Hi! My name is Hennessy Jones, and I will be one of Hopland Research and Extension Center’s new GrizzlyCorps fellows for the next year. Over the year, I’ll be working with HREC staff and the Quercus Collaborative to further research and assist with oak woodland regeneration, as well as coordinate educational opportunities for community members. I'm incredibly fortunate to call Santa Barbara, California, my hometown, where I spent my childhood among the ocean and mountains. Since then, I knew that I wanted to do something to help protect these places I felt so connected to, which led me to my studies at UC Berkeley.
I graduated from UCB this spring with a B.S. in Society & Environment and a B.A. in Media Studies, where I was able to explore a wide range of topics, from environmental policy to internet culture. Alongside my studies at Berkeley, I contributed to two different professor-led research projects: one mapping and researching landscape change in the East Bay, and another creating policy infographics for the UC Berkeley Cannabis Research Center. After my graduation, I spent my summer exploring Europe, during which I volunteered on an organic farm in Sweden for a month. Here, I spent my time getting my hands dirty in the garden, swimming in the lakes, and baking with freshly picked fruit. This experience taught me to appreciate slow, sustainable food systems and the community behind them. Beyond my love for exploring new places and cultures, I enjoy reading, rock climbing, baking, film photography, and spending time by (and in) the ocean.
I’m so excited to be joining the HREC team this year and to contribute to such meaningful work in oak woodland regeneration and community education! I look forward to furthering my understanding of California’s diverse ecosystems, building connections with those who care for the land, and gaining experience working with the oaks and the creatures that depend on them.