Meet Your 2024-25 Staff Assembly Council

Lindsey Pedroncelli
Chair

Sometimes, navigating UC ANR as an organization can be challenging, but when Lindsey joined UC ANR, she found a great deal of support through Staff Assembly Council. Now, as Chair of Staff Assembly Council, she is honored and excited to provide that support back to her colleagues.

As a statewide organization, it can be really difficult to connect with colleagues when you don’t get to interact with them in person very often. Staff Assembly Council serves to bridge that divide and provide staff with the space to connect, share challenges and ideas, express their concerns, and celebrate their wins!

“We are currently working through some very challenging and uncertain times. This is the exact reason Staff Assembly Council exists. We are here to listen to your concerns, help you navigate getting your questions answered, and provide a pipeline to elevate your voice as a UC ANR staff member.”

Whether you are new to the organization or have been in your role for several years, Staff Assembly Council is here for you! It’s a great way to get involved, expand your network, establish new collaborations, and have your voice heard throughout the organization.

Shirley Salado
Vice Chair and Senior CUCSA Delegate

If you ask Shirley whether she has more passion for the mission of UC ANR or for the people, she will probably say they are both at the top.

“ANR encompasses who I am: nutrition, food preservation, 4-H and gardening,” says Shirley, a community education supervisor for UC Cooperative Extension in San Diego County. “I believe in the mission of ANR – this is who I am.”

Shirley, who has been with ANR for 12 years, says she has been impressed by the professionalism and quality of Staff Assembly Council members, and she hopes to help the team by making more employees aware of what Staff Assembly can offer.

“My goal is to ensure all staff know where to go to share what’s on their minds,” says Shirley, who served as an Ambassador at her local office before serving in the Ambassador Co-Chair position last year. “We all need a wing-person we can tell our concerns.”

This year, she serves as UC ANR's Delegate to the Council of University of California Staff Assemblies (CUCSA, which brings together Staff Assemblies from across the UC system).

She says she will emphasize with staff that their voices and opinions do matter – in Staff Assembly and across ANR.

“In my current role, I want to continue to network and give all staff the opportunity to speak and be heard,” Shirley explains. “Happy employees, Happy UC ANR!”

Javier Miramontes
Junior CUCSA Delegate

Javier has been a member of the UC ANR community since 2012, contributing significantly to various counties, including Stanislaus, Merced, Fresno, Orange, and Los Angeles, through the CalFresh Healthy Living Program and EFNEP.

Javier is passionate about creating spaces where all voices are heard and firmly believes that the Staff Assembly serves as a critical platform for amplifying the perspectives and concerns of staff.

"My vision aligns with the Assembly’s mission to ensure that every member of the UC ANR community feels empowered to contribute to our collective success," he says.

In his prospective role as CUCSA Junior Delegate, Javier aspires to build upon the exceptional work of his predecessors by strengthening communication, advocating for equity, and fostering collaboration across campuses. He is excited to represent UC ANR at the systemwide level and looks forward to bringing meaningful insights and solutions back to his colleagues.

Sabina Padilla
Scribe 

Sabina is a Nutrition Educator with the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP) in San Diego County. She has been with UC ANR since June of 2024 and has appreciated the SAC programs such as Wellness Wednesdays and the Education Reimbursement. Because UC ANR is statewide, Sabina has enjoyed every opportunity to connect with colleagues from all over the state. "My goal with SAC is to create more opportunities for colleagues to connect and share their work."

Christine Davidson
Ambassadors Chair

As a former recipient of educational reimbursement funds, Christine has experienced first-hand the value of Staff Assembly programs. And, after seeing her colleagues benefit from SAC offerings, she has joined the Council to help even more staff across UC ANR take advantage of those opportunities.

“I want to continue supporting staff any way I can,” said Christine, EFNEP (Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program) program supervisor for San Bernardino and Riverside counties.

Christine, who has been with UC ANR since 2005, looks forward to serving alongside fellow SAC members as a voice for staff.

“I hope we can help promote positive changes in morale, continued increases in staff salaries, and opportunities for growth and engagement at UC ANR,” she said.

Christine also believes Staff Assembly is uniquely positioned to inject some fun and togetherness into the workplace, citing the Wellness Committee’s UC Walks programming and the softball game outing during the Statewide Conference.

“Incentives are always a good morale booster,” she added. “I have seen coworkers rush out to start gardens after the announcement was made of the reimbursement.”

Tracy Roman
Treasurer

Tracy Roman has been a UC employee for almost 30 years, joining UC ANR in February 2022. Prior to her career with UC ANR, she dedicated her time to the UC Davis Bookstore, where she had the opportunity to implement programs for students that she is proud to have been a part of. Discovering the impactful work and impressive initiatives of UC ANR, Tracy was inspired to become a part of UC ANR and Staff Assembly. 

In her role as Associate Director of the BOC, Tracy’s goal is to support her team and provide them with every opportunity for professional growth. "I aim to build a cohesive team that supports each other and delivers excellent customer service to all clients," says Tracy. "I am eager to bring my financial expertise and knowledge of UC policy and procedures to the Staff Assembly."

Tracy looks forward to promoting the programs and opportunities available through Staff Assembly. She is excited to collaborate with the other members of the Staff Assembly Council and is enthusiastic about what they can achieve together.

Melissa Womack
Communications Chair

Melissa brings over a decade of dedicated service to UC ANR and the UC Master Gardener Program. Throughout her time with UC ANR, Melissa has built meaningful connections with colleagues and stakeholders across the state. She is passionate about highlighting the impactful work of both UC ANR and the UC Master Gardener Program and ensuring that its story reaches diverse audiences.

"I am inspired daily by the incredible people at UC ANR who are dedicated to making a positive difference in California," Melissa says. "As Communications Chair, I aim to amplify the voices and achievements of our staff and ensure that everyone is informed about the valuable programs and opportunities provided by the Staff Assembly Council."

Melissa is committed to supporting her colleagues and encourages all UC ANR staff to reach out with their thoughts, suggestions, and concerns. She believes that through open communication and collaboration, the Staff Assembly Council can continue to enhance the work environment and career opportunities for all employees, much like UC ANR does for the communities it serves.

Mishelle Costa
Educational Reimbursement Co-Chair

Mishelle is excited to serve as the educational reimbursement co-chair and has collectively been with UC ANR for six years. Michelle began her career in Fresno County, serving as a Community Nutrition Educator and currently serves as the Community Nutrition Supervisor in San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara Counties with the CalFresh Healthy Living program. 

"My goal is to ensure that staff members are aware of the educational reimbursement program and assist them in receiving the financial support needed to further their educational interests and professional development goals," says Mishelle. 

In her role as the educational reimbursement co-chair, Mishelle is dedicated to providing support and guidance when applying for educational reimbursement.

 

Lupe Ibarra
Educational Reimbursement Co-Chair

In 2022 Lupe came to UCANR as the office manager for UCCE Imperial County, in 2023 she enjoyed working for the BOC as a Fiscal Services Analyst/Business Partner; last year she continued her professional journey by joining the admin team at UCCE San Diego County. Lupe’s favorite part about working for UCANR is having so many resources to support her professional goals and ‘helping others’.  
Before UCANR, Lupe provided children’s mental health services for Imperial County, after 27 years of service she retired and relocated her family to San Diego. Having witnessed firsthand the adverse effects because of minimal resources and communication, she firmly believes in the importance of a strong education system, support, and effective linkage to resources. Lupe feels very fortunate to have joined UCANR and is pleased to be of service to her colleagues through Staff Assembly Council. 

Travis Alexander
Wellness Chair