Staff

The SACNAS staff is a group of dedicated individuals passionate about advancing Hispanics/Chicanos and Native Americans in science. SACNAS employees work to facilitate and support volunteer-led efforts, carry out staff-led efforts, fundraise, and direct overall operations.

Executive

18 Judit Camacho - Executive Director
Judit Camacho has a passion for social change and for the role that SACNAS can have in the lives of the communities that it serves and for this country.

She has been engaged with SACNAS for the last 17 years and has served two terms as executive director. She has a math degree from University of California, Santa Cruz and graduate coursework in public health from Johns Hopkins University. In between her terms at SACNAS, she had the pleasure of working at the National Institutes of Health and learning about the need for stronger participation in science policy by our communities.

She is the mother of three children and enjoys healing work, team work, international travel, and Zumba.

40 Marilú Chávez - Executive Assistant
After 10 years with SACNAS, what Marilú (pictured on left with co-worker Sigolène) loves most about her position is seeing how her support to the executive director, staff, and board of directors helps the mission and goals of the organization.

Marilú graduated from University of California, Santa Cruz in 2001 with a BA in molecular, cellular, and developmental biology. She studied science, danced in a folkloric group, and played competitive soccer, demonstrating that science is for everyone who applies themselves and college life can be fun.

Marilú is the mother of two lovely boys, Isaac and Andru. She continues to play soccer, reads in her spare moments, and spends time with family and friends. Her future plans include graduate school.

 

Native American Initiatives

32 Dave R. Wilson, PhD (Diné) - Director of Native American Initiatives
Dave graduated with a PhD in molecular and cellular biology from Arizona State University. His commitment to encouraging underrepresented minorities to pursue careers in science began when he was a graduate student and Regent’s scholar working with high schools and community college students in the Four Corners area.

Prior to joining SACNAS, Dave completed a postdoc in immunology and was promoted to a senior research scientist position at the National Institutes of Health in the National Institute on Aging. His work with SACNAS is aimed at encouraging and supporting Native American students in their pursuit of higher education and invites the SACNAS community to connect with him.

 

Programs

31 Yvonne Rodriguez, PhD - Director of Programs
Yvonne received her PhD and conducted postdoctoral research in physics at the University of California, Santa Cruz. Her work has been focused on thin film photovoltaics and luminescent solar concentrators. She now leads the SACNAS programs team—heading the organization’s year-round mentoring and leadership activities.

A first generation college student, Yvonne has long been committed to supporting underrepresented students in STEM fields and is thrilled to bring her expertise as a scientist and mentor to SACNAS.

Yvonne continues to be engaged in research by advising students and attending conferences in physics. She welcomes SACNISTAs at levels to contact her to share their experiences, as well as ideas for programs.

21 Bryana Britts, MPA/MA - Senior Program Manager
In 2008, Bryana joined SACNAS as the program manager for the International Polar Year grant and then moved into general SACNAS National Conference programming and logistics. She has an MPA and MA in education and has served in both Americorps and the Peace Corps in Thailand.

 To Bryana the most pressing challenges facing this world are in the STEM fields and the only way to solve them will be with a diverse group of committed and inspired scientists.

Bryana is a devoted Bay Area sports fan, dancer, writer, and crossword puzzle fanatic and spends her spare time traveling to anywhere and doing anything she has not done yet.

René Moreno - Programs Assistant
Rene has witnessed first-hand the impact and support that SACNAS provides to all its participants throughout the year. After attending his first conference in 2009, Rene  continued his involvement with SACNAS as the University of California, Santa Cruz Chapter President and later on as the National Liaison. With a background in Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology, Rene joined the SACNAS programs team in hopes of supporting other SACNISTAs.

If you have any SACNAS chapter related questions please email René Moreno at rene@sacnas.org.

19 Perla Garcia Miranda - Program Manager
Perla started as a student worker with SACNAS in 2007 while attending the University of California, Santa Cruz (UCSC). After graduating in 2009 with two bachelor’s degrees (in politics and Latin American & Latina/o Studies), she joined the SACNAS staff full time.

As a first generation college student and participant in student of color organizations at UCSC, Perla realized the persistent lack of knowledge about higher education in communities of color. From these experiences a passion developed to increase the number of minority students in higher education.

Outside of work, Perla enjoys watching Latin American films and is involved with the Santa Cruz organization Vive Oaxaca y Sus Comunidades Indígenas.

24 Nancy Rocha - Program Manager
 Nancy currently manages the Student Presentations program, working with students and professionals striving for quality mentoring and science at the national conference. In 2006, she began working with SACNAS while attending the University of California, Santa Cruz. After graduating in 2009 with a BA in sociology and minor in education, she began working with the organization full time.

 Nancy grew up in the San Fernando Valley and tries to visit her parents at least once a month when she is up for the drive. She also enjoys scrapbooking and the occasional 10-mile run.

 

Science Policy

20 Robert Barnhill, PhD - Vice President for Science Policy & Strategic Initiatives
Bob received his BA from the University of Kansas (KU) and PhD from the University of Wisconsin, both in mathematics. At the University of Utah, he helped create Computer Aided Geometric Design, which utilizes applied mathematics and computer graphics to describe free form curves, surfaces, and higher-dimensional volumes. More recently he was Vice President for Research for Arizona State University, KU, and University of Texas System.

He has always emphasized teambuilding and robust collaborations amongst diverse people and constituencies. For example, with his wife Marigold Linton, he helped Haskell Indian Nations University and KU form a national model for collaboration.

 

Events & Sponsorships

37 Jennifer Macotto - Director of Development & Events
Jennifer has been working with SACNAS on its national conference as a contractor since 1997. In 2009, Jennifer joined SACNAS full-time to focus on event management, sponsorship, and fundraising.

Prior to joining SACNAS, Jennifer served as associate vice president with The Sheridan Group managing nonprofit fundraising campaigns. She is a past-president of the Association Foundation Group, where she has served as a member of since 2006 and is a member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals.

Jennifer received her bachelor's degree in communications from George Mason University. She shares her life with her husband, Eduardo, an executive chef, and her son Nicolas.

36 Sigolène Ortega - Exhibits & Advertising Manager
Sigolène (pictured with husband Antonio) is committed to serving underrepresented minority communities and to equal access to education, economic, and health resources for our communities. Being of service is at the core of her values.

She holds BAs in political economy of industrial societies and public health from the University of California, Berkeley. In her present capacity, Sigolène strives to provide excellent service to our advertising and exhibiting partners, who enable us to fulfill our mission.

Sigolène brings five years of working in nonprofits and a focus on sustaining intimate and meaningful relationships to the work of SACNAS in empowering our community to pursue science. Sigolene invites you to connect with her so she can be of service!

 

Communications

239 Sara Clarenbach, JD - Director of Communications
Sara earned her BA in Latin American Studies and Spanish from the University of Wisconsin and her law degree from UC Berkeley Boalt Hall School of Law. She practiced law for 35 years, followed by 3 years as director of advocacy, community engagement, and media relations with a nonprofit healthcare organization serving migrant workers and the underserved. Sara is passionate about social justice, collaboration, equal opportunity, and eliminating barriers to access in education, employment, civic engagement, public service, and health care. Sara is fully bilingual and biliterate in English and Spanish, and has studied in Mexico, Central America, and Spain. Previously an instructor at UC Santa Cruz and elsewhere, she is also the author or co-author of several publications, most recently the Legal History of Santa Cruz County.

25 Jenny Kurzweil - Publications Manager & Senior Editor
Jenny has been with SACNAS since 2001, sharing the writing, stories, and accomplishments of SACNISTAs through publications and multimedia projects like the SACNAS News and the SACNAS Biography Project.

With a background in creative writing and oral history (and a BA from the University of Washington in Seattle), Jenny believes that everyone has an important story to tell.

Prior to SACNAS, Jenny spent ten years as a professional cook with a passion for organics and seasonally-based menus. Author of Fields that Dream: A Journey to the Roots of Our Food (Fulcrum Publishing), she is currently at work on her second book, which will be finished in the hopefully not-too-distant future.

 

Operations

27 Beth Roszman - Director of Operations
Beth has been with SACNAS since 2009. In her role as director of operations, she manages the organization’s budget, finances, and human resources activities. Witnessing the transformative influence SACNAS has on students provides daily inspiration for Beth’s work.

Beth came to SACNAS from a background in association management and, in particular, spent eight years with the National Association of State Chief Information Officers (NASCIO), where she served in a variety of roles encompassing conference management, communications and media relations, sponsorship development, and membership. She also served as NASCIO’s assistant director, managing finances, strategic partnerships, and human resources.

28 Dawn Contreras - Accounting & Registration Manager
With a head for numbers and an amazing smile, Dawn is the first person national conference participants connect with upon arriving at the meeting. When not balancing the books, Dawn enjoys spinning, entertaining friends and family, music, dancing, and planning to be the world’s best grandmother.

As the mother of two college-aged kids, she sees the importance of role models and mentors to students as they pursue education, something she was not exposed to her own life. Her son, a college freshman, will be the first in her family to obtain a university degree. Working at SACNAS (since 2004) has given Dawn knowledge to mentor the young people in her life to pursue a college education.

30 Annabel Ortiz - Administrative Coordinator
After graduating from University of California, Davis, Annabel interned for the National Center for Refugee and Immigrant Children, recording the stories of undocumented minors in the U.S. With SACNAS since 2010, she is the administrative coordinator and organizes the SYNAPSE Program and Native American conference activities.

Annabel enjoys a good challenge and has an adventurous soul. She recently ran her first half marathon and she plans to run a full marathon soon. Annabel values state and national parks, human rights, long-lasting friendships, family, and a delicious cup of coffee!

 

Technology

23 Lin M. Hundt - Director of Technology
Lin (pictured with niece Anna) loves Excel sheets more than any other person in the office, which--along with 12 years modeling various SACNAS hats--is one of the main reasons she leads efforts to collect, organize, and share the organization’s data (and relationships, stories, resources, and opportunities) online.

Don’t be fooled, her background in environmental studies and middle-school teaching and interests in painting, cat aerobatics, science fiction, typography, experimental alchemy with cheese & chocolate, run-on sentences, action movies, html code, and wood carving are all completely and logically interconnected.

29 Eric Estrada - IT Coordinator
Eric has been with SACNAS since 2008, starting off as a part-time student, working as the IT help desk person. After receiving a BA in technical management, in 2009 Eric came on board full time at SACNAS as the IT coordinator, managing and maintaining SACNAS IT systems, as well as assisting with the current IT renovation project.

Experiencing first hand all that SACNAS has to offer students, Eric’s belief that advancement for students including Hispanics, Chicanos, and Native Americans in science and technology is possible have grown. Being of Chicano/Hispanic decent, Eric’s perspective of SACNAS has made him realize the positive impact this organization can have on each student.

 

Interested in Joining Our Team?

Current open positions include:

 

Meet the SACNAS Board of Directors