California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Climate Fellows Program

Meet the Chief Climate Officer, Carla Grandy, Ph.D.

Carla Grandy, Ph.D., has served as senior advisor to the chancellor and is now chief climate officer for the California Community Colleges. She has nearly two decades of progressive experience in the system. 

Grandy began her career as an earth science faculty member, where she connected students with opportunities to engage in climate action and environmental justice. Most recently, she served as vice president of instruction at College of San Mateo. In her current role, she leads the implementation of climate action and sustainability efforts across the 116 California Community Colleges, working with a team of Climate Fellows.

Grandy earned a bachelor’s degree in environmental earth science from Texas Christian University, a master’s degree in oceanography from Oregon State University, and a doctorate in earth science from the University of California, Santa Cruz.

Meet the Climate Fellows Cohort Three

Mona Alsoraimi-Espiritu

Mona Alsoraimi-Espiritu is serving in the focus area of student engagement and student climate fellows. She has proudly served San Diego City College as an English faculty member for the past 12 years and currently advises two student clubs, describing her work as “creating space for students to save the world.” Throughout her time at the college, she has served as the CCAP (dual enrollment) coordinator and as Academic Senate secretary and president. Working with faculty colleagues, she helped advance two sustainability-related resolutions focused on sustainable event planning and campus practices. Before entering higher education, Alsoraimi-Espiritu served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Mongolia and Jordan and completed the Peace Corps Master’s International Program in Applied Linguistics at Georgia State University. As a Climate Fellow, she hopes to draw on her enthusiasm, ancestral knowledge of sustainable practices, and extensive experience in student and community engagement to support student climate fellows and strengthen climate leadership opportunities for students across the California Community Colleges.

Eera Babtiwale

Eera Babtiwale is serving in the focus area of facilities and operations. She is a sustainability and environmental stewardship leader with more than 20 years of experience advancing climate action, high-performance buildings, and regenerative strategies across higher education, health care, and the built environment. Babtiwale currently serves as Senior Strategic Advisor for High Efficiency Buildings with the California Renewable Energy Lab (CREL) at Kern Community College District. Throughout her career, she has led climate action, decarbonization, energy, water, and sustainability initiatives that promote responsible resource use while delivering environmental, social, and economic benefits. Her work is grounded in a commitment to low-carbon solutions, environmental justice, and student and community engagement. As a Climate Fellow, Babtiwale is focused on supporting sustainable facilities practices, advancing climate action strategies, and helping colleges create resilient, high-performing environments that benefit both people and the planet while supporting long-term institutional sustainability goals.

Alexander Berry, MPA, PMP

Alexander Berry is serving in the focus area of workforce development and CTE curriculum development. He is Associate Dean of Career Education at San Diego Mesa College and brings more than 14 years of experience in Career Technical Education (CTE), strategic planning, grant management, and employer engagement. Berry leads collegewide Career Education initiatives, oversees multimillion-dollar state and federal workforce investments, and partners with faculty, industry, and regional consortia to expand access to career-connected learning. His work has included leading Perkins Comprehensive Local Needs Assessments, Career Education strategic planning efforts, Strong Workforce Program implementation, and workforce initiatives that strengthen student success while responding to evolving labor market needs. Throughout his career, he has developed work-based learning opportunities, internship and on-the-job training models, and employer partnerships that connect education with industry. As a Climate Fellow, Berry is focused on advancing California’s green and blue economy workforce, supporting curriculum development, and preparing students for careers that address the state’s climate and sustainability priorities.

Amber Cavanaugh

Amber Cavanaugh is serving in the focus area of workforce development and CTE curriculum development in support of the North Coast Blue Economy Consortium. She is the Director of Community Workforce Development at College of the Redwoods, where she leads community education, contract education, workforce partnerships, and regional adult education initiatives. With nearly 20 years of experience in higher education, Cavanaugh has built collaborative partnerships across education, industry, government, health care, tribal nations, and community organizations to expand workforce opportunities throughout California’s North Coast. Her work centers on developing responsive workforce strategies, strengthening regional partnerships, and creating educational pathways that meet the evolving needs of employers and communities. Through these efforts, she has helped connect learners with career opportunities while supporting regional economic development goals. As a Climate Fellow, Cavanaugh is focused on strengthening workforce pathways that support the blue economy and climate resilience while expanding opportunities for students and communities across the North Coast region.

Tamara Cheshire

Tamara Cheshire is serving in the focus area of community engagement for climate change education. She is a professor of Native American Studies and chair of the Ethnic Studies Department at Folsom Lake College, where she also serves as faculty consultant for the Native American Student Support and Success Program. With more than 25 years of experience in higher education, Cheshire holds a doctorate in Educational Leadership and Policy from California State University, Sacramento. She has played a leading role in advancing the college’s wetland revitalization efforts, working with faculty, students, and Tribal partners to reintroduce California Native plants, remove invasive species, and explore the integration of Traditional Ecological Knowledge into campus sustainability initiatives. A steadfast advocate for respectful and reciprocal partnerships with California Tribal Nations, she has expanded Native student success initiatives and organized community-centered environmental justice programming. As a Climate Fellow, Cheshire is focused on strengthening community engagement, advancing climate education, and supporting equitable and sustainable futures for California communities.

Scott Hoshida

Scott Hoshida is serving in the focus area of curriculum integration and environmental justice. He has taught English and composition at Berkeley City College for nearly 20 years, supporting learning communities including Umoja and the Health and Human Services programs. Hoshida has integrated environmental and social justice themes into his teaching through projects that include community gardening, cultural food studies, and research on belonging along Bay Area shorelines in partnership with the San Francisco Estuary Partnership. He co-designed and launched Berkeley City College’s Teaching and Learning Center, served as staff development officer for the Peralta Community College District, and redesigned the Faculty Diversity Internship Program. His work has focused on how faculty-led professional learning grounded in stewardship, curiosity, and equity can strengthen teaching practices and build resilient learning communities. As a Climate Fellow, Hoshida will help design and facilitate professional development opportunities that support faculty engagement, environmental justice, and climate-focused learning across the system.

Jasmine Iniguez

Jasmine Iniguez is serving in the focus area of curriculum integration and environmental justice in support of the North Coast Blue Economy Consortium. She is a professor of Aquaculture and leads the Aquaculture Program at College of the Redwoods. Iniguez holds a Bachelor of Science in Fisheries Biology and a Master of Science in Aquaculture and brings professional experience in aquaculture production, fisheries, marine conservation, and higher education. Since joining the college, she has worked to expand the Aquaculture Program by developing curriculum, creating hands-on laboratory experiences, fostering industry partnerships, and increasing student engagement through community outreach. Her work emphasizes applied learning and preparing students for careers in California’s growing blue economy. Through partnerships with industry and community stakeholders, she has helped strengthen opportunities for experiential learning and workforce preparation. As a Climate Fellow, Iniguez is focused on developing curriculum that equips students with the knowledge and skills needed to support climate resilience, environmental stewardship, and a sustainable future.

Mona Patel

Mona Patel  is serving in the focus area of workforce development. She brings more than a decade of experience supporting career and workforce development at the San Diego Community College District, where she has served as a career counselor, faculty coordinator, acting associate dean, and Career & Life Planning instructor. A champion for regional career education, Patel has presented at California Community Colleges Association for Occupational Education conferences and helped lead her team to receive the Career Innovation Award from the Career Leadership Collective and the Handshake Career Spark Award. She also transformed San Diego Miramar College’s career center from a transactional model into a holistic Career & Life Design framework that helps students connect their education to meaningful career pathways. As a Climate Fellow, Patel is focused on engaging students in opportunities within the blue and green economies, expanding awareness of sustainable career pathways, and helping students develop the confidence and skills needed to shape California’s future.

Climate Fellows Cohort Two

Crystal Morse, Vice President of Instruction and Student Development, College of the Redwoods

Crystal Morse is serving in the focus area of regional climate action and economic development. She currently serves as vice president of instruction and student development at College of the Redwoods, where she leads with a visionary, equity-centered approach to academic and student services. With over a decade of experience in higher education, Morse has advanced student success initiatives, developed cross-sector partnerships, and supported sustainability efforts in one of California’s most ecologically significant regions. Morse holds a doctoral degree in psychology and is currently pursuing a JD/MBA. A veteran and former U.S. Army instructor, she brings a strong foundation in leadership and service to her work. As a Climate Fellow, she is focused on building a comprehensive climate action approach centered on economic development for the Far North Region of California. 

Roman De Jesus, Professor of Oceanography, Fullerton College

Roman De Jesus is serving in the focus area of curriculum. He is a professor of oceanography in the Earth Sciences Department at Fullerton College with over 15 years of higher education teaching experience and a doctoral degree from the Scripps Institution of Oceanography. He has been a leader in sustainability education, coordinating Earth Day Symposia, developing faculty training programs such as “Sustainability Across General Education,” and co-authoring the college’s first sustainability plan. As faculty co-chair of the Sustainability Committee and chair of the Earth Sciences Department, De Jesus works to support faculty across disciplines in integrating climate education. As a Climate Fellow, he is focused on building a digital repository for climatized curriculum and leading professional development efforts for faculty statewide.

Isai Orozco, Career and Technical Education Research Analyst, Kern Community College District

Isai Orozco is serving in the focus area of data and workforce development. He is a Career and Technical Education Research Analyst at Kern Community College District with a decade of experience in institutional research, labor market analysis, and educational equity. His work focuses on data visualization, workforce alignment, and supporting program development through tools such as Lightcast and Tableau. Orozco holds a master’s degree in English from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, and brings a background that includes Peace Corps service and cross-cultural education. As a Climate Fellow, he is focused on creating dashboards of green and blue economy workforce opportunities and sustainability data to support all 116 colleges. 

Dennis Astl, Manager of Construction and Facilities Planning, Palomar Community College District

Dennis Astl is serving in the focus area of facilities and sustainability. He is the manager of construction and facilities planning at Palomar Community College District, bringing more than 30 years of experience in architecture and construction management, including leadership on numerous higher education capital projects. A licensed architect, Certified Construction Manager, and LEED accredited professional, Astl leads Palomar’s bond program and chairs the district’s Sustainability Task Force. As a Climate Fellow, he is focused on implementing systemwide climate action and sustainability goals, advancing energy benchmarking, and supporting the development of colleges as community resilience hubs. 

Tammy Wong, Instructional Support Assistant, San Mateo Community College District

Tammy Wong is serving in the focus area of systems and coordination. She is an instructional support assistant at the San Mateo Community College District with a background in workforce development, curriculum coordination, and sustainability education. With over a decade of experience across K–12 and higher education, she has led programming that connects climate action with community engagement and career readiness. Wong holds a master’s degree in education and has organized environmental justice events, presented on interdisciplinary climate curriculum, and supported NSF-funded sustainability projects. As a Climate Fellow, she is focused on supporting statewide infrastructure through data collection, communication, and coordination of workforce, funding, and professional development opportunities.

Meet the 2024 Inaugural Climate Fellows