Grant-Making Committee Bios


Voting Members

Brian Starr, Chair
Undergraduate Campus-wide Representative
Brian Starr is a fourth year Business Economics major at UC Santa Barbara. Brian has a strong interest in both the environment and the business world. His father co-founded an environmentally focused company, ZAP (zero air pollution) during the early 1990s. Prior to attending UC Santa Barbara, Brian worked at ZAP during past summers and has thus been at the forefront in the field of advanced technology vehicles aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions. In addition, Brian has a strong interest in accounting, and had the opportunity to intern at a regional accounting and consulting services firm during the summer of 2009. In addition to expanding his accounting skills, Brian rotated through the firm's sustainability department and gained a unique perspective on the process of integrating corporate sustainability initiatives.

Jamie Silverstein, Associated Students Representative
Jamie Silverstein is a second year Political Science major. He spent the 2009 summer working at UCSB with A.S. Recycling to create a free composting service for businesses and restaurants in Isla Vista. Jamie also writes for the Daily Nexus as a weekly political columnist and serves as an Off Campus Representative for Associated Students. Jamie aims to use his roles in student government and on the newspaper to promote the environmental ideals of TGIF and encourage sustainable practices on campus.

James Hawkins, Environmental Affairs Board Representative
James is currently pursuing a double major in Political Science and Environmental Studies at UCSB.  As a member of Environmental Affairs Board, he has worked on several environmental publicity campaigns, most notably was EAB's effort to clean up Floatopia.  In addition to his work with EAB, he is also a board member of Associated Students Finance Board for the 2009-2010 academic year.  Over the past few years he has interned at a local company, BigSpeak, Inc and gained valuable experience working in the corporate world.  In his free time, James enjoys playing Ultimate Frisbee and going to the beach.

Gavin Feiger, Donald Bren School of Environmental Science & Management Representative
Gavin is a second year Masters student at the Bren School of Environmental Science & Management where he is focusing on Policy and Economics, with coursework emphasizing climate change.  A Montana native, Gavin received a B.S. in Geology from the University of Washington in Seattle.  After working as an oceanographic research assistant and a geologic consultant, Gavin spent time traveling through South America before moving to California.  During his time in San Francisco, he worked assorted office jobs before ditching the desk for a 2-year stint as a tour guide, leading thousands of visitors to places like Yosemite, the California coast, and Wine Country.  While Gavin is interested in all aspects of the outdoors and conservation, he believes that climate change is the environmental issue of our time and is at the heart of conservation.  In his spare time Gavin enjoys hiking, backpacking, cycling, skiing, anything outdoors, cooking, and traveling.

Allan Robles, Graduate Student Association Representative
Allan is a first year MESM student at the Bren School of the Environmental Science and Management. A native New Yorker, Allan has worked with several environmental non-profit organizations on various grassroots programs, including trying to foster voluntary environmental stewardship performance and pushing for the replacement of an underused, urban expressway with greenspace in a disenfranchised community. Allan has also worked several odd jobs including bartending at a restaurant in SoHo, landscaping for UCSB staff, and being an RA at his Alma Mater, The New School. In his spare time, Allan enjoys reading pop culture news (sometimes a little too much), biking, and complaining about how no one is angry or knows how to make a good falafel/bagel sandwiches.

Ron Cortez, Administrative Services Representative

TBD, Academic Senate Faculty Representative

Non-Voting Advisory Members

Todd Lee, Budget and Planning Representative

Bill Shelor, Student Affairs Representative
Bill graduated from UCSB in 1979 with a degree in Environmental Studies, with an emphasis in Land Use Planning. He is an Analyst for Enrollment Services in the Division of Student Affairs. He currently serves as the Chair of the Division of Student Affairs sub-committee on Sustainability and is a member of the campus Communications Committee for Sustainability. Bill was named to the inaugural City of Goleta Planning Commission in October 2006. Since 2006 Bill has served as the City of Goleta's representative to the Santa Barbara County Air Pollution Control District's Community Advisory Council.

Jordan Sager, Facilities Management Representative
Jordan Sager earned his masters degree from UCSB’s Donald Bren School of Environmental Science and Management, specializing in energy and climate studies with an emphasis in institutional sustainability. He also holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Management from the University of Redlands, where in 2004 he conducted the University’s first Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory as his thesis project. Jordan now works for the Physical Facilities division at UCSB where he manages the LEED Green Building program and assists in the development of campus energy efficiency projects. Jordan is also a co-founder of Santa Barbara’s Emerging Green Builders organization and maintains a Regional Chair position in the California Central Coast Chapter of the US Green Building Council.

Jill Richardson, TGIF Grants Manager
In addition to being the TGIF Grants Manager, Jill Richardson is one of the campus sustainability coordinators working under the Associate Vice Chancellor for Administrative Services. Previously, Jill worked as an assistant production manager for a "green" general contractor in Santa Barbara, as a recycling specialist for the County of Santa Barbara, and as the Student Affairs Manager for the Donald Bren School of Environmental Science & Management at UCSB. Jill received her BS in Zoology and MESM in Environmental Science and Management from UCSB, plus she is a certified Master Gardener.