Welcome to the Alumni and Class Giving page! Bren School graduates have earned the finest multidisciplinary and multifaceted environmental training in the nation. Each year a new class of nearly 80 environmental leaders departs Bren and takes their place in the world providing vision, leadership, and expertise. The Bren School is extremely proud of its alumni, their achievements, and their potential to positively impact the world and our environment for years to come. Through a network of alumni communications and ongoing interactions with the Bren School, we are building a community that ensures that our students, faculty, and alumni will have the resources they need to meet and achieve their unique goals now and into the future. Support from alumni is key to sustaining the excellence of the Bren School’s programs and activities. Make a Gift Now and make a lasting impact! You are always welcome at Bren. Please visit our Events web page to keep abreast of seminars, conferences, and special events at the School. We hope to see you soon! |
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| Class of 2010, April 8, 2010, just before Group Project final presentations |
From left: Associate Vice Chancellor for Alumni Affairs George Thurlow, 2008 Class Co-Chair Ashley Conrad-Sydah, Alumni Co-Chairs for the Class of 2009 Ashley Apel and Gia Brazil, 2009 Class Co-Chairs Julia Griffin and Samantha Port-Miner, 2008 Class Co-Chair Trevor O’Grady, and Alumni Co-Chairs for the Class of 2009 Lucas Bare and Kelly McCune. |
Career Updates You are encouraged to communicate with your Class Chair and the School when you move, change jobs, or have any news to share. We are eager to feature our alumni in the news, on the web, and in our printed materials, so please tell us your stories and join us all in sustaining the Bren community. Please keep us posted on your professional career moves by completing a Career Update Form. |
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| Class of 2011, near Campus Point, Spring 2010 |
ALUMNI & CLASS CHAIRS CONTACT INFORMATION
Co-Chairs, Class of 2013 |
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Philip Curtis |
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Philip Curtis graduated in 2010 from Syracuse University in New York with a dual major BA in geography and earth sciences. He spent the summer of 2010 contributing to a research project on sustainable hunting practices in the Amazon. He moved to Australia, living along the coast of New South Wales and in Sydney, where he worked for the satellite-navigation company Sensis, using GIS to more accurately map road networks used by mobile GPS devices. While in Sydney, Philip discovered and applied to the Bren School, recognizing its unique potential to unite his core interests in spatial information and the natural environment. He is specializing in Conservation Planning and Water Resource Management. His post-graduate career goal is to promote responsible land-use planning and development. Philip was a recipient of a 2011-2012 Michael J. Connell Fellowship. |
Amy Parks graduated from Jacobs University, a private, international university in Bremen, Germany, in 2010 with a BS in earth and space sciences. She did her undergraduate research on uranium in soil pore water and the effect of agricultural practices on uranium mobilization from agricultural soils. She also chaired the Graduation Committee of 2010 and organized her class graduation ball and gift. Amy spent a year as a Campus Organizer with WISPIRG Energy Service Corps in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. As an AmeriCorps volunteer, she worked with college students to educate and engage communities around home energy efficiency. Her intended areas of specialization at Bren are Economics and Politics of the Environment and Energy and Climate, and her ‘s primary career goal is to work on environmental policy at the international level. |
Co-Chairs, Class of 2012 |
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Karly Kaufman |
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| Karly Kaufman has five years of professional work experience in an environmental nonprofit in Washington, D.C., where she collaborated closely with industry representatives and elected officials. While she was earning her BS in environmental policy at UC Davis, she served as chair of the student environmental commission. | Dana Jennings worked for two years as a freelance language instructor abroad, recruiting clients and establishing partnerships with industries and schools. She has excellent skills in managing visitors and facilitating outreach from her work at the Birch Aquarium in San Diego. Dana graduated from Northwestern University with a BA in Italian and history. |
Co-Chairs, Class of 2011 |
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Justin Derby |
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Justin Derby earned a BA in Economics at the University of California at San Diego in 2004. Prior to coming to the Bren School, Justin was in commercial real estate doing everything from sales and leasing to financing and development. During that time, he discovered that he had a passion for the idea of conservation banking which allows landowners to profit from restoring the environmental quality of their land.At the Bren School Justin is focusing on Eco-Environmental Entrepreneurship, Corporate Environmental Management and Economics and Policy of the Environment. Justin has played rugby for over 11 years and currently plays for the Santa Barbara Men’s Rugby Football Club.
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Michaela Clemence earned a BS in Biology and a BS in Environmental Studies with a minor in Leadership Studies from the University of Richmond in 2006. During her undergraduate studies, she received a grant to research the antibiotic resistance of E. coli, pursued marine studies abroad in Brisbane, Australia and served as captain of the Richmond crew team. Prior to coming to Bren, she worked for NMFS on a fisheries management project in the Caribbean and worked as a scientific recruiter in Boston. She is an avid diver and cyclist, recently fundraising for and competing in the Best Buddies Challenge, a century ride to support individuals with intellectual disabilities. |
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| Class of 2010 at the Cliff House, just before summer 2009. |
Co-Chairs, Class of 2010 |
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Ariana Arcenas |
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Aaron Wdowin |
Ariana Arcenas earned a BA in Human Biology and a BA in Psychology from Brown University in 2006. While at Brown, Ariana served as a peer counselor and a teaching assistant, and was a member of the Varsity Equestrian Team. Prior to attending the Bren School, Ariana volunteered in eastern Africa and was the Environmental Coordinator for Explorer Ventures Ltd. Ariana is the 2008-2009 recipient of the Maria Wilhelm Prize at the Bren School. |
Aaron Wdowin earned a BS in Environmental Science from Brown University in 2005. Since leaving Brown, Aaron has continued to work with the 2005 Class Gift Committee to keep classmates informed and interested in donating to the Brown Annual Fund. Prior to attending the Bren School, Aaron worked as an environmental consultant with SCS Engineers at their corporate headquarters in Long Beach, Calif. Aaron is the 2009-2010 recipient of a Wilczak Family Foundation Eco-Entrepreneurship Summer Internship Fellowship at the Bren School. |
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| Class of 2009, May 3, 2009, just before the Group Project final presentations. |
Co-Chairs, Class of 2009 |
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Julia Griffin |
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Samantha Port-Minner |
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Julia Griffin earned her BS with a concentration in Marine Biology, a minor in Psychology, and a minor in Dance in 2007 from Duke University. During her undergraduate career, Julia organized numerous fundraising events for her dance team and Make-A-Wish Foundation. Activities included silent auctions, evening social events, and corporate contributions. Prior to coming to the Bren School, Julia was an aquarium intern at the Maria Mitchell Association Aquarium in Nantucket, Mass., anda lab assistant at the Duke Marine Lab. Julia is a 2007-2008 recipient of a Barry and Jean Schuyler Prize at the Bren School and a 2008-2009 Doris Duke Fellowship and Award. |
Samantha Port-Minner earned her BS in Marine Biology with a minor in Chemistry in 2004 from San Jose State University. As a freshman and sophomore, Samantha served as Philanthropy Chair for her residence hall, leading efforts to benefit a San Jose shelter for abused women and children. In 2003 she received the Arthur and Karin Nelson Scholarship and was a Dean's Scholar in 2004. Prior to coming to the Bren School, Samantha was a scientist at Arcadis – BBL Inc. in Walnut Creek, Calif. In the past two years she has continued her philanthropic activity with the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Team in Training Program and has raised more than $3,000 through letter writing, bake sales, social fundraising events, and personal solicitations. Samantha is recipient of the 2007-2008 Naomi Schwartz Prize and the 2008-2009 AEP Summer Internship Fellowship at the Bren School. |
The Alumni Co-Chair teams of Lucas Bare and Kelli McCune and Ashley Apel and Gia Brazil will continue the leadership of the class of 2009 in second and third terms, respectively. |
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Co-Chairs, Class of 2008 |
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The Class of 2008 become the first in Bren School history to achieve 100-percent participation in making their class gift to the school. With some students graduating early and some having other financial obligations, it is extremely difficult to achieve this level of participation, which was made possible by the leadership of class co-chairs Ashley Conrad-Saydah and Trevor O’Grady. “This sets the bar very high for all other classes,” said Assistant Dean of Development Jennifer Deacon, “and sets a new standard for class chair leadership." Funds from the Class of 2008 Class Gift were directed to the Endowment for Student Support and to Career Development to assist with electronic networking for this class and all others. |
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Ashley Conrad-SaydahRenewable Energy Project Manager |
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Trevor O'Grady |
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Ashley Conrad-Saydah is a Presidential Management Fellow and Renewable Energy Project Manager with the U.S. Bureau of Land Management in Sacramento. She works with multiple stakeholders to encourage environmentally and economically sound wind and solar energy development and transmission on BLM land in California. At Bren, Ashley was a Doris Duke Conservation Fellow, served on two working groups at the National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis and enjoyed singing with Brengrass. She earned a bachelor's degree in ecology and evolutionary biology from Princeton University and previously worked for the California Academy of Sciences in San Francisco and for two outdoor adventure companies on the East Coast. Ashley enjoys rock climbing, swimming, laughing, cooking, seeing family and friends, and exploring California as often as possible. |
Trevor O’Grady is a Bren School PhD student working with Professor Gary Libecap. As a MESM student in the Class of 2008 Trevor specialized in Economics and Politics of the Environment and was the recipient of the Gary and Joanne Hunt Fellowship in Environmental Law and Policy. His interests lay in both corporate social responsibility analysis and innovation in property rights approaches. Before coming to Bren, Trevor completed a double major in Biology and Economics at Rutgers University, and competed as a Scarlet Knight for the school’s track and field team. As captain of the track team, he set school and conference records in the decathlon and heptathlon and was selected as an Academic All-American by ESPN the Magazine in 2006. Trevor has held various jobs that include working as a research assistant, a youth counselor, and his favorite, a bassist in a rock band. Trevor loves a good conversation, kids, The Beatles, really big trees, and the occasional hefeweizen. |
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The Class of 2007 gave funds for the purchase of a portable spotting scope for use by all on the 2nd-floor Deckers Outdoor Corporation Terrace. Additionally, funds in excess of the purchase price of the scope were directed to the Diversity at Bren fund to promote outreach to under-represented populations in our recruiting for future classes. The class gift was formally presented by Class Chair Brent Miller to the Dean at Commencement exercies held at Bren Hall on June 15, 2007. |
Class president Brent Miller has a few commencement words about the class gift. |
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Class Chair 2007 Brent Miller |
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Brent Miller is a data analyst at Clipper Windpower Inc. While at the Bren School he specialized in Corporate Environmental Management with an emphasis on renewable energy. His Bren School Group Project, Campus Climate Neutral II (CCNII), focused on implementing the recommendations provided by CCNI. As a second year student, Brent served as a member of the Bren Dean’s Advisory Council and a Graduate Students' Association representative. He remains an active member of the UCSB chapter of Engineers Without Borders. Brent’s continued goal is contribute to the development and proliferation of renewable energy. He enjoys surfing, basketball, and singing and playing guitar. |
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Class Chair Fahmida Ahmad and Assistant Dean of Development Jennifer Purcell Deacon |
The Class of 2006 gave funds toward increasing the diversity of the Bren student body. Maintaining and expanding diversity at Bren enhances the school's responsiveness to the world's diversity, improves relations with the surrounding community, and expands the creativity of the organization. This gift will allow the school to further reflect its commitment to diversity by strengthening and formalizing current activities and developing new strategies to increase diversity so that ultimately, the Bren student body will reflect the rich diversity of California and the nation. |
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Class Chair 2006 Fahmida Ahmed |
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As the Manager for Sustainability Programs with the Office of Sustainability and Energy Management at Stanford University, Fahmida Ahmed heads a working group comprising representatives from academic departments and administrative offices across campus. The office makes sustainability policy and program recommendations to university leadership in the areas of transportation, water, energy and atmosphere, and sustainable construction and procurement. Fahmida also assists in developing and implementing a campus greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction plan. Her work emanates from three concepts articulated by Stanford: respect for the environment, social equity, and sound fiscal judgment based on long-term horizons. Prior to arriving at Stanford, Fahmida served as the Sustainability Specialist at UC Berkeley, where she developed and managed the Climate Action Program, a GHG-reduction research and implementation program. She received a Master's in Public Environmental Managent with a focus in climate change policy from the Bren School in 2006. She earned a BA in Economics from Smith College. |
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The Class of 2005 donated funds to create a Leadership Award for a first year student in the Class of 2007 who exemplifies environmental leadership in the spirit and tradition of the Class of 2005. The class also contributed funds to enable four Bren students to attend the annual Environmental Defense Council Event to raise the visibility of the Bren School in the community and to support a cause that the Class of 2005 feels especially strong about. Class Chair Karen Wolowicz presents Class Gift to Dean Aigner. |
Karen Wolowicz graduated in June 2005, earning her Bren School MESM degree with a specialization in Economics and Politics of the Environment. In spring 2004, she joined a master's Group Project that worked on designing environmental enforcement indicators for developing countries. Karen now works for the San Francisco Bay Conservation Development Commission Permits Office. |
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Class Chair 2005 Karen Wolowicz Weiss (805) 636-9328 |
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The Class of 2004 offered a precedent-setting gift that truly manifested environmentalism in action: they used their pooled resources to purchase the retirement of 500 metric tons of carbon dioxide – the equivalent of the yearly CO2 emissions of 80 automobiles. Read the story here! |
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Class Chair 2004 Jana Hartline |
| As Environmental Communications Manager, Jana Hartline works directly with the media to promote Toyota's sustainable mobility efforts. Her team handles all PR for advanced technology vehicles and operational environmental achievements. |
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The Bren School is particularly appreciative of the Class of 2003's gift to the Class of 2004 MESM students, which was used for an evening of team-building and professional development at the Wine Cask Restaurant in Santa Barbara. |
Class Chair 2003 |
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John Onderdonk currently serves as Manager for Sustainability Programs at the California Institute of Technology, where he manages programs to improve environmental performance in such areas as energy and water conservation, greenhouse gas emissions reduction, and waste minimization. Prior to joining Caltech, John worked in the environmental risk management field. He served as Southwest Regional Manager for AIG Environmental, developing liability transfer programs for Brownfield redevelopment clients. John also manages a family ranch in the Paso Robles area that produces grass-fed beef. He holds a Master of Environmental Science & Management degree from the Bren School and a Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Science from the University of Oregon. |
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Class Chair 2002 Clarice Wilson |
Clarice Wilson is an Associate Programme Officer with the Division of Environmental Law and Conventions at the United Nations Environment Programme in Nairobi, Kenya. Before joining UNEP, she worked with the United Nations University Institute of Advanced Studies in Yokohama, Japan. At the Bren School she specialized in environmental economics and policy and she currently focuses on international environmental governance and cross-cutting issues. As a Sierra Leonean national, Clarice’s ambition is to contribute to and promote African development. |
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Class Chair 2001 |
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Shawn Kelly has a Bachelors of Science in Ocean Engineering from Texas A&M University, and, prior to coming to the Bren School, worked as an Ocean Engineer for the Naval Facilities Engineering Service Center’s Ocean Engineering Department. He currently is a Program Manager for the California Coastal Conservancy’s Southern California Wetlands Recovery Project (WRP), a position he has held since graduating from the Bren School. The WRP is a partnership of 17 Federal and State public agencies working cooperatively to acquire, restore, and enhance coastal wetlands and watersheds between Point Conception and the border with Mexico. Shawn's professional interests include coastal land use policy, coastal streams and wetlands, physical oceanography, marine fisheries, and ocean engineering. Shawn is an avid outdoorsman, world traveler, and environmental advocate. His outdoor pursuits include surfing, snowboarding, and mountain biking. Shawn is the father of two boys, Aidan and Riley. |
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Class Chair 2000 Jorine Campopiano Marc (Bren '00), Jorine (Bren '00) |
Jorine Campopiano works as an environmental scientist for EPA involved with complex permitting and enforcement under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act in California, Arizona, Nevada, and the Pacific Islands. She works on a variety of large-scale and controversial projects including transportation, residential and commercial developments, and industrial operations. Through the regulatory process, she continually seeks to improve projects by advocating innovative and practicable mitigation measures to decrease or eliminate impacts to the aquatic ecosystem. Prior to working at EPA, Jorine worked for the Ventura County Watershed Protection District and Beach Environmental, a consulting firm in Aspen, Colorado. |
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Class Chair 1999 |
Sam Hitz is a Senior Policy Advisor at The Climate Registry, a nonprofit collaboration among North American states, provinces, territories and Native Sovereign Nations that sets consistent and transparent standards to calculate, verify and publicly report greenhouse gas emissions. Prior to joining the Registry, Sam was part of the climate change practice at Stratus Consulting, where he worked on vulnerability and impact assessments, as well as the development of adaptation of mitigation strategies for clients that spanned the private, government and multi-lateral sectors. After graduating from the Bren School Sam lived and worked in Nairobi, Kenya for three years. From 2000-2001, as a Fulbright Fellow he partnered with the African Centre for Technology Studies to design and implement a comprehensive assessment of the environmental services sector in Nairobi’s largest informal settlement. He subsequently worked with several NGOs in securing funding for and implementing related development initiatives. Sam co-founded Youth in Development Group, a community development organization run entirely by young Kenyans from Nairobi's largest slum, that works to improve health, environmental and economic conditions in the city's informal settlements. Sam received his Bachelor’s degree in Earth and Planetary Sciences from Harvard University. He currently lives in Los Angeles, where The Climate Registry is located. |
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Class Chair 1998 Tommy and son, Tyler |
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As an engineering technician for the County of Santa Barbara's Project Clean Water, Tommy Liddell directs the dry- and wet-weather sampling programs, performs annual walks of local creeks and beaches, manages the Project Clean Water GIS, responds to citizen complaints, and assists in the development of the County's Storm Water Management Program, as required by the NPDES program. When he's not out stomping around in creeks, Tommy enjoys spending time with his wife Heather and son Tyler, lifting weights, and working on his new house in Ventura. |
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