Organizers

In Community

This symposium is a deeply collaborative effort, and we are grateful for the leadership, guidance, and dedication of our partners. We're honored to work with the following individuals and organizations from across the University of California and the wider community who have made this event possible.

Symposium Planning Committee

• UC Davis Department of Plant Sciences
  • Daniel Potter, Vice Chair, Davis Division of the Academic Senate; Department of Plant Sciences Professor and Chair; Symposium Chair
  • Heather Hayashi, Symposium Coordinator
  • M. Kat Anderson, Research Associate, Department of Plant Sciences
  • Will McMahan, Graduate researcher, Graduate Group in Horticulture & Agronomy
  • Carmen Elias Carrillo, Undergraduate researcher, BS Ecological Management and Restoration
  • Diana Cordova, Undergraduate researcher, BS in Environmental Horticulture and Urban Forestry
     
• Department of Native American Studies
  • Beth Rose Middleton Manning, Associate Director of Environmental and Climate Justice, Professor and Yocha Dehe Endowed Chair in California Indian Studies
  • Nina Fontana, Research Faculty, USGS Southwest Climate Adaptation Science Center
  • Landin Thunder Noland, Graduate researcher, Graduate Group in Ecology
  • Haiwee Fredericks, Undergraduate double-majoring in Sustainable Agriculture & Food Systems and Native American Studies
     
• Department of Nutrition
  • Cassandra J. Nguyen, Assistant Professor of Cooperative Extension
     
• Native American Retention Initiative
  • Michelle Villegas-Frazier, Senior Strategic Advisor on Native American/Alaskan Native and First Nation Affairs; Director, Native American Retention Initiative and Native American Academic Student Success Center
  • Nora Zade, Program Coordinator
     
• University of California, Agriculture and Natural Resources
  • Sonja Brodt, Agriculture and Environment Coordinator, Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program (SAREP)
  • Gwenaël Engelskirchen, Sustainable Food & Farming Coordinator, SAREP

Special Thanks and Institutional Support

We extend our sincere gratitude to the campus leaders, departments, and offices whose advising, guidance, and critical support were instrumental in shaping the symposium's mission and scope.

• University Leadership: We appreciate the support and commitment shown by Chancellor Gary S. May and Dean Ashley M. Stokes in prioritizing this work through their engagement with the symposium.
• Government and Community Relations, Office of the Chancellor: For invaluable support in navigating external partnerships and policy considerations.
  • Adrian Lopez, J.D., Senior Director of Government Relations
  • Loraine Hernandez-Covello, Advocacy Relations and Communications Manager
• Native American Affairs & NAGPRA Compliance
  • NAGPRA (Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act), Office of the Provost: For advising on respectful and lawful practices related to cultural heritage
    • Megon Noble, Senior Strategic Advisor and Repatriation Coordinator
  • Native American Affairs: For ongoing partnership and guidance on community engagement
    • Michelle Villegas-Frazier, Director, Strategic Native American Retention Initiative and The Nest
    • Nora S. Zade, Program Coordinator, Strategic Native American Retention Initiative and The Nest
    • Jean Murata, Business and Operations Specialist
• Inclusive Excellence: For essential guidance in ensuring the symposium's commitment to equity and broad participation
  • Laura Cerruti, Chief Impact Officer)
• Campus Planning: For counsel on land considerations
  • Heather Davis, Director of Campus and Environmental Planning
• Development and Communications
  • Foundation and Corporate Engagement: For foundational support and guidance on outreach, event planning, and resource development.
    • Judy Nguyen, Assistant Director, External Engagement and Corporate Sponsorships
  • College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences (CA&ES)
    • Jen Thayer, Director of Development and External Relations
  • Communications: For providing strategic communications guidance, and advising on planning.
    • Caren Weintraub, Director
    • Stephanie Perla, Marketing Content Specialist
    • Andy Rader, Digital Media Specialist
    • Trina Kleist, Communications Specialist
• Student Farm, Agricultural Sustainability Institute: For collaboration in California Native plant foods garden growing and sourcing for event meal ingredients and student education.
  • Colin Dixon, Director
  • Julia Schreiber, Ecological Garden Coordinator
  • Janvier Velilla, Market Garden Farmer and Educator
• Dining Services
  • Dave Ostrom, Director, Catering and Concessions
  • Kue Her, Senior Executive Chef, Culinary Development
  • Cesar Cienfuegos, Executive Chef, Olive & Vine Catering
  • Rachel Kornelly, Catering Coordinator
• Event Venue
  • Cecilia Villalobos, Event Venue Manager, UC Davis Conference Center
• Business and Finance
  • Linda Zhao, Plant Sciences Business & Financial Services Manager

In Community

The success of the symposium is deeply rooted in the expertise and guidance of community members, experts and industry professionals who share their knowledge and commitment to Indigenous foodways. We are honored to feature their partnership.

• Sara Calvosa Olson | Culinary Artist, Food Sovereignty Educator, and Author
  As the Symposium's Menu Consultant for the breakfast and reception, Sara is instrumental in ensuring the culinary vision is culturally grounded and honors Indigenous food sovereignty principles. Her deep experience includes similar consulting work for UC Santa Cruz large-scale events, student farm, and dining services, providing direct, proven expertise for recipe scaling, ingredient sourcing, and respectful preparation for large-scale service. She is the author of the acclaimed cookbook Chími Nu'am: Native California Foodways for the Contemporary Kitchen and served as the first-ever Chef in Residence at Cal Poly Humboldt's Rou Dalagurr Food Sovereignty Lab.
• The California Indian Museum and Cultural Center (CIMCC)

Interested in learning more or getting involved?

Email Symposium Chair, Daniel Potter at [email protected], and Symposium Coordinator, Heather Hayashi at [email protected].