The UCSC Basic Needs Team

Following the UC Global Food Initiative system-wide launch, the UCSC Chancellor’s Office appointed working group chairs, Nancy Chen, Anthropology Department Chair and Tim Galarneau, Specialist with the Center for Agroecology to launch the UCSC Food Access & Security Working Group - a dedicated group of students, staff, and faculty - in 2015. In 2017  Heather Bullock, Psychology Faculty and Blum Center Director, took over for Dr. Chen and Tim continues to co-support committee efforts.

In summer 2021 the UCSC Chancellor's Office established an ongoing campus Basic Needs Leadership Team to support the multi-divisional programs taking place advancing student basic needs and their success. The Basic Needs Leadership Team is chaired by Jennifer Baszile, Intervim Vice Chancellor Student Affairs & Success and is comprised of: Tim Galarneau, Education and Research Specialist, Division of Social Sciences; Sue Matthews, Associate Vice Chancellor, CHES, Business, and Administration Services; Katharyne Mitchell, Dean of Social Sciences, Garrett Naiman, Dean of Students, Student Affairs and Success; and, Kimberly Register, Associate Vice Chancellor for Planning and Budget. The leadership team will support an active staff and student core working group of campus members that includes the support structure below:  

Working Group Core Leadership Team

Kednel Jean (Co-Chair)
Director of Basic Needs, Dean of Students Office
kjean@ucsc.edu
(831) 459-1738
Contact me about information on slug support and basic needs resources for your success

Mariah Lyons (Co-Chair)
Assistant Dean, Dean of Students, Student Support Programs
mlyons1@ucsc.edu 
(831) 419-0096
Contact me about information on slug support and your success 

Tim Galarneau
UC Systemwide Basic Needs Committee Co-Chair, Education and Research Specialist, Center for Agroecology
tgalarne@ucsc.edu
(831) 359-8861
Contact me about information on food security and basic needs initiatives system-wide and on-campus

Heather Bullock
UCSC Blum Center Director, Psychology Faculty
hbullock@ucsc.edu
Contact me about information on food security data system-wide and on-campus

Estefania Rodriguez
Dean of Students Basic Needs Coordinator
erodri22@ucsc.edu
(831) 252-6210
Contact me about Slug Support, CalFresh, and food security resources

Francis Ge 
CASFS Basic Needs & Student Engagement Coordinator
fmge@ucsc.edu
(831) 247-0695
Contact me about information on food and farm production and distribution to campus sites and partners, student internships, and the UCSC Food Systems Working Group

Brooks Schmitt
CASFS Cowell Coffee Shop Food Supervisor
jschmitt@ucsc.edu
(707) 684-0237
Contact me about anything related to the Cowell Coffee Shop or the Center for Agroecology Mobile Food Hub

Desiree Ryan, Melina Singh & Emily Hentschke
UCSC Food Security & Basic Needs Graduate Student Researchers
daryan@ucsc.edu, mrsingh@ucsc.edu, ehentsch@ucsc.edu
Contact us about information on food security data system-wide and on-campus

Basic Needs Student Leads 

Whitney Pham, Center for Agroecology Basic Needs Communications Coordinator

Savannah Hallgarth, Dean of Students Basic Needs Communications Coordinator

Arianna Nocelo, Basic Needs Lead Housing Ambassador

Hunter Esquivel, CCS Programs Coordinator

Allyson Salazar Sawkins, CCS Food Recovery Coordinator

Isabella Bradley, CCS Cafe Lead

Elijah Solow-Ohashi, CCS Kitchen Lead

Andrew Yniguez, Produce Pop-Up Coordinator

Kirra McColl, Produce Pop-Up Coordinator

Margarida Costa, Produce Pop-Up Coordinator

Michelle Ross, Produce Pop-Up Coordinator