ANR Staff Assembly Council

Meet Your 2024-25 Staff Assembly Council

For Saoi, the opportunity to connect with her UC ANR colleagues near and far was a strong enticement to join Staff Assembly Council in 2023. And she wants to help other staff across the organization build those connections, as well.

“I believe SAC is important for UC ANR because it provides a central hub for staff members to learn about needs and problem-solve across different counties and programs,” said Saoi, who began with UC ANR as a digital communications specialist in 2022.

Although she is based at South Coast Research and Extension Center in Irvine, many of her Strategic Communications colleagues are in Davis and Riverside. She knows the challenges many staff feel in ANR’s dispersed environment and culture.

“We already feel the disadvantages of being physically distant from one another, so it’s important that we have spaces like this, where we can focus on supporting one another,” she said.

As Chair of the Staff Assembly Council, Saoi is enthusiastic about creating a culture of collaboration, developing pathways for professional development, ensuring ANR remains actively engaged in the relevant spaces, and having fun throughout the process!

Saoi feels privileged to lead SAC 2024-25 and hopes, more than anything, to inspire its members to direct their respective programs with the same consideration and artistry that led to their creation.

Andrea started with UC ANR in February 2023, and quickly recognized the importance of Staff Assembly Council as a driver of positive change.

“It’s important for employees to have a space where their voices are heard, supported and acted upon,” said Andrea, a staff research associate at Sierra Foothill Research and Extension Center in Browns Valley. “As an employee-led council, SAC does that and more by providing a positive workplace community through various programs and local ambassadors.”

As a relatively new employee, Andrea is excited to connect with colleagues across the state, as well as learn from and collaborate with staff leaders at UC ANR.

“I enjoy belonging to a leadership group within an organization and the opportunity that it provides to make a positive difference within the workplace,” she explained.

In her role as Vice Chair, Andrea’s goal this year is to provide support to the council, communicate with senior leadership, and find and share creative ways to improve financial wellness for staff by providing resources for saving money.

“I hope that members of the SAC team will each use their professional strengths to come together and best use our resources to continue developing and improving programs based on collective input from UC ANR employees,” she said.

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!”

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 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 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.

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 Cal Fresh 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 an ambassador, Javier aspires to build upon the exceptional work of his predecessors by enhancing participation and fostering deeper engagement among UC ANR staff. His previous involvement in ambassador-related events has provided him with valuable insights and experiences that he is eager to expand upon. Additionally, his participation in the Education Reimbursement Program and the Wellness Reimbursement Program has been personally enriching and has reinforced his understanding of the vital role these initiatives play in supporting the professional and personal development of staff.

Through these experiences, Javier has come to appreciate the profound impact that supportive programs and a cohesive work environment can have on individual and organizational well-being. He is excited about the prospect of continuing this important work and contributing to a thriving, connected, and empowered UC ANR community.

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.

For Rosa, serving as Educational Reimbursement Chair is a way to give back to the community that has enriched her own path of learning over her four-plus years with UC ANR.

“ANR has offered so many professional development opportunities to support the advancement in my career with ANR,” says Rosa, who is a regional community education manager for CalFresh Healthy Living UC, serving San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Imperial, Kern, Los Angeles and Riverside counties.

Jerry Harris, her former colleague at the UC Cooperative Extension office in SLO and former Educational Reimbursement Chair, shared with Rosa the details about Staff Assembly Council and this chair position, which sparked Rosa’s interest in getting involved.

Rosa says she hopes to make more ANR employees aware of the educational reimbursement opportunities available to them.

“I encourage all ANR staff to take advantage of programs provided by Staff Assembly,” she says.

Lindsey is excited to serve as Co-Chair of the wellness committee alongside her colleague Roxana Price. Lindsey was originally hired as a Staff Research Associate with UCCE San Diego in September of 2023 and more recently stepped into the role of Interim Director of South Coast REC in May of 2024.

Managing stress and dedicating time for wellness throughout the day is important to Lindsey, which is why she joined SAC to serve as the wellness committee Co-Chair.

"A lot of what we do at UC ANR involves serving others," says Lindsey, "but I whole-heartedly believe that you cannot show up for others to the best of your ability if you yourself are not feeling 100%."

In this role as co-chair of the wellness committee, Lindsey hopes that she can promote a stronger sense of health, wellness, and mindfulness among staff and break down the system of overwork that we often get caught up in. "Self-care is not selfish! If you can commit to several meetings a day, you should do the same for yourself and carve out time for movement, your favorite hobby, or even a quick meditation."

She plans to continue the wonderful programs that the wellness committee has created, such as the wellness reimbursement and the UC ANR Moves event.

As the EFNEP Community Nutrition Educator in Palm Desert, a UC Master Gardener volunteer, and a soon-to-be UC Master Food Preserver, Roxana is dedicated to UC ANR programs, both in her professional role and personal life.

“Wellness is a significant area of my life. I hope to connect and promote the importance of wellness, inspiring my co-workers to be active in self-care and learn simple wellness ideas my co-workers can utilize in everyday life,” says Roxana.

Roxana’s deep-rooted passion for health and wellness is a driving force in her involvement with SAC. She is eager to connect with her fellow co-workers, advocate for fun activities, and share easy wellness ideas that can be seamlessly incorporated into their daily lives.

Staff Assembly Council

Saoimanu Sope
Chair

Digital Communications Specialist
Irvine
ssope@ucanr.edu
(424) 366-0897

Andrea Northup-Warner
Vice Chair

Staff Research Associate, Sierra Foothill REC
Browns Valley
alnwarner@ucanr.edu
(530) 639-8807

Shirley Salado
CUCSA Delegate

Community Education Supervisor
San Diego
scsalado@ucanr.edu
(858) 822-7724

Christine Davidson
CUCSA Delegate

EFNEP Program Supervisor
Riverside/San Bernardino counties
cdavidson@ucanr.edu
(909) 387-2193

Tracy Roman
Treasurer

Associate Director, BOC
Davis
tlroberts@ucanr.edu
(530) 378-9780

Melissa Womack
Communications Chair

Assistant Director, Impact & Communication
Davis
mgwomack@ucanr.edu
(530) 750-1388

Javier Miramontes
Ambassador Chair

Community Nutrition and Health Supervisor
Irvine
jfmiramontes@ucanr.edu

Mishelle Costa
Educational Reimbursement Co-Chair

Community Education Supervisor
San Luis Obispo
mpetit@ucanr.edu 
(805) 781-5947

Rosa Vargas
Educational Reimbursement Co-Chair

Regional Manager
Davis
rivargas@ucanr.edu

Lindsey Pedroncelli
Wellness Committee Co-Chair

Interim Director, South Coast REC
Irvine
lrpedroncelli@ucanr.edu 
(760) 385-8332

Roxana Price
Wellness Committee Co-Chair

Community Education Specialist
Riverside
roxprice@ucanr.edu 
(951) 955-2626