Warburton joins UCCE Capitol Corridor as area director
Karen Warburton is the new UC Cooperative Extension area director for the Capitol Corridor, which includes Sacramento, Solano and Yolo counties. She brings more than two decades of experience spanning both higher education leadership and county government.
Warburton has worked on multi-agency initiatives in economic development, transportation, and natural resource management, coordinating with departments, cities, special districts and community organizations to secure and manage external funding. Her background in grant writing and project management has supported successful efforts ranging from large federal awards to targeted local projects that respond directly to community needs. She began her career as a science educator and laboratory supervisor before moving into administrative roles as an associate dean and county program manager and data analyst.
Warburton is known for collaborative, transparent leadership that includes mentoring staff, aligning people’s strengths with organizational needs, creating space for staff to lead in their areas of expertise, and building cross-location connections that reduce silos and support shared goals.
Warburton holds a bachelor’s degree in marine biology and zoology and master’s degree in biology, both from Humboldt State University.
As a former 4-H youth and recent active participant in UCCE programs, Warburton brings a deep appreciation for youth development, nutrition education and community-based extension. As area director, she is focusing on empowering staff and academics, cultivating strong county and regional partnerships, and elevating the visibility and impact of UC ANR’s research and outreach.
Warburton is based in Woodland and can be reached at kmwarburton@ucanr.edu, cell (916) 396-2974 and office (530) 666-8936. She will also be posting about local UCCE activities on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/UCCECapCorridor.
Lopez joins Government and Community Relations
Nestor Lopez joined UC ANR on Jan. 20 as the assistant director for government and community relations.
He most recently served as the assistant director of alumni engagement with UC Davis’ Cal Aggie Alumni Association, where he coordinated alumni events, grew the visibility and reach of the Alumni Association, and managed their CAAA Scholarships program.
Originally from Gilroy, Lopez is a proud first-generation college graduate. He earned a bachelor’s degree in political science and communications from UC Davis. While at UC Davis, he participated in UC Davis Study Abroad and the UCDC Program, which allows UC students to live and learn in Washington DC).
After completing his degree and UCDC program, Lopez worked in the California State Assembly for six years and handled several policy topics, including but not limited to higher education, agriculture and local government.
As a UC alum from a rural community, he is grateful for the opportunity to continue to advocate for the critical research and programs that benefit the State of California.
Lopez is based at the UC ANR building in Davis in cubicle 137 and can be reached at nflopez@ucanr.edu and (530) 723-3024. He is also on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nestorflopez/.
Stromness joins UC ANR at ANR Building front desk
Kendra Stromness joined UC ANR on Jan. 5 as an administrative assistant 2. She is based at the front desk of the ANR Building in Davis and will provide administrative and operational support across Statewide Programs.
Stromness brings more than a decade of experience in administrative and operations roles, with a strong background in purchasing, inventory management, accounts receivable, data entry and office coordination. She has supported daily business operations through vendor relations, purchase order processing, invoicing, reconciliation of discrepancies and customer support. Her experience also includes training staff, developing standard operating procedures and supporting efficient office workflows.
Adding to her experience, Stromness is pursuing an associate of science degree in accounting and is QuickBooks Online Certified. She is known for her attention to detail, strong organizational skills and collaborative approach.
Stromness can be reached at kstromness@ucanr.edu and (530) 750-1200.