Our Mentors

Jim Caesar is a proven leader in the emergency management profession with experience in all phases of emergency management including operating an Emergency Operations Center, all-hazards planning, community preparedness, business continuity, public information, and public/private partnerships. In his position, he researches, analyzes, and develops emergency management procedures for the campus. Coordinates and assists departments in emergency response planning and in identifying human and material resource needs, as well as coordinating plans for resource mobilization during an emergency. Plans, implements, and coordinates the development and readiness of the campus Emergency Operations Center (EOC). Designs, plans, and conducts periodic emergency management exercises for top level management and policy makers, as well as campus departments. Facilitates general preparedness for business continuity planning (BCP) and recovery. 

Support of SICR Interns: Jim provides mentorship to the UC Bonnie Reiss Leading on Climate Action Fellow on Climate Resilience.

Mariah Hudnut is UCSB's Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) Manager. The focus of TAP is to provide alternative, sustainable transportation options for Faculty, Staff and Students to get to campus without using Solo-Operated Vehicles. Through transit subsidies and commuter support, TAP facilitates the following six commute programs: Bike, Carpool, Vanpool, Clean Air Express, Ventura Coastal Express and local MTD Bus. Mariah is currently a mentor for the Fall 2025 Commute Challenge being run through the Sustainability Internships and Community Resources Department.

Support of SICR Interns: Mariah is a mentor to several interns in SICR providing her expertise in sustainable transportation and commuting options. Currently she is partnering with Araceli Rodriguez on the pilot of the Commute Reset Challenge, co-writing a grant with SICR grant writing intern, Talyah Simmons and SICR Intern and Bonnie Reiss Fellow, Jaret Valera to raise funds for new bike lockers on campus.

Jewel Persad joined the Administrative Services Department in September 2013, as the Campus Sustainability Coordinator and The Green Initiative Fund Grants Manager. Jewel earned her Master’s degree from UCSB’s Bren School of Environmental Management, where she specialized in Water Resource Management. She also holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Environmental studies from San Francisco State University. In Jewel’s position at the University of California, Santa Barbara she is responsible for managing The Green Initiative Fund, UCSB’s sustainability reporting including the Sustainable Tracking, Assessment & Rating System (STARS), the Chancellor’s Sustainability Committee, Climate Action Planning including conducting our annual greenhouse gas inventory, outreach and communication for UCSB Sustainability, and the planning of the Annual Central Coast Sustainability Summit. Jewel has also been heavily involved in the coordination and implementation of the University of California (UC) Presidential Initiative on Climate.

Support of SICR Interns: Jewel provides mentorship and is the direct supervisor for the UC Bonnie Reiss Leading on Climate Action Climate Ambassador and Climate Resilience Fellows.

Rebecca Segundo currently serves as the Basic Needs and Rapid Rehousing Manager for UC Santa Barbara. She has been supporting students to meet their basic needs in higher education for over seven years, working in both the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships as well as Basic Needs and Rapid Rehousing at UC Santa Barbara. In her current role she more broadly supports basic needs programs through committee coordination and engagement both on campus, community sectors as well as the UC statewide level. Rebecca received her Bachelor's of Arts degree from UC Santa Cruz in Language Studies with an emphasis in Spanish.

Support of SICR Interns: Rebecca supports both basic needs and rapid rehousing interns who coordinate several programs and initiatives throughout campus. 

Mina Toxtle is a first-generation graduate of the University of California, Santa Barbara, where she earned her Bachelor of Science in Psychological and Brain Sciences with a minor in Applied Psychology. For two years, Mina served as a CalFresh Advocate and Basic Needs Peer Advisor, helping students navigate CalFresh and connecting them with essential resources to meet their basic needs.  Today, Mina is the staff coordinator/advisor for several basic needs programs at UCSB and supports the Basic Needs and Rapid Rehousing Manager. Growing up in South Central, Mina witnessed significant food, housing, and financial hardships, which fueled her passion for supporting those in need. 

Support of SICR Interns: Mina supports both basic needs and rapid rehousing interns who coordinate several programs and initiatives throughout campus.