellar customer service and support during UC ANR's unprecedented hiring boom, including identifying compliance issues and helping solve complicated wage issues.
Melissa Ussery, UCCE Sutter-Yuba, for her pivotal role in coordinating community partners to provide nutrition education for youth in Sutter County for a Sierra Health Foundation grant that had to be accomplished in a short time frame.
Karyn Utsumi, California Naturalist, for supporting 24 partner organizations in 15 counties in central and northern California. After being hired in October, she helped with 10 CalNat courses and two Climate Stewards courses.
Susan Weaver, Santa Clara County 4-H, for organizing and implementing a five-day nature camp for Latinx children K-3rd grade at Escuela Popular, a bilingual K-12 school in East San Jose. The camp increased public awareness of 4-H in the Latinx community and with new public and private partners.
Patrick West, Kearney REC, for exceptional performance in managing the physical plant staff and budget for Kearney REC.
Clara Wilshire, UCCE San Bernardino. An EFNEP educator for nearly 30 years, she promotes not only EFNEP but Master Gardeners, Master Food Preservers, and 4-H in San Bernardino County, which has expanded the reach of UCCE.
Team awards:
Program Support Unit – Bridgette Alvarez, Maria Alvarez, Sherry Cooper, Julia Kalika, PJ Kelly, Mariette Malessy and Kate Lyn Sutherland. For the UC ANR Statewide Conference, not only did the PSU provide exceptional services, they went above and beyond in response to feedback about the food nutrition and single-use ware. They were able to raise the nutrition quality of the snacks from ice cream and chips to vegetable and hummus. They were also able to persuade the facility to stop providing styrofoam single-use ware.
Nutrition Policy Institute Operations Transition Team – Kassandra Bacon, Celeste Felix, Danielle Lee, Erica Martinez Resendiz and Reka Vasicsek – for recruiting a new school district when a partner in a USDA study pulled out, then scrambling to collect student surveys and food and solid waste data over two days at 20 elementary schools for a solid 40 days of challenging work.
CalFresh Healthy Living, UCCE Tulare-Kings counties – Marina Aguilera, Elia Escalante, Grilda Gomez, Mariana Lopez, Arianna Nava, Alyssabeth Navarro and Teresa Spicer – for nurturing and leveraging strong partnerships with local organizations and school districts to collectively create meaningful and positive changes in the lives of people in their counties.
A recording of the STAR award presentations is posted at https://ucanr.edu/sites/anrstaff/All_Hands.
UC Berkeley NOW Conference supports staff advancement
For four years, UC Berkeley has been opening its doors for all UC staff to attend the Next Opportunity at Work Conference (NOW). NOW is an all-day conference designed to support UC staff with career and professional development through inspiring keynote speakers, workshops, networking connections with peers, and career planning resources. The June 2023 conference was held in person at the Oakland Marriott City Center. Three UC ANR staff members accepted reimbursements from Learning & Development to attend the conference.
Conference provides coaching, networking opportunities
“The NOW coaching and conference gave me clarity about my career path and a concrete plan for my next steps,” said Tracy Celio, Master Gardener Program coordinator for Amador and El Dorado counties.
“The NOW Conference was an opportunity to mingle with staff from other UC campuses and share experiences. My favorite part was the 1:1 talent acquisition coaching session included with the registration. I got great tips on updating my resume and a contact in UC recruiting,” said Katherine Uhde, Master Gardener Program coordinator for Santa Clara County
"By having this purpose, it allows for me to be a better resource for not only the potential employee or the onboarding employee, but for my department as well.”
Look for announcements for the NOW Conference during early spring 2024 via Learning & Development email announcements, the Employee News, and the calendar on the L&D landing page.
