UC ANR Program Areas and Program Teams

Boot on shovel in patch of yellow Yarrow flowers

UC ANR's research and extension efforts are oriented around six thematic Program Areas that serve as unifying structures that bring together similar focus areas to address shared challenges, opportunities, and programmatic goals. Program Areas are further organized into Program Teams, which provide a platform for UC academics, staff, and external partners to convene, collaborate, share knowledge and experiences, and drive research and extension efforts.  

Program Areas

Program Areas draw on the collective expertise and relationships within broad disciplinary themes to help people connect and identify and address issues of current and emerging importance. Research and extension activities within each Program Area are conducted to unify, communicate, and advocate for the work we do. 

Each Program Area Chair represents their Program Area through service on UC ANR's Program Council

Agronomy and Horticulture
Animal Production Systems
Community and Economic Development

 

Image
Tom Turini
Image
Dan Macon holding a lamb
Image
Keith Taylor

Program Area Chair:

Tom Turini

 Vegetable Crops CE Advisor

Program Area Chair:

Dan Macon

Livestock and Natural Resources CE Advisor

Program Area Chair:

Keith Taylor

Livestock and Natural Resources CE Advisor

 
Integrated Pest Management
Natural Ecosystems and Working Landscapes
Youth, Families, and Communities

 

Image
Jhalendra Rijal
Image
Jeff Stackhouse

 

Image
Natalie Price

 

Program Area Chair:

Jhalendra Rijal

Integrated Pest Management CE Advisor

Program Area Chair:

Jeff Stackhouse

Livestock and Natural Resources CE Advisor

Program Area Chair:

Natalie Price

Community Nutrition and Health CE Advisor

Program Teams

Within each Program Area, there are several Program Teams, which provide a platform for UC academics, staff, and external partners to convene, collaborate, share knowledge and experiences, and drive research and extension efforts. While Program Teams are oriented around disciplines, they also play a crucial role beyond a single discipline, especially when they support multiple Workgroups and are well positioned to collaborate with UC ANR administration, UC campuses, and partners. To encourage collaboration and integration across the UC ANR network, each Program Team is co-chaired by one field-based and one campus-based academic. To join a Program Team, contact the listed Program Team leaders.

Program Team Name

Program Team Leaders

Agronomy and Horticulture Program Area:
Agroecology, Organic, and Regenerative Systems

Crystele Leauthaud

Sonja Brodt

Agronomic Crops

Jackie Atim

Nick Clark

Environmental Horticulture, Floriculture, Berries, and Nurseries

Vacant

Mark Bolda

Fruit and Nut Tree Crops

Giulia Marino

Franz Niederholzer

Urban Agriculture and Community Gardens

Alda Pires

Lucy Diekmann

Vegetable Crops

Alex Putman

Brenna Aegerter

Viticulture

Matthew Fidelibus

Shinjian Zhuang

Animal Production Systems Program Area:
Aquatic Food Production Systems

Jackson Gross

Vacant

Dairy Production

Noelia Silva Del Rio

Randi Black

Meat Production

Gaby Maier

Theresa Becchetti

Specialty Livestock and Poultry

Roselle Busch

Julie Finzel

Community and Economic Development Program Area:
Agri-Food Technology and Innovation

Ali Pourreza

Grant Johnson

Biobased Products and Bioeconomy

Dan Sanchez

Cindy Chen

Disaster Preparedness and Response

Lais Rodriguez Costa

Tracy Schor

Food Systems, Food Waste, and Business Support

Selina Wang

Michael Cohen

Labor and Workforce Development

Ali Hill

Vacant

Integrated Pest Management Program Area
Entomology, Arthropod, and Vertebrate Pests

Matt Baur

Cindy Kron

Plant Pathology and Nematology

Akif Eskalen

Ana Maria Pastrana Leon

Weed Management

Brad Hanson

Thomas Getts

Natural Ecosystems and Working Landscapes
Biodiversity Conservation and Stewardship

Vacant

Greg Ira

Climate Science and Ecosystems Impacts

Tapan Pathak

Andy Lyons

Fire Management, Policy, and Resiliency

Kristen Shive

Alison Deak

Forest and Upper Watershed Systems

Vacant

Ricky Satomi

Human-Wildlife Interactions

Roger Baldwin

Niamh Quinn

Rangeland and Grazing Systems

Leslie Roche

Josh Davy

Soil Health and Management

Sutie Xu

Michelle Leinfelder-Miles

Water Quantity, Quality, and Security

Safeeq Khan

Ali Montazar

Youth, Families, and Communities Program Area:
Community Nutrition and Health

Susana Matias

Natalie Price

Native American Community Partnerships

Adina Merenlender

Chris McDonald

Positive Youth Development and 4-H

Kali Trzesnewski

Nate Caeton

Science Literacy and Critical Thinking

Vacant

Steven Worker

Systemic Inequalities

Karina Diaz Rios

Chandra Richards

Workgroups

Workgroups are research and/or extension based sub-team where individuals come together to plan, conduct, and implement projects and function as part of a Program Team to address critical and emergent needs on an ad-hoc basis. UC ANR's Workgroups are currently under revision. 

Contribute for a Better Future