
Jim Caesar
CERT Club Program Manager
UC Santa Barbara Campus Emergency Manager
james.caesar@ucsb.edu
c. (805) 450-1437
CERT Board 2024-25

Abby Balais
CERT Club President
Environmental Studies & Sociology
abigailsamantha@ucsb.edu

Matthew Tran-Luu
CERT Club Vice President
Statistics and Data Science
mqt@ucsb.edu
Upcoming CERT Board (2025-26)

Jazmyn Bell
CERT Club President 2025-26
Paleobiology, Applied Psychology Minor
jazmynbell@ucsb.edu

Daniel Hansen
CERT Club Treasurer & Publicity 2025-26
Computer Science
dhansen@ucsb.edu
CERT Student Trainers

Abby Balais: I took CERT in summer 2024, and got trained in the fall of the same year. CERT has been so empowering for me, and as president of the club I hope to empower my peers and community to take control over their safety in the event of a disaster.

Matthew Tran-Luu: CERT Trained in Fall 2024; Trainer Certified in Winter 2025

Victoria Huizar: I first learned about CERT at an event focused on preparing for natural disasters and emergencies, and I knew right away that I wanted to be part of it. With disasters becoming more frequent, I started thinking seriously about how to stay prepared for whatever the future might bring. A few weeks later, I found out CERT classes were being offered at my college—giving me the perfect opportunity to join this incredible organization and start making a difference.

Daniel Hansen: I have been a state-certified CERT trainer since Winter of 2025, and I have been a member of CERT since Fall of 2024. I joined UCSB's CERT program because I am enthusiastic about planning and preparation, and CERT combines with my experience in Scouting America (formerly Boy Scout of America) to allow me to help others and better mitigate potential hazards both inside and outside of disaster scenarios.

Maeve Merwin: Hi! My name is Maeve. I am an Environmental Studies student, so I thought CERT would be very applicable to my degree. I joined CERT mainly because I thought it would be a fun and interesting program to get involved in. I learned many valuable skills for everyday life and gained more confidence by trying something new. I also met new people and made some friends :)

Jazmyn Bell: Currently an EMT and I want to attend Paramedic school after undergrad. I joined CERT so I can learn how to better help my community, and I decided to be on board because I want to help this community protect itself.
CERT Student Trainer Alumni
2024
Sofia Hernandez
2019
Cody Robinson
2018
Aviv Brafman
Tyler Pennebaker
Kevin Prough
2017
Gerardo Montes Jr.
Jacqueline Hopkins
Sophia Lau-Shum
Dale Lanell Wright III
Angela Delos Santos
Sabrina Vuong
Sai Vemireddy
Anabel Guzman
Margarita Moran
2017
Gerardo Montes Jr.
Jacqueline Hopkins
Sophia Lau-Shum
Dale Lanell Wright III
Angela Delos Santos
Sabrina Vuong
Sai Vemireddy
Anabel Guzman
Margarita Moran
2016
Adelaide Burk
Anna Ha
Duncan Calvert
Allison Liu
Ricardo Diaz
Brent Louie
2015
Karla Jerez
Melissa Serrano
Taylor Lockmann
2014
Austin Hudgens
Vianey Hernandez
Amanda McKenna
Sean Swale
Hannah Bartlebaugh