IDEA committee

Welcome! Inclusion, diversity, and equity, are high priorities for our department. The IDEA committee is composed of dedicated faculty, staff, graduate students, and undergraduate students, who work together and with others throughout the Physical and Biological Sciences division on these and related issues.

Please feel free to reach out to a committee member if you are interested in getting involved in supporting our diversity initiatives or if you have any comments, questions, or suggestions. We invite you to schedule a meeting with us and/or complete the EEB Department Climate feedback form. The EEB IDEA committee can be reached at eebidea@ucsc.edu or individually at the emails below. We look forward to hearing from you!

Meet your IDEA committee

	Allison Payne (she/her) is a third year PhD student in the Beltran lab studying elephant seals at Año Nuevo. She is passionate about bringing a queer lens to science, as with her undergraduate seminar series Queer Ecologies. She hopes her experiences with inclusion and field safety will be useful in supporting diverse grads & undergrads in the EEB department.
	Niki Sridhar (she/her) is a third year PhD student in the Kroeker Lab studying kelp forest ecology. As a queer person of color who has experienced lack of representation in her academic career, she is passionate about making this department an inclusive space for all through community building.
	Nicci Hack (she/her) is the Biology Teaching Labs and Facilities Support Technician for EEB. She loves the integrated community of the Coastal Science Campus and thinks that we have a unique supportive environment. This is her second year serving on the IDEA committee and is excited for all the workshops and events that we are organizing!
	Rishi De-Kayne (he/him) is a Postdoctoral Researcher in the Kelley lab studying the genetic basis of adaptation to extreme environments. Rishi has worked in a number of academic departments in different countries and is passionate about building community within EEB. As part of the IDEA committee he hopes to help organize workshops and events to make EEB a more inclusive department and to help improve access to mental health resources for students and staff.
	Ari Martínez (he/him) is a new faculty member at UC Santa Cruz who studies behavioral ecology. Ari sees the challenges of equity and inclusion as an opportunity for personal as well as professional growth. He makes a conscious effort to constantly learn and listen. As a Peace Corps volunteer, graduate student and post-doc, he has learned diverse perspectives and strives to continually incorporate these perspectives to build agency for underrepresented groups, often for students from the global south where his research program is heavily based.  When not working, he finds respite and comfort in the outdoors, and cooking for family and friends.
	Lina Arcila Hernández (She/her) is a Postdoctoral Researcher studying how field educational experiences affect undergrad engagement and identity in the sciences. I hope to bring to the IDEA committee my perspective as a Latina immigrant in the sciences and my previous experiences participating with the Intergroup Dialogue Project, Teaching & Learning in the Diverse Classroom, and other DEI working groups. I am really passionate about creating spaces in EEB that are welcoming for all and that also increase a sense of belonging in our community. She loves cooking, hot chocolate, and spending time with her human and furry family.
	Haleigh Yang (she/her) is a 1st year PhD student in Dr. Kristy Kroeker's lab interested in studying the effects of climate change on coastal ecosystems. Before becoming a graduate student, Haleigh worked as an Americorps Science Educator and Marine Naturalist where her goal was to facilitate connections between her students and the ecological environments through experiential education. As a member of the IDEA committee, she strives to create a more inclusive platform so we can uplift the voices of underrepresented groups.
	Eva Chudnow (she/her) is the EEB Department Assistant and is excited to join the IDEA committee after a year of getting acquainted with/embedded in the EEB community. With a degree in gender/queer studies, an informal background in queer and Jewish community organizing, and a recent “graduate” of the UCSC Diversity and Inclusion Certificate Program, Eva is passionate about using her prior experience to create an inclusive and cohesive community in EEB. When she’s not exorcizing ghosts from the CBB classroom and conference room tech, Eva enjoys gardening, spending time with her dog, and eating comfort food.
	Gage Dayton (he/him) is the administrative director of the UC Santa Cruz Natural Reserves. He is dedicated to supporting undergraduate students in field research and hands-on activities in the natural environment. Over the past several years, Gage has been involved in numerous efforts focused on removing barriers to student engagement in field sciences. He is looking forward to learning and being part of the IDEA committee!
	Oriana Hernandez (she/her) is a third-year undergraduate student majoring in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. As a first-generation Latina, she strives to create a community where it is safe and inclusive for minority and first-generation STEM majors, ensuring equal opportunities for all.
	Kati Leitner (she/her) is a third year undergrad majoring in Ecology and Evolution. Taking Queer Ecologies her sophomore year gave her a sense of community with other queer undergrads and researchers in EEB. Kati wants to create more opportunities like this for undergrads and help build an inclusive and welcoming department. Fieldwork has been an important part of her time at UCSC and for this reason, she is also passionate about increasing accessibility in field research.