UCCE Staff Profiles

Get to know your UCCE neighbors who live and work in the communities they serve, bringing new knowledge, targeted research and local education to help solve complex problems.

Rachel Surls
Sustainable Food Systems Advisor, UCCE Los Angeles County

I work on farm-to-fork food issues, focusing particularly on urban agriculture education, research and policy. My day includes anything from a visit to a farm to a trip to City Hall. A big part of what I do is translating information on agriculture into a format that's easy to read and understand. For example, people who operate urban farms, school gardens or community gardens need to understand, in basic terms, how and why to test their soil, but soil science is very technical and confusing.

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Staff Highlights by Location

Butte County

Alisha Rouland - Nutrition Education Coordinator
Alyssa Rilinger - UC CalFresh Nutrition Education Coordinator
Gail Bertagna - Nutrition Educator
Marisol Andrade - Nutrition Educator
MaryAnn Mills - CalFresh Nutrition Education Coordinator
Nancy Munoz - Nutrition Educator
Nick Bertagna - Program Representative II – 4-H Youth Development
Sonia C. Rodriguez - Nutrition Educator
Suzie Lawry-Hall - Nutrition Education Coordinator
Tracy Yang - Program Representative I
Rosario Clerici - Program Representative / Nutrition Educator

Colusa County

Rosario Clerici - Program Representative / Nutrition Educator
Liz Dawley - CalFresh and 4-H Youth Development Program Representative
Luis Espino - Advisor
Mark Lundy - Agronomy Advisor

Del Norte County

Deborah Giraud - Farm and Community Development Advisor
Jeffery W. Stackhouse - Livestock/Natural Resources Advisor
Yana Valachovic - County Director and Forest Advisor
Dorina M. Espinoza - Youth, Families, and Communities Advisor

Fresno County

Alisha Byrd - Nutrition Program Coordinator
Brittanny Zweigle - Program Representative II
DeAnna R. Molinar - Nutrition Program Coordinator
Elizabeth Villalobos, M.A. - 4-H Youth Development Program Coordinator
Lily Phanthachack - Program Representative II
Richard Molinar - Small Farm Advisor Emeritus
Shawna Rogers - UC CalFresh Nutrition Program Coordinator
Stephanie Sharp - Program Representative III
Janet Cangemi - Master Gardener Program Manager
Shannon Mueller - Director

Glenn County

Rosario Clerici - Program Representative / Nutrition Educator
Luis Espino - Advisor

Humboldt County

Deborah Giraud - Farm and Community Development Advisor
Jeffery W. Stackhouse - Livestock/Natural Resources Advisor
Yana Valachovic - County Director and Forest Advisor
Dorina M. Espinoza - Youth, Families, and Communities Advisor
Sandy Sathrum - 4-H Program Representative

Imperial County

Eric Natwick - Farm Advisor

Inyo County

Dustin Blakey - County Director and Farm Advisor

Lake County

Dorina M. Espinoza - Youth, Families, and Communities Advisor

Lassen County

David Lile - Livestock Natural Resources Advisor and County Director

Los Angeles County

Donald R. Hodel - Environmental Horticulture Advisor
George Rendell (retired) - County Director (1989–1997)
Rachel Surls - Sustainable Food Systems Advisor

Madera County

Janet Cangemi - Master Gardener Program Manager
Shannon Mueller - Director

Marin County

Allison Keaney - 4-H Program Representative
Janice Alexander - Forest Health Educator
Julia Van Soelen Kim - Food Systems Advisor
David Lewis - Director/Watershed Management Advisor
Steven Swain - Environmental Horticulture Advisor

Mendocino County

Dorina M. Espinoza - Youth, Families, and Communities Advisor

Mono County

Dustin Blakey - County Director and Farm Advisor

Monterey County

Lynn Schmitt-McQuitty - County Director/4-H Youth Development Advisor

Napa County

David Lewis - Director/Watershed Management Advisor
Monica Cooper - Farm Advisor–Viticulture
Virginia Peeples - Office Assistant II
Yvonne Rasmussen - Master Gardener Volunteer Program Coordinator

Plumas County

Michael De Lasaux - Natural Resources Advisor

Riverside County

Etaferahu Takele - County Director/Agricultural Economist
Vonny M. Barlow - Entomology/IPM/Crop Production Advisor
Dona Jenkins - Master Gardener Program Coordinator (Program Expansion)

Sacramento County

Debbie S. Garcia - Youth Nutrition Coordinator
Lisa Kong - 4-H Program Representative
Gene Miyao - Farm Advisor

San Benito County

Lynn Schmitt-McQuitty - County Director/4-H Youth Development Advisor
William Coates - Farm Advisor Emeritus

San Bernardino County

Dona Jenkins - Master Gardener Program Coordinator (Program Expansion)
Paula (Jan) Johnson - Master Gardener - volunteer

San Diego County

Lorin Lilikoi Lima - SRA II
Paul Olin - Aquaculture Specialist
Quang "Hogan" Tong - Administrative Assistant
Ryan Krason - Digital Media Specialist

San Francisco County

Mary Vollinger - Calfresh Program Manager

San Luis Obispo County

Bill Weitkamp - Farm Advisor Emeritus
Bill Weitkamp - Farm Advisor Emeritus
Katherine Soule - Youth, Families, & Communities Advisor

San Mateo County

Mary Vollinger - Calfresh Program Manager
Bill Weitkamp - Farm Advisor Emeritus

Santa Barbara County

Katherine Soule - Youth, Families, & Communities Advisor

Santa Clara County

Mary Vollinger - Calfresh Program Manager
Aziz Baameur - Farm Advisor
Elaine Taylor - Program Representative II
Jeff Tibayan - Program Rep 1
Sheila Barry - Bay Area Livestock and Natural Resources Advisor/Santa Clara County Director

Santa Cruz County

Lynn Schmitt-McQuitty - County Director/4-H Youth Development Advisor

Sierra County

Michael De Lasaux - Natural Resources Advisor

Siskiyou County

Jacki Zediker - 4-H Youth Development Program Representative

Solano County

Gene Miyao - Farm Advisor

Sonoma County

Steven Swain - Environmental Horticulture Advisor
Deborah Curle - Office Manager
Judy Ludovise - 4-H Youth Development Program Representative
Karen Giovannini - Agriculture Ombudsman
Linda Peterson - Beginning Farmer and Rancher Program Coordinator
Lisa Bell - Sudden Oak Death Education Program Coordinator
Lucia Varela - North Coast Integrated Pest Management Advisor
Michael Lennox - Staff Research Associate III
Mimi Enright - Sonoma County Master Gardener Program Coordinator
Nicolas Bauer - Staff Research Associate (Fish Biologist)
Rhonda Smith - Viticulture Farm Advisor
Sarah Nossaman Pierce - Staff Research Associate
Stephanie Larson - County Director and Livestock and Range Management Advisor

Sutter County

Rosario Clerici - Program Representative / Nutrition Educator
Mark Lundy - Agronomy Advisor
Chelsey Slattery - Nutrition Educator
Glenn Nader - Livestock and Natural Resources Advisor
Rene McCrory - 4-H Secretary

Tehama County

Richard P. Buchner - Pomology Advisor/County Director

Tulare County

Alex Souza - Dairy Advisor
Julie Cates - Nutrition Program Coordinator (Program Representative II)

UC Davis

Brad Hanson - Cooperative Extension Weed Specialist
Samuel Sandoval Solis - Cooperative Extension Specialist in Water Resources

Ventura County

Gwyn Vanoni - Program Representative II – 4-H Youth Development

Yolo County

Luis Espino - Advisor
Gene Miyao - Farm Advisor
Rachael Long - Farm Advisor and County Director

Yuba County

Rosario Clerici - Program Representative / Nutrition Educator
Mark Lundy - Agronomy Advisor
Chelsey Slattery - Nutrition Educator
Glenn Nader - Livestock and Natural Resources Advisor
Rene McCrory - 4-H Secretary

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