UC ANR hosted the systemwide Council of UC Staff Assemblies (CUCSA) Summer Quarter Meeting at the UC Cooperative Extension Monterey County office in Salinas on Sept. 3–5. This was the first CUCSA meeting held at a UC ANR location.
CUCSA includes representatives from all UC campuses, Lawrence Berkeley National Lab and UC ANR. It provides a unified staff voice across the UC system by bringing together staff leaders from all locations to share best practices and present staff perspectives to UC leadership, including the UC Office of the President.
“Hosting a CUCSA meeting gives UC ANR the opportunity to showcase our unique statewide impact, build greater visibility across the UC system, and highlight our vital connection to every campus and location,” said UC ANR CUCSA delegate Shirley Salado.
“It’s a chance to demonstrate ANR’s integral role in the UC mission and strengthen collaboration with colleagues from across the system,” said Salado, a community nutrition program supervisor 2 for the Expanded Food & Nutrition Education Program in San Diego.
Salado encourages UC ANR staff colleagues to get involved in CUCSA.
“As a UC ANR CUCSA delegate, I have gained leadership experience, systemwide insight, and networking opportunities that contribute to my personal and professional growth,” she said.
Below is a summary of the meeting, written by Salado and Christine Davidson, training and communication lead for the EFNEP Statewide Program, who served as UC ANR’s CUCSA delegate 2023-25.
CUCSA Summer Quarter Meeting: Advocating for UC Staff Systemwide
The Council of UC Staff Assemblies (CUCSA) held its Summer Quarter Meeting with representation from across the University of California system. The delegation includes CUCSA’s Executive Board and two Staff Assembly delegates from each UC campus, as well as representatives from Agriculture & Natural Resources (ANR), Berkeley Lab, and the Office of the President. We were also joined by guests from the UC Office of the President and local staff advisory boards.
CUCSA plays a vital role in communication, collaboration, advisement, and advocacy on behalf of staff – particularly non-represented staff – across the UC system. Sponsored by UC Systemwide Human Resources, CUCSA has proudly served this mission since 1974.
2025 Delegation Priorities
This year’s delegation is focused on key policy and advocacy efforts to ensure the university:
- Acknowledges the impact of staffing constraints on non-represented employees and promotes efficient practices to support sustainable workloads
- Supports recruitment and retention by advancing policies that prioritize flexible work arrangements and agreements
- Demonstrates a commitment to holistic staff well-being through equitable benefits, resources and workplace culture
FY 2025–26 CUCSA Workgroups
Javier Miramontes, community nutrition and health supervisor in Orange County, and Salado will serve as UC ANR’s FY 2025–26 CUCSA delegates. They will contribute to CUCSA through participation in designated Workgroups focused on key staff priorities and systemwide goals.
Workgroup charges for the year include:
- Well-being
The Workgroup’s mission is to emphasize the University’s commitment to the holistic wellbeing of university staff, promoting initiatives that support physical, mental, and emotional health. - Engagement & Community
This Workgroup is exploring ways to improve the pipeline of information from CUCSA to Staff Assemblies to UC locations – helping to build a more connected network of informed and effective staff advocates across the system. - Sustainable Workforce
Focused on addressing burnout and workload management, this Workgroup is identifying and promoting practical tools and actionable strategies to help staff mitigate overwork, support and implement flexible work arrangements, and use technology to streamline processes and enhance efficiency.
Featured Speakers
The meeting featured engaging presentations and discussions with leaders from across the UC system, including strong representation from UC ANR:
- Brent Hales, Associate Vice President for Research and Cooperative Extension – ANR structure and its connection to UC
- Emily Jane Freed, Area Director for Monterey, San Benito and Santa Cruz counties – local UCCE programs and research initiatives
- Bethanie Brown, Human Resources Executive Director – career development and staff support within ANR
- Kathy Eftekhari, Chief of Staff to the Vice President and interim Associate Vice President for Administrative Services – overview of UC ANR’s unique role within the university and its strategic visioning process.
Additional UC speakers included:
- Maynard Jenkins, Senior Executive Director, Benefits Programs & Strategy
- Susan Pon-Gee, Senior Director, Health & Welfare Benefits
- Mayté Frías, Staff Advisor to the Regents
- Matt Hanson, Staff Advisor Designate to the Regents
Their insights and expertise continue to inform CUCSA’s work in advocating for a supportive, sustainable and forward-looking staff environment across the UC system.
Delegate Christine Davidson commented she found it “really empowering” that staff were included in drafting ANR’s strategic vision and hopes staff will be involved in similar efforts in the future.