San Joaquin River Team for Fall 2015

Sang Sue Thao, Project Manager

Sang Sue Thao is a Senior at the University of California, Merced and is currently majoring in Earth System Science. Sang Sue is currently the Project Manager of the Engineering Service Learning team San Joaquin River. He decided to join this team because he believes that there needs to be more focus on water conservation. Sang Sue has had many internships with the USDA Forest Service which further influence his career in environmental restoration. Aside from his interest in environmental protection, he enjoys socializing with student organizations and networking within the community.

Andres Escalante, Assistant Project Manager

Andres Escalante is a senior at the University of California: Merced, pursuing an Environmental Engineering degree. Andres is the current assistant project manager for the San Joaquin River Engineering Service Learning team. He is involved in environmental stewardship programs like the Yosemite Leadership Program and the Vernal Pool and Grassland Reserve Naturalist training course inside the UC.

Abbigail Abellana, Communications Officer 

Abbigail Abellana is a first year Computer Science and Engineering major at the University of California, Merced. She is the Communications Officer for the Engineering Service Learning team San Joaquin River. Abbigail joined this team in hopes of bringing more awareness to the water conservations efforts. She participated in the SMUD Youth Energy Summit to help her peers and younger generations understand the importance of water conservation through recycled art, using old bottles and pipes. She wishes to continue her education and devote more time into helping others understand the significance of the environment.

Chinemerem Robert Okereke, Intellectual Property Officer

Chinemerem Robert Okereke is a fourth year Earth System Science student. Robert is the IPO position leader for this project and is a part of the hardware team of the Engineering Service Learning Team, San Joaquin River Project. He choose it because it gave him the opportunity to give back to his community is a way that could enrich students’ minds and inform them about the environmental crisis we are currently in. By doing this project he hopes that the outcome will foster awareness and spark something within clients them to motivate them to find a solution to our current environmental crisis

Nicholas Busse, Webmaster

Nicholas Busse is a senior Environmental Engineering student.  Nicholas is currently the webmaster of the San Joaquin River Service Learning team.  He became interested in this project from its mission to raise public awareness over water issues effecting the San Joaquin Valley.  Nicholas has previous experience with the Sierra Nevada Research Institute as a summer research assistant and has worked closely with the USDA Forest Service.  In addition to his interest in water research and conservation Nicholas also enjoys exploring the outdoors in as many ways as he can.

Christian Cuevas, Inventory and Finance Officer  

Christian Cuevas is a fifth year Bioengineering major at the University of California, Merced. Christian is a part of the software sub team, and also the Inventory and Finance Officer for the Engineering Service Learning team San Joaquin River. He wanted to join this team because he knew it was a great opportunity to gain hands on experience with a real engineering project. He has always been fond of the environment, and thought it was important to bring awareness to the restoration efforts being done on the river. During his free time, Christian really enjoys biking, hiking, and playing soccer with friends.

Victor A. Rodriguez, Content Team Lead

Victor Rodriguez is a fifth and a half year bioengineering student in his final semester at UC Merced. I have ambitions in pursuing the field of cardiac tissue regeneration and electrophysiology as well as acquiring a master degree in the field of tissue engineering. I am from the small town of Live Oak, CA. Most of my interests with the San Joaquin River Service Learning Project roots back to my youth in growing up in a heavily agricultural community.

William Lindquist, Software Team Lead

William Lindquist is a fifth year Bio Engineering student. William is the software team leader for the Engineering Service Learning team San Joaquin River. He chose this team because he has always been interested in water and river conservation and saw this as an opportunity to contribute to conservation efforts. William is interested in many engineering problems and is investigating into the process of patenting and protecting his designs. William is currently working as an intern at Environmental Stress Systems in Sonora, California. He enjoys hiking, reading, and learning new skills.

Patrick Chuchu, Hardware Team Lead

Patrick Chuchu is a fifth year Mechanical Engineering student. Patrick is the sub team leader of the San Joaquin River Engineer Service Learning team. He choose it because it gave him an opportunity to learn how to work well with others and as a group. When not at school, Patrick works as a student lead at the Transportation and Parking Services on campus leading a crew of about 12 students to make sure our school parking lots are clean and well maintained. Patrick also enjoys spending time working out, listening to music and playing video games.

Rodolfo Bravo, Software Team Member

Rodolfo Bravo is a fifth year Mechanical Engineer student also minoring in applied mathematics. Rodolfo is a contributing member for the Software subgroup for the Engineering Service Learning team San Joaquin River. He chose to join because he is native to California and is concerned with the drought having an irreversible effect on the San Joaquin River

Daniel Neff, Content Team Member 

Daniel Neff is a fourth year chemical sciences major with a minor in physics. He has been employed by Cal State Long Beaches’ ICPMS lab, and has worked here at UC Merced in Tao Ye’s lab group. He is part of the content team for the San Joaquin River engineering service learning team at UC Merced, and hopes to help to the fullest of his abilities to create a more sustainable environment and raise awareness for issues such as water conservation in the central valley. In his free time, he rides his bike, goes to the gym, and produces music.

Viviana Alvarez, Content Team Member

Viviana is a fourth year pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Earth System Science. She is looking into continuing her studies in a master’s degree program in Meteorology. Viviana is from the Southern California city of Ontario and is a part of the content team for the San Joaquin River engineering service learning project. Her interest for this project is to bring awareness to her community about the issues of water conservation and environmental protection.