UC Merced Natural Reserve System staff (Office of Research and Economic Development) and UC Merced Physical and Environmental Planning Department staff (Physical Operations, Planning, and Development), work together in collaboration to facilitate research, education, and public service (the NRS Mission), and to practice wise stewardship, management, and monitoring on Reserve conservation easements.
Current Staff: UC Merced Natural Reserve System (NRS)
- Joy Baccei, Director, Merced Vernal Pools and Grassland Reserve
- Jason Sexton, Faculty Director, UC Merced Nature
- Jessica Malisch, Associate Director, UC Merced Nature
- Jasmine Salazar, Student Assistant (MVPGR)
- UC Merced Naut staff bios and contact info can be found here: https://merced.ucnature.org/contact/
Current Staff: Physical and Environmental Planning Department (PEPD)
- Phil Woods, Campus Architect, Director, Physical and Env. Planning Dept.
- Alvaro Arias, Principal Planner, Physical and Env. Planning Dept.
- Adam Malisch, Natural Lands Manager, Physical and Env. Planning Dept.
- UC Merced PEPD staff contact info can be found here: https://planning.ucmerced.edu/about/staff
Past Staff: UC Merced Natural Reserve System
- Francesca Cannizzo, Campus Biologist (PEPD)
- Molly Stephens, Associate Director, UC Merced NRS
- Monique “Mo” Kolster, Reserve Director
- Christopher “Chris” Swarth, Reserve Director
- Steve Shackleton, Reserve Director
- Martha Conklin, Faculty Director
- Andres Aguilar, Student Assistant (MVPGR)
- Isabella Segarra, Student Assistant (MVPGR)
- Angelina Galvan, PEPD Intern
- Taylor Cottrell, Student Assistant
- Cole Ayton, Student Assistant
- Henry White, Student Assistant
- Michael Spaeth, Student Assistant
- John “Jack” Cronin, Student Assistant
- Camila “Cami” Vega, Student Assistant
Advisory Committee
The Merced Vernal Pools and Grassland Reserve advisory committee was formed in November 2014 and its members report to the Reserve Director. The committee is charged with providing advice that informs reserve ecosystem management, habitat stewardship, education, and research.
Committee members attend periodic meetings; are familiar with the reserve ecosystem and the management, stewardship, educational and research activities that take place there; offer advice and ideas as needed; promote the mission of the UC Reserve system; help the Reserve Director inform others at UC Merced and throughout the UC system about the research and educational potential of the reserve; provide feedback on budgets and finances; review research proposals if needed. The committee also advises on the implementation of the reserve Management Plan (2008 and subsequent revisions) and any amendments to the plan. Committee members serve a two-year term.
Committee membership, current (2025)
- Dr. YangQuan Chen, Chair (Professor; UCM School of Engineering)
- Dr. Tom Hothem (Assoc. Director & Professor; UCM Merritt Writing Program)
- Dr. Rebecca Ryals (Professor; UCM School of Natural Sciences)
- Dr. Bristin Jones (Professor; UCM Environmental Humanities Major)
- Dr. Jason Sexton (Professor; UCM School of Natural Sciences, NRS Faculty Director)
- Dr. Jessica Malisch (UCM NRS Associate Director)
Committee membership, 2014-2015
UC Faculty
Dr. Joshua Viers, Chair (Professor; UCM School of Engineering)
Dr. Jessica Blois, Vice Chair (Professor; UCM School of Natural Sciences)
Dr. YangQuan Chen (Professor; UCM School of Engineering)
Dr. Teamrat Ghezzehei (Professor; UCM School of Natural Sciences)
Dr. Tom Hothem (Associate Director and Professor; UCM Merritt Writing Program)
Dr. Gage Dayton (Administrative Director, UC Santa Cruz Natural Reserve System)
Non-UC Faculty
Dr. Jaymee Marty (Principal and Owner, Marty Ecological Consulting, Sacramento)
Daniel Airola (President, Northwest Hydraulic Consultants, Sacramento)
Bridget Fithian (Executive Director, Sierra Foothill Conservancy, Mariposa)
Carol Witham (Botanist, Environmental Consultant and Educator, Sacramento)
Gene Barrera (Geospatial Analytics and Cartographic Services, Physical and Environmental Planning, UC Merced)
George “Van” Van Vleet (Building Services Manager, Facilities Management, UC Merced)
Grazing Licensee
Three Bar Ranch is the current grazing licensee, and grazes beef cattle on the Reserve 6-8 months a year, in an effort to control non-native invasive European annual grasses, to help maintain the native plant biodiversity and environmental integrity of the vernal pools.