meet our team
KEN ALEX
Founder & Senior Advisor, GrizzlyCorps
Director, Center for Law, Energy & the Environment
Ken spent eight years as a Senior Policy Advisor to Governor Jerry Brown, the Director of the Governor’s Office of Planning and Research, and the Chair of the Strategic Growth Council, focusing on climate, environment, and land use issues.
Before joining the Governor's Office, Ken was the Senior Assistant Attorney General heading the environment section of the California Attorney General’s Office, and the co-head of the Office’s global warming unit. From 2000 to 2006, He led the California Attorney General’s energy task force, investigating price and supply issues related to California’s energy crisis.
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Ken is a graduate of Harvard Law School and holds a B.A. in political theory from the University of California at Santa Cruz.
Tel: 510-590-7763
ken.alex@berkeley.edu
Cora Fesler
Director, GrizzlyCorps
Cora is the incoming Director of GrizzlyCorps, an AmeriCorps service program at the Center for Law, Energy & the Environment (CLEE). GrizzlyCorps places recent college graduates in forest and farm communities throughout California to help build community resilience and respond to climate change. Cora oversees and coordinates all day-to-day operations for GrizzlyCorps.
Cora joins us with a background in program management, fundraising, and political advocacy. Prior to joining CLEE, she worked at UC Berkeley’s Public Service Center on College Corps, an AmeriCorps program designed to create debt-free college pathways for low-income students through service. Cora previously served on the Development team of Emerge, a political nonprofit dedicated to empowering Democratic women to run for office and fight for progressive policy change. As a first generation graduate of UC Berkeley and someone who grew up in rural Northern California, she is thrilled to be returning to her alma mater and contributing to real rural climate solutions which center those most impacted.
Cora holds a B.A. from UC Berkeley, where she studied Political Science and Geography. She is passionate about environmental policy, climate resiliency, education accessibility and affordability, and human rights.
jasmine
curcio
Program Administrator, GrizzlyCorps
Jasmine joined the GrizzlyCorps team in 2022 after serving as a GrizzlyCorps fellow at Pie Ranch. She handles day-to-day administrative operations at GrizzlyCorps, communications & media, data tracking, and assists with fellow support.
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Jasmine graduated from UC Davis with a Bachelors of Science in Environmental Science and Management. She brings her experience as a fellow in the program and passion for environmental health, community engagement through nonprofit work, and creating sustainable food systems.
At Pie Ranch, Jasmine supported the Cascade Regenerator Program, a program designed to support emerging and underresourced farmers build sustainable land-based businesses. She worked on creating an environmental stewardship plan for the ranch, education and outreach, fire recovery and planning projects, and supporting Pie Ranch’s partnership with the Amah Mutsun Tribal Band and Land Trust. Jasmine also worked with the Santa Cruz County Environmental Health department to aid in the fire recovery efforts following the devastating CZU Complex Fires of August 2020.
Cindy
Pace
Program Coordinator , GrizzlyCorps
Cindy joined the GrizzlyCorps team in 2023 after serving as a GrizzlyCorps fellow at the Resource Conservation District of the Santa Monica Mountains in 2022. She now supports program day-to-day functions, maintains relationships with all fellows, oversees event planning, and manages GrizzlyCorps' internal training curriculum.
During her time as a GrizzlyCorps fellow, Cindy conducted local outreach and developed a variety of programs addressing Wildland Urban Interface issues and wildfire resilience needs in Los Angeles. Cindy holds a BS in Environmental Studies and BA in Political Science/International Affairs from UC Riverside.
From facilitating community workshops in her free time to leading trainings with GrizzlyCorps fellows, Cindy strives to build healthy communities and cultures of care in both her professional and personal life.
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Lily
Elola
Coordinator, GrizzlyCorps
Lily joined GrizzlyCorps in 2024 after serving as a fellow at the Hopland Research and Extension Center (HREC). She coordinates GrizzlyCorps external communications, recruitment, offboarding, and administrative support for the UC Berkeley School of Law's Center for Law, Energy, and the Environment (CLEE).
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She holds a B.S. in Environmental Management and Protection from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, where she assisted with two research projects: one evaluating nitrogen mineralization rates of organic fertilizers to better inform sustainable agricultural practices, and another creating a methodology for evaluating sustainable consumer experiences using eye-tracking and biometric data collection. In spring 2023, Lily received a grant to host the LEAD Scholars Talk Exhibit, an on-campus event showcasing the experiences of black, indigenous, and queer environmental activists and professionals.
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During her fellowship at HREC, Lily co-developed environmental education programs on the topics of climate resiliency, ecosystem management, and conservation. Her work aims to increase equitable access to natural resources and environmental learning opportunities.
Smarika Shrestha
Student Administrative Assistant, GrizzlyCorps
Smarika joined the GrizzlyCorps team in Summer 2024 to assist with administrative operations, communications, and media.
Currently a UC Berkeley senior pursuing a Bachelor's degree in Landscape Architecture, Smarika has immersed herself in advocating for climate resilience and sustainable practices in community planning and design. Her commitment to creating resilient outdoor environments stems from a deep-rooted belief in the transformative power of thoughtful design to promote sustainable living and community well-being.
During her time at UC Berkeley, Smarika has actively engaged in projects that integrate sustainable design principles into urban landscapes, showcasing her proficiency in ecological planning and community-centric design strategies. She envisions leveraging her expertise as a landscape architect post-graduation to design functional outdoor spaces that not only prioritize environmental sustainability but also enhance the quality of life for communities.