Cultivating Community: Introducing the UC Davis EPM Alumni Association

If you’re part of the UC Davis EPM community (past, present, or future) we’ve got something new and exciting to share! 

We’re excited to officially introduce the EPM Alumni Association: a group of alumni and program staff coming together to help our community stay connected, supported, and inspired after graduation. 

Why we started this:

EPM is more than just a graduate program! It’s a diverse network of incredible people doing meaningful work across the environmental space. We know that staying connected after graduation isn’t always easy, so we established the Alumni Association to make those connections more intentional and impactful. 

What we’re hoping to accomplish: 

• Cultivate Student-Alumni Engagement

  • We aim to create more opportunities for students and alumni to connect and to foster an environment that strengthens these relationships to make it easier for students to learn from alumni experiences and feel supported as they navigate the workforce post graduation.

• Strengthen Alumni-Alumni Engagement and Connections

  • We’re working to build a more integrated alumni community where people can easily connect, meet across cohorts, and engage with peers in similar or adjacent fields.

• Facilitate Professional Development Opportunities for Alumni

  • We want to support alumni at all stages of their careers by creating a space for shared learning, skill-building, and honest conversations about career growth, pivots, and challenges across diverse sectors. 

• Assist Student to Alumni Transition

  • We’re focused on making the transition from student to alumni feel easy, intentional, and supportive. That means helping graduating students stay connected, get involved, and immediately see the value of being part of the alumni network.

• Support Alumni-Faculty Engagement

  • We want to strengthen connections between alumni and faculty in ways that benefit both the program and the broader EPM community. We want to ensure that there is continued collaboration and alignment with what’s happening within the EPM program and what alumni are experiencing in the field.

What you can expect:

We’re open to new ideas, but here are a few we’ve settled on so far: 

• Alumni Association office hours for current students to drop in, ask questions, and connect with us. 
• Workshop events for EPM Connect mentorship program. 
• Collaboration with the EPM social committee for alumni-student events. 
• Provide resources for students as they transition from student to alumni.
• Social events for alumni-alumni connections (including family-friendly events). 
• Peer-to-peer career learning and networking events for alumni.

Meet the Association: 

We’re a small but enthusiastic group of EPM alumni (plus amazing program staff!) who are excited to get this off the ground. Below, you’ll find a bit about each of us – why we joined, what we’re excited about, and how we hope to contribute. 

Jess DellaRossa (2023 Graduate) – Chair 

Hello, I’m Jess, the Chair of the newly established EPM Alumni Association. I joined the association to help maintain and expand connections within our growing alumni network through laid-back social events and professional development opportunities that we will host. Bringing people together is one of my greatest joys! In my day job at the USDA California Climate Hub, I work in science translation and facilitate workshops for agricultural and forestry land managers. I hope to reconnect or meet you soon!

 

Fun fact: I have a Hoya plant that was my great-grandmother’s and it’s over 50 years old.

 

Rachael Alcala (2024 Graduate) – Co-Chair 

I’m Rachael, and I am an Environmental Scientist with the State Water Resources Control Board Division of Water Rights. I joined the Alumni Association as the Co/Vice Chair, where I will help to support Jess in managing meetings and facilitating events. I’m hyped to be in this role because I am grateful for my experience with EPM and I love to help it shine in any way I can. I look forward to bridging connections between alumni and students across cohorts and cultivating a lasting EPM ecosystem. 

 

Fun Fact: I will get the largest coke icee size at any participating movie theater and challenge myself to go through the whole movie without a bathroom break. 

 

Cheryl Winfield (2022 Graduate) – Event Manager 

Hello, hello! I’m Cheryl, the Event Manager for EPM’s Alumni Association. I joined the association because it was an EPM alumni who told me about their great experience in the EPM program, and that connection is ultimately what led me to apply for the program; and now I want to give back to the program and help support our growing EPM ecosystem. I’ve been working at the California Air Resources Board for seven years, and I’m currently working as an Engineer in the Research Division. I work on implementing and developing California’s policies to reduce emissions of high-global warming potential fluorinated gases (mostly hydrofluorocarbons). 

Fun fact: I’m a cat mom to two blind cats (named Ray Charles and Stevie Wonder).

Kayla Morgan Hickey (2024 Graduate) – Administrative Coordinator 

Hello! I’m Morgan, a 2024 EPM alumna (and double Aggie). I am currently a Water Resources Planner for the Kern County Water Agency. I joined the alumni association as the Administrative Coordinator, where I will manage meeting notes and organization. I’m excited to reconnect with EPM and support the program that has supported me!

 

Fun fact: I have a dalmatian named Dorothy (Dot)! 

 

Erica Parker (2025 Graduate) – Outreach Manager 

Hi, I’m Erica! I joined the Alumni Association as the Outreach Manager, which means I’ll be getting the word out about what we’re building and making sure folks hear about (and hopefully attend!) events and opportunities to connect. I’m excited to reconnect, meet new folks across cohorts, and help create an accessible, low-pressure way to engage within this growing and diverse community. I promise to keep my outreach short ‘n’ sweet. :) I’m currently an Impact Analyst at Carbon Mapper, where I work on waste sector initiatives for making greenhouse gas data accessible and actionable for diverse stakeholders to reduce emissions. 

Fun fact: I’m an amateur slackliner! You can usually find me at a Sacramento park working on new tricks, reading sci-fi, and drinking coffee. 

 

We’re just getting started, and we’d love for you to be part of it! 

Keep an eye out for upcoming events, opportunities to get involved, and ways to connect. And if you have any ideas, questions, or just want to say hi, please reach out via email at [email protected]. Or join our EPM Alumni LinkedIn Group!