ANR Employee News

June 2024

President Drake approves 2024-25 salary increases for policy-covered employees

Dear Colleagues, Despite this being a very challenging budget year for California, the Legislature passed and the governor has now signed a final state budget for the 2024-25 fiscal year, which does not cut funding for UC. We are deeply grateful...

Duncan’s research ‘blew up preconceived ideas,’ improved almond, peach, grape production

  Roger Duncan, UCCE farm advisor in Stanislaus County, retires after 36 years For more than three decades, tree fruit and nut growers have depended on the advice of Roger Duncan, UC Cooperative Extension pomology farm advisor in Stanislaus...

Statewide study identifies needs and practices of farmers to adapt to climate change in California

“Climate Smart Agriculture: Assessing Needs and Perceptions of California's Farmers,” published on June 14, 2024, in Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems, is an article based on the results of statewide survey by UC ANR scientists and...

Why become a certified California Naturalist?

I recently came across a national forum thread on iNaturalist where someone was curious to know more about the value of becoming a “certified” naturalist. Not surprisingly there were a wide range of opinions. These ranged from...

Program Council visits UC ANR sites in Monterey Bay area

Every year the UC ANR Program Council visits programs for one of their monthly meetings. In June, they toured several sites in the Monterey Bay area. Their first stop was UC Santa Cruz, where they met with Katharyne Mitchell, sociology...

L&D: Community engagement, WIC at 50, health equity, program development, access, disability awareness

UC ANR Learning & DevelopmentLanding page | Archived webinars | Learning resources    Extension Methods & DeliveryBuilding SupportEquity, Diversity, InclusionOffice, Team, & Personal...

Names in the News

Beveridge joins ANR's Small Farms team Claire Beveridge joined UC ANR on April 1 as a small farms water conservation academic coordinator in Fresno County with support to Tulare and Madera counties. She is also part of the statewide Sustainable...

Renewable Resources Extension Act Statewide Program calls for proposals

The UC ANR Renewable Resources Extension Act Statewide Program is soliciting proposals that will develop and/or support new or existing UC Cooperative Extension projects and activities addressing the educational and extension needs in the...

Celebration Corner

Lewis receives PCOC Lifetime Achievement Award Vernard Lewis, emeritus UC Cooperative Extension urban entomology specialist, has received the 2024 Harvey Logan Lifetime Achievement Award from the Pest Control Operators of California. In a news...

Contracts and Grants Director Kathy Nolan retires

Kathleen Nolan, director of ANR Office of Contracts and Grants, retired July 1 after 24 years of service to the University of California, the last 11 years serving UC ANR. “I have had the privilege of working with Kathy throughout her years with...

Gerry Hernandez retires

Gerry Hernandez, agricultural technician and UC Master Gardener coordinator for Colusa County, retired July 1. In 1999, Hernandez was hired by Colusa County to work in the UC Cooperative Extension office in Colusa County as a field research associate....

Sonia Scott retires

Sonia Scott, administrative officer in Business Operations, retired July 1 from UC Agriculture and Natural Resources after 20 years of service to the University of California Scott joined ANR in 2014 in the immediate office of the Associate Vice...

Joni Rippee retires

Joni Rippee, director of Statewide Programs and Research and Extension Center Operations, retired on July 1 from her 39-year career with UC ANR. She joined UC ANR in 1985 at the UC Berkeley campus as a Secretary 2 in the Extension Forestry Office for...

Pat Harrigan retires

Patricia Harrigan, administrative officer for Program Planning & Evaluation, retired from UC ANR on July 1 after 25 years of service to UC. Harrigan began her UC career in 1999 providing administrative support for Academic Initiatives and later for...

STAR awards presented to three teams, 22 individuals

UC ANR's staff appreciation and recognition awards were presented to three teams and 22 individuals on June 20 during a statewide, online event hosted by Bethanie Brown, interim director of Human Resources. A recording of the event is posted on...

HBCU-Berkeley Environmental Scholars visit KARE

While tasting avocados and blackberries at Kearney Agricultural Research and Extension Center in Parlier, undergraduate students from historically Black colleges and universities got a taste of California agriculture. Participants in...

In memoriam: Alvin Sokolow

Al Sokolow, emeritus UC Cooperative Extension specialist in public policy and governance, passed away from complications from Parkinson's disease on June 1 at the University Retirement Community in Davis. Sokolow joined the UC Davis Department of...