Greenfield joins UC ANR as digital content strategist

Erin Greenfield joined UC ANR’s Strategic Communications team on June 9 as digital content strategist. In this new role, she’ll work closely with colleagues in Information Technology and across the organization to help elevate UC ANR’s web presence by guiding content standards and bringing a thoughtful, user-centered approach to web content strategy and development.

She also will help lead and support the Content Governance Council as part of efforts to ensure consistency, quality and accessibility across UC ANR’s digital content.

Before joining UC ANR, Greenfield spent over a decade at the UC Office of the President, where she led content and digital strategy for systemwide undergraduate admissions and financial aid. Earlier in her career, she worked with environmental and consumer advocacy nonprofits and studied in Boston and Washington, D.C., earning a bachelor’s degree in environmental studies from Tufts University and a master’s degree in communication from Johns Hopkins.

Originally from Southern California, Greenfield currently lives in the East Bay and is based at the UCCE Contra Costa County office in Concord. She can be reached at egreenfield@ucanr.edu.

Freed joins UC ANR as UCCE director in Monterey, San Benito, Santa Cruz counties

Emily Freed joined UC ANR on June 9 as the area director for UCCE in Monterey, San Benito and Santa Cruz counties. With a background in logistics and operations, she will help design and develop efficient systems and provide support for effective programs throughout three counties.

Prior to joining UC ANR, Freed worked as the supply chain director at Second Harvest Food Bank Santa Cruz County. At the food bank, she oversaw the distribution of 11 million pounds of food through 100 partner agencies to 65,000 members per month throughout Santa Cruz County. Approximately half of the 11 million pounds of food that Second Harvest distributes is fresh produce. She experienced working at a food bank during three federally declared disasters: COVID-19, the 2020 CZU Lightning Complex Fire and the 2023 atmospheric river storms.

Freed is passionate about creating partnerships, connecting with people, forming strong relationships and building sustainable networks. 

“One of the best parts about my role as area director is I get to spend time with the staff and advisors at the Monterey, Santa Cruz and San Benito offices each week, so every day is different,” she said. 

Freed completed the six-month University of California Santa Cruz Apprenticeship in Agroecology and stayed on at UCSC Farm & Garden for a year after the apprenticeship as a teaching assistant for the next cohort of apprentices. She learned how to grow organic fruits and vegetables for a large Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) and farmstand.

After serving at the UCSC Farm & Garden, Freed worked as the regional production manager for Jacobs Farm/del Cabo, the largest producer of organic culinary herbs and edible flowers in the U.S. She helped manage the ranches and greenhouses, which included over 500 acres of organic culinary herbs, edible flowers and mixed vegetables in San Mateo, Santa Cruz and Santa Clara counties.

Freed earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism and communications and Spanish from the University of Oregon, a certificate in Ecological Horticulture from UC Santa Cruz, and a master’s degree in emergency services administration from California State University Long Beach, with a research focus on disaster preparedness for farmworkers. She is bilingual in English and Spanish. 

“I am excited to get out in the field with the advisors and see what’s growin’ on with their research and trials,” Freed said. “I look forward to connecting with the growers in the three counties and learning how UC Cooperative Extension can support and partner with their farming operations.”

Freed divides her time among Monterey, San Benito and Santa Cruz counties and can be reached at ejfreed@ucanr.edu and (831) 321-9047.

Cartwright joins UC ANR as UCCE director for Marin, Napa, Sonoma counties

Lauren Cartwright joined UC ANR on March 17 as UCCE area director for Marin, Napa and Sonoma counties. A resident of Sonoma County home for nearly 20 years, she brings a strong background in county government, economic development and the local wine industry. 

“I have a deep passion for our region’s agricultural landscape and a strong commitment to community-based solutions,” Cartwright said. 

Before joining UCCE, she worked for the Sonoma County Economic Development Collaborative for six years, first as a conference and communications coordinator, then business retention and expansion program manager and finally as director of business services and research. 

She earned a bachelor’s degree in economic, political and social development, and a Master of Business Administration with a concentration in wine business strategies from Sonoma State University. 

“I’m truly excited about this new role and the opportunity to lead under UCCE’s new regional model, which allows us to better align efforts across counties, foster collaboration among local teams and strengthen our ability to conduct applied research, provide technical support and champion the value of agriculture in our communities,” Cartwright said. “By pooling resources and expertise across our three offices, we can more effectively address emerging challenges and support the long-term sustainability of agriculture in the North Bay.”

She plans to meet and work with stakeholders across all three counties. 

“My goal is to listen, learn and help integrate their needs, challenges and opportunities into county-level planning – ensuring that our work reflects shared priorities and amplifies the impact of both county and university investments,” Cartwright said.

Cartwright is based in Santa Rosa and can be reached at lacartwright@ucanr.edu and on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/lauren-cartwright.