Charge

The Food Security & Basic Needs Taskforce is the steering committee which oversees campus efforts to reduce food and housing insecurity among UCSB students and increase access to basic needs more broadly.  In this capacity, the taskforce works to increase communication and collaboration between campus departments and divisions, services, student organizations, and off-campus partners in addressing basic needs.  This taskforce is an advisory body to the Chancellor and the Office of Budget and Planning on issues of basic needs and rapid rehousing.  Areas of advice include future visioning and prioritization on basic needs, identifying emerging needs as they arise, best practices in addressing basic needs, opportunities to expand key programs such as CalFresh, and stakeholder consultation.  The task force provides oversight for the state basic needs and rapid rehousing funds allocated to UCSB.  This group is also responsible for tracking metrics on the success of food security and basic needs efforts and providing reports as needed to the legislature.

Contact

The Food Security Taskforce

Rebecca Segundo
Basic Needs and Rapid Rehousing Manager
Email: rplotkin@ucsb.edu

Members

  • Alexandra Valenzuela, History of Public Policy and Law, minor in Spanish, Undergraduate Student Representative
  • Ambar Campos, Budget Analyst, Office of Budget & Planning
  • Amy Gonzales, Professor, Department of Communications, Media and Digital Communication
  • Asad Bhatti, Psychological and Brain Sciences, Undergraduate Student Representative 
  • Aydee Plascencia, Department Business Specialist, CalFresh and General Relief/ICT Coordinator, Santa Barbara County Department of Social Services
  • Damaris Garcia-Valerio, Doctoral Student, Counseling and Clinical Psychology, Graduate Student Representative
  • Daniel Chavez, Food Bank Coordinator, Associated Students Food Bank
  • Diane Fujino, Professor, Asian American Studies; Director, the Center for Black Studies Research 
  • Grant Zepke, Associate Director, Residential Dining
  • Janna Haider,  Doctoral Student, Department of History, Graduate Student Representative
  • Jennifer Kam, Professor and Department Vice Chair, Department of Communications, Interpersonal and Intergroup Communication
     
  • Michael Nishimura,  Doctoral Student, Department of Sociology, Graduate Student Representative
  • Mike Miller, Assistant Vice Chancellor for Enrollment Services; Chair of the Food Security Taskforce and Basic Needs Taskforce
  • Margaret Klawunn, Vice Chancellor, Student Affairs
  • Michael McGrogan, Budget Director, Office of Budget and Planning
  • Sharleen O'Brien, Director Health and Wellness
  • Xiomara Contreras, Statistics and Data Sciences, Undergraduate Student Representative

Staff

  • Katie Maynard, Staff to Food Security and Basic Needs Taskforce; Director, Student Sustainability Initiatives, Student Affairs
  • Rebecca Segundo, Basic Needs and Rapid Rehousing Manager, Enrollment Services