To help farmers and other Californians address emerging issues, the University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources has hired more UC Cooperative Extension experts with a wide range of skills and experience. New UC Cooperative Extension specialists, advisors, coordinators and educators around the state are bringing expertise in youth development, soil health, gardening, sustainable groundwater management, small farms, agave, forestry and natural resources to their communities.
Since 1914, UC Cooperative Extension researchers have been working directly with community members to improve their lives and livelihoods.
UC ANR also has hired Caroline Champlin, a science communication specialist, to connect journalists with UC experts and help scientists share their knowledge with Californians through a variety of media. Before joining UC ANR, she led communications for the UC Davis Wild Energy Center and reported news for public radio outlets, including KQED, LAist and Marketplace.
She holds bachelor’s degrees in conservation and resource studies and rhetoric from UC Berkeley, where she was news director for KALX, the campus radio station. Champlin is based at the UC Cooperative Extension office in Los Angeles and can be reached at cchamplin@ucanr.edu and on Bluesky at @cchamplin.bsky.social.
To see a list of UC Cooperative Extension experts who have joined in the past few months, visit https://ucanr.edu/About/DirectorySearch/Recent_Hires. The most recently hired scientists are introduced below.
Velednitsky joins 4-H in Contra Costa and Alameda counties
Stepha Velednitsky joined UC ANR as the 4-H youth advisor in Contra Costa and Alameda counties. She will collaborate with community partners to develop and promote culturally relevant college and career readiness programming for youth in the East Bay.
Velednitsky's 15 years of experience working with youth in school gardens, kitchens, outdoor education settings and university classrooms informs her commitment to strengthening communities by supporting young people in finding their paths. Her master’s and doctoral education in geography sparked her passion for community-engaged research, and she is excited to advance best practices in culturally relevant youth programming in partnership with local organizations.
Previously, Velednitsky worked for the University of Wisconsin-Madison's Extension Positive Youth Development Institute. There, she supported educators and community members in identifying culturally relevant teaching materials through a participatory process, while also providing professional development training to support inclusive environments for youth and adults.
She earned a bachelor’s degree in environmental justice studies from UC San Diego, and then a master’s and Ph.D. in geography from UW-Madison.
Velednitsky – who grew up in Santa Clara County and is shaped by the years she has spent living in Oakland, San Diego and Madison, Wisconsin – is excited to be serving children in the Bay Area.
Velednitsky is based in the UCCE Contra Costa County office in Concord and can be reached at velednitsky@ucanr.edu.
Farley joins Master Gardener Program in Santa Clara County
Sarah Farley joined UC ANR as the Master Gardener program manager in Santa Clara County.
Farley brings nearly a decade of experience in extension education, volunteer engagement, and building strong community partnerships. Her career has spanned multiple states, beginning at Penn State Extension as a farm financial management educator. She then served as a 4-H youth development agent with Virginia Cooperative Extension and later became a local food systems and small farms educator with University of Illinois Extension.
During her time in Illinois, Farley led programs focused on composting, soil health, small ruminants, urban agriculture, and food access. Before launching her extension career, she worked in technical sales and marketing for two Fortune 500 companies.
A 4-H alumna and native of Pennsylvania, Farley grew up on a five-generation family farm, where she developed her passion for agriculture. She has volunteered with organizations such as the Civic Garden Center of Greater Cincinnati, Virginia 4-H and WWOOF (World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms) Argentina.
Her professional work has been recognized by the National Association of County Agricultural Agents, and she participated in the University of Illinois College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences Global Academy in France, where she engaged with faculty and visited French institutions and urban gardens.
Farley holds a bachelor’s degree in animal sciences and agribusiness management from Penn State and a master’s degree in agriculture and life sciences with a concentration on education from Virginia Tech.
She is based at the UCCE Santa Clara County office and can be reached at slfarley@ucanr.edu and (408) 282-3103.
Russell joins UCCE as forestry and natural resources advisor
Kane Russell joined UC Cooperative Extension as a forestry and natural resources advisor serving Plumas, Sierra and Lassen counties.
He will work to promote sustainable forest management and wildfire resilience on private and public lands in the region. Through close collaboration, research and outreach with local partners, Russell aims to address critical issues like post-wildfire recovery, fuels reduction and barriers to implementation.
Prior to joining UCCE, Russell worked as a forest ecologist at Yosemite National Park, where he helped manage a mechanical fuels reduction program to protect the park’s iconic landscapes and at-risk communities from high-severity wildfire.
Russell earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in forestry from UC Berkeley, where he studied the effects of prescribed burning and other fuels reduction treatments on young Sierra Nevada mixed conifer stands. After graduation, he continued his research at Berkeley’s Blodgett Forest Research Station, focusing on ways to incorporate prescribed fire into conventional silvicultural practices.
Raised on the Central Coast, Russell’s introduction to the Sierra Nevada was at Berkeley’s forestry field camp in Meadow Valley.
“I’m excited to return to the place that sparked my passion for forestry,” Russell said. “I look forward to working with and learning from the many devoted people and organizations here to build more resilient forests and communities together.”
Russell is based at the UCCE office in Quincy and can be reached at kwrussell@ucanr.edu and (530) 283-6125.
Fernandez joins agave research team
Yessica Viridiana Fernandez Galicia, a researcher, farmer and promoter of sustainable agave systems in Mexico, has joined the Water Management Lab at UC Davis. Working with Samuel Sandoval Solis, UC Cooperative Extension specialist in water management, she leads the California Agave Project.
Fernandez is the lead author of “Guidelines for Agave Selection and Production in California,” a tool for growers, researchers and entrepreneurs interested in the sustainable cultivation of agave in this region.
She earned a bachelor’s degree in economics from the Instituto Politécnico Nacional from Mexico and a master’s degree in agribusiness and a Ph.D. in agricultural economics from the Universidad Autónoma Chapingo. She has developed research focused on the revaluation of agaves, the value chain and the potential of pulque as an agave distillate. At UC Davis Water Management Lab, she collaborated on research on agave as a dry farming crop in contexts of water scarcity.
Fernandez brings over 20 years of experience in agricultural projects in Mexico. For the past three years, she has expanded her work in California. She has collaborated with various organizations, including women agave growers and the California Agave Alliance, focusing on the development of sustainable value chains.
Fernandez is based at UC Davis and can be reached at yesfernandez@ucdavis.edu.
Xu joins UCCE as soil health specialist
Sutie Xu joined UC ANR as an assistant professor of Cooperative Extension in soil health in the Department of Land, Air and Water Resources at UC Davis.
Before coming to UC ANR, Xu was an assistant professor at South Dakota State University. She has conducted studies on soil health, carbon dynamics, nutrient cycling, hydro-physical properties and soil microbial activities in a variety of ecosystem types under different climate conditions.
The agriculture ecosystems she has been working on include row cropping systems, rangelands/grasslands and vegetable production systems in South Dakota, Tennessee, Florida, Arkansas and Michigan. Her research relies on interdisciplinary studies to understand the influence of anthropogenic, environmental and biotic factors on physical, chemical and biological processes in soils.
After earning her Ph.D. in soil and water science from the University of Florida, Xu worked at Michigan State University and the University of Tennessee as a postdoctoral researcher in sustainable agriculture and soil studies.
In California, Xu’s research will include identifying effective soil-health indicators for different agricultural production systems. She also will collaborate with growers, UCCE advisors, agronomists, plant scientists and other stakeholders to develop sustainable food-production management strategies to deal with challenges such as decreased land and water availability, drought, heat and wildfire.
She will involve UCCE advisors and farmers in project development and data collection and collect feedback for future soil-health research, then deliver the findings to farmers. Her goal is to increase farmer awareness of the importance of soil-health management in agroecosystems and motivate them to adopt sustainable management strategies – such as cover cropping, diversified crop rotation, efficient water and nutrient management, and organic farming – to promote ecosystem productivity, sustainability, resilience and resistance.
Xu is based at UC Davis and can be reached at sutxu@ucdavis.edu.
Rios to serve SoCal small farms as SGMA educator
Sonia Rios returned to UC ANR as a Sustainable Groundwater Management Act technical assistance community educator for small farms. In this role, she will provide technical assistance and extension education and conduct policy analyses to support small-scale farms during the implementation of the SGMA in Riverside and San Bernardino counties. She is part of a statewide team that works with the UC ANR Small Farms Network, the Community Alliance with Family Farmers, nonprofit organizations and local government agencies.
Prior to rejoining UC ANR, Rios was the environmental manager at SeaWorld San Diego. She also has been a crop protection technical development representative with Bayer Crop Science, a forestry technician with the USDA Forest Service in the Sierra National Forest, and an agriculture aide with the California Department of Food and Agriculture.
Before taking this role, Rios worked for UC ANR for over 12 years. She joined as a staff research associate in Tulare and Kings counties with emeritus farm advisor Steve Wright for three years. For over eight years, she also served as the UCCE subtropical horticulture farm advisor in Riverside and San Diego counties, where she studied herbicide resistance, efficacy and crop phytotoxicity.
She conducted a high-density trial in “Gem” avocados and collaborated with UCCE specialists and advisors in irrigation management and entomology studies in permanent tree crops. In 2021, the National Association of County Agricultural Agents presented Rios with its Early Career Achievement Award.
Rios earned a bachelor’s degree in plant science from Cal Poly Pomona and a master’s degree in plant science from Fresno State. She served as USDA-National Institute of Food and Agriculture Graduate Fellow in 2013 and 2014. She also holds a California Department of Pesticide Regulation Pest Control Adviser license.
Rios is based at the UCCE office in Riverside and can be reached at sirios@ucanr.edu.
Anika named SGMA educator for Central Valley small farms
Jarin Tasnim Anika joined UC ANR as a Sustainable Groundwater Management Act technical assistance community educator for small farms for Merced, Stanislaus and San Joaquin counties. In her role, Anika focuses on helping small-scale farmers navigate SGMA. Through technical assistance, educational outreach and tailored support, she works to ensure farmers understand and comply with SGMA rules and regulations.
Anika completed her master’s degree in horticulture and agronomy from UC Davis. Her research is focused on crop water use of cherries and the application of deficit irrigation strategies on cherry orchards in the Central Valley. She also holds a master’s degree in environmental science and bachelor’s degree in soil, water and environment from the University of Dhaka in Bangladesh.
Anika is passionate about fostering community engagement and supporting small-scale farmers. She wants to integrate science-based knowledge and practical solutions to address the challenges faced by small-scale farmers in the region.
Anika is based in Modesto and covers Merced, Stanislaus and San Joaquin counties. She can be reached at janika@ucanr.edu and (209) 579-4944.
Rodriguez named SGMA educator for Fresno, Madera small farms
Erik Rodriguez joined UC ANR as the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act technical assistance community educator for small farms in Fresno and Madera counties.
As a technical assistance community educator, Rodriguez supports small farmers and operations by gathering information from the meetings of various governing bodies implementing SGMA and communicating the news to small farm operators. This includes well registration, irrigation fees, informing community members when meetings have key issues on the ballot, obtaining translations of key points from meetings, as well as advocating for small-scale farmers in meetings they may not be able to attend.
He hopes to include more small farmers in discussions regarding SGMA implementation and partner with trusted local community organizations to help spread information.
Rodriguez holds a master’s degree in habitat management and ecological restoration from the University of Idaho and a bachelor’s degree in natural resource management from Fresno State. Rodriguez has worked in various aspects of agriculture. His experience includes hands-on farming on small farms and at Fresno State’s Vegetable Crop Unit, conservation education at Fresno Chaffee Zoo, data collection for National Ecological Observatory Network in the Sierra Nevada mountains and soil conservation for USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service in Southeast Idaho.
“I grew up in Fresno and hoped to be back to help smaller farms in my community,” he said.
Rodriguez is based in Fresno and can be reached at erdrodriguez@ucanr.edu.
Paniagua named SGMA educator for Tulare, Kings small farms
Luis Carlos Paniagua joined UC ANR as a Sustainable Groundwater Management Act technical assistance community educator for small farms with UC SAREP, serving Tulare and Kings counties.
As a community education specialist, Paniagua will provide technical assistance, outreach and policy accessibility to small-scale and underserved farmers during implementation of SGMA. This includes assessing regional needs, developing education materials and connecting farmers to resources such as hydrogeological consulting, legal assistance and irrigation system analysis. He will engage with local groundwater sustainability agencies and review groundwater sustainability plans to ensure small farmers are informed and supported throughout SGMA implementation.
Paniagua has worked throughout California in grassroots, union and lobbying efforts that highlighted underrepresented communities as important stakeholders in decision making. He seeks to build partnerships that will bring resources to small-scale farmers during SGMA implementation.
Paniagua is currently in his last year of a master’s in public policy and administration from CSU Bakersfield and holds bachelor’s degrees in interdisciplinary studies and Chicana/o studies from San Diego State University.
Paniagua is based out of the UC Cooperative Extension office in Tulare and can be reached at lcpaniagua@ucanr.edu.
Tuohey-Mote joins Small Farms Network
Claire Tuohey-Mote joined UCCE in San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties as a staff research and extension associate for the Small Farms Network.
Tuohey-Mote, whose deepest roots are in San Luis Obispo where her family settled in 1999, will support small- and medium-scale farmers in the region with grant and incentive program application technical support. She will collaborate with colleagues in the UCANR Small Farms Network to link small-scale growers in the region to additional resources such as support with regulatory compliance and on-farm production challenges.
Tuohey-Mote earned her bachelor’s degree in food science from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo where she minored in Spanish and studied abroad in Santiago, Chile. She then worked in the food science industry for seven years where she specialized in natural ingredient applications.
After leaving the food science industry, Tuohey-Mote attained her master’s degree in sustainable food systems from Prescott College in Arizona to bolster her ability to serve sustainable agriculture and healthy communities.
She immediately applied that degree to her work in San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties as she managed a farm-to-school program hosted by a local nonprofit. During her four years doing that work, Tuohey-Mote, who speaks Spanish fluently, built strong relationships with small- and medium-scale farmers, as well as local school districts and community partners.
“This work provided a firm understanding of the challenges small-scale farms face, and I am excited to address many of these through my work with the Small Farms Network team,” Tuohey-Mote said.
“My career work has opened my eyes to the complexity of our local, regional and state food systems. Navigating through it all is no easy task, and farmers also have to grow food!” she said. “I am honored and humbled to assist in whatever way I can to make processes as smooth as possible for them, so that they can do what they do best – feed the community.”
Tuohey-Mote is looking forward to working directly with small-scale farmers in San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties to connect them to the knowledge, informational resources and technical assistance of UC ANR.
Based at the UCCE office in San Luis Obispo, Tuohey-Mote can be reached at ctuoheymote@ucanr.edu and (805) 704-9098.