People
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Houston Wilson, Ph.D.DirectorAssoc. Cooperative Extension Specialist Kearney Agricultural Research and Extension Center Dept. Entomology, UC Riverside hwilson@ucanr.edu | 559-646-6519 | http://treecrops.ucr.edu/ |
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Krista Marshall, M.S.Policy & Partnerships Coordinatorknmarshall@ucanr.edu | 952-200-6219 Krista is passionate about building agricultural models that center human livelihoods, advance food sovereignty, promote regional food systems, and enable farmers to be ecological stewards of working lands. Prior to joining UC ANR, Krista worked on-farm to study the relationships between Agroecological design and management principles, soil health, and soil ecosystem functional outcomes during graduate school at UC Davis. Since 2020, Krista has been urban farming in Sacramento - building relationships with community members while running seasonal farm stands and learning how to operate small-scale productions. Through that work, she participated in city-level policy, coalition building, and small-scale farm design. She is excited to continue working and broadening her knowledge as part of the UC ANR and Organic Agriculture Institute team! |
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Lexie Wilson, Ph.D.Extension & Outreach Coordinatorlwwilson@ucanr.edu | 704-421-3926 Lexie enjoys supporting farmers and communities in advancing the sustainability of agroecosystems and regional food systems. She received a PhD from University of Wisconsin – Madison in Plant Breeding and Plant Genetics in 2023. Her research focused on methods to improve sweet corn eating quality in organic production and participatory breeding of new sweet and grain corn varieties. She worked with local chefs, farmers, millers, and food businesses to trial and develop varieties for optimal performance in Upper Midwest farms, kitchens, and supply chains. Prior to graduate school, Lexie worked on diversified, organic vegetable farms in California and North Carolina and operated a small-scale bean-focused farm in Western North Carolina. Lexie is excited to continue learning from and working with farmers, food system stakeholders, and agricultural organizations to develop programming, extend research, and provide assistance for aspiring, transitioning, and current organic growers in California. |
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Maria De Lourdes Orozco Ramirez, M.S.Education & Mentorship Coordinatormdlorozcoramirez@ucanr.edu | 805-781-5815 Maria is a first-generation immigrant born in Jalisco, Mexico and raised in California. Her family's roots in agriculture and work experience influenced Maria to pursue her Masters at Cornell University in Global Development. Her academic focus included international agriculture, education, and extension with a dedication to bridging knowledge gaps and advocating for just and equitable food systems. Her research centered on enhancing dragon fruit (pitahaya) grower insights by weaving in participatory mapping, farmer-to-farmer knowledge, and networking opportunities to empower Indigenous and local communities in Kenya. Prior to graduate school, Maria worked for the UC Small Farms Network as a bilingual Community Educator supporting farmers experiencing hardship due extreme weather events as well as assisting growers who are not covered by traditional commodity-based extension programs to research agave, subtropical fruits, and other specialty crops. Additionally, Maria holds a BS from UC Davis in Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems, with minors in Chicano/a/x Studies and Community and Regional Development. Overall, she is committed to learning and continuing to empower farmers through education, outreach, and mentorship to address the ever-evolving needs of organic, underserved, and marginalized communities in our food systems. |
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Katharina UllmannTraining & Technical Assistance Coordinator2nd St ANR Building, Davis Katharina has fifteen years of experience working in sustainable agriculture, research, and education with multiple partners in North America and Europe. She received her PhD in Entomology from the University of California, Davis where she researched how crop rotations, tillage, and wildflower plantings impact crop pollinating native bees. Prior to joining the Organic Agriculture Institute, Katharina was the Director of UC Davis Student Farm, a 23-acre organic educational farm and garden. Her experience also includes working at the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation where she collaborated with farmers, agricultural professionals, and researchers across California and North America to support pollinators and crop pollination on farmland. Katharina’s career began on small farms in Austria and continued in the United States where she focused on mixed vegetable and livestock production. During those formative years, working with and learning from farmers, she developed a strong interest in sustainable agriculture, experiential learning, and knowledge exchange. |