Meet Our Staff

Jen Nation

Executive Director

Jen grew up in Iowa where one of her favorite activities was planting and harvesting an annual garden with her family. Jen graduated from the University of Northern Iowa with a bachelor’s degree in non-profit administration and Arizona State University with a master’s degree in Nonprofit Leadership. She has spent the past 20 years working for non-profits in a variety of roles, most recently with Girl Scouts San Diego. Jen values the importance of building an active, healthy and engaged community and hopes to create long-lasting relationships with not only the National City community, but with anyone who wishes to be a part of Olivewood Gardens. In her free time, Jen enjoys traveling, any and all outdoor activities, exploring farmers markets and the local food scene.

Claire Groebner

Associate Director

Claire Groebner is the Associate Director at Olivewood Gardens and Learning Center. She has a B.A. in Sociology – Social Inequalities and Spanish Literature from UC San Diego. Prior to Olivewood, Claire worked in a number of different departments at UC San Diego. Claire’s love for people, nature, and food inspired her to get involved in the food justice and farm-to-table movements, and eventually, with Olivewood Gardens. In her free time, Claire likes to travel (preferably on foot and with a backpack on), dance, garden, and cook homegrown meals.

Birdy Rivera Almansa

Garden and Nutrition Education Specialists

Birdy was born and raised in beautiful Puerto Rico where she spent her childhood visiting waterfalls while snacking on guavas and passion fruits. When she moved to the states for college, she joined her local school garden and started growing her own fruits and vegetables in her backyard. One of her love languages is cooking for others, something she learned by watching her grandmother feed her entire family during large celebrations. Birdy has been working in outdoor education for several years and is so excited to bring her passion for teaching and working with kids to Olivewood as one of our Garden and Nutrition Education Specialists. In her free time, Birdy enjoys knitting, crocheting, making miniatures, and reading graphic novels.

Jackie Ante

Kitchenista Outreach Coordinator

I am so happy to be able to return to Olivewood as part of the in-house team! I never completely left as it is impossible to leave Olivewood once you have had the opportunity to experience the great work they do for the community. Returning as Kitchenista Outreach Coordinator will give me the opportunity to once again contribute my ‘grain of sand’ to the improvement of our community.

Jeni Barajas

Director of Youth Programs

Jeni is the Director of Youth Programs at Olivewood Gardens. She is a San Diego native who has a B.A. in Public Administration from San Diego State University. Jeni has grown food her whole life- as a child, with her family…as an adult, to provide garden knowledge to her two children, to grow food for her own family, and to grow food to donate to her local food pantry. Jeni’s experiences with food insecurity and abuse as a child drive her passion to create safe spaces for youth to learn and explore, as well as connect people to their food through garden and nutrition education. Jeni has experience managing school gardens, community gardens, as well as the Teaching Gardens at Olivewood Gardens. In her spare time, she enjoys traveling, camping, and leading her daughter’s Girl Scout troop.

Yolanda Bernal

Administrative Coordinator

I am a mother of 3 wonderful humans and I am a passionate being for nature. I enjoy hiking/walking to connect with mother nature. I see my yoga class as my medicine. Love to be recognized as a Kitchenista, 2nd generation. I’ve enjoyed being a volunteer at Olivewood gardens especially in the compost area. I have an AA degree from FIDM for marketing/ merchandising. Worked in the fashion industry for many years.

Ellyse Briand

Events & Culinary Program Manager

Ellyse has worked within the greater San Diego food community since she moved here in 2015. Originally from Massachusetts, Ellyse has always loved food and large gatherings surrounded by the promise of good food. She holds a B.A. from the University of Massachusetts at Lowell in Psychology but found her real passion was growing food and sharing it with the community. The relationship Olivewood has to the land, the kitchen and the larger community was something she hadn’t seen in San Diego since arriving. Volunteering to teach a fermentation class with the Olivewood Kitchenistas^®, she realized that all of her passions were coming together beautifully at Olivewood. Now the Teen & Adult Programs Specialist she can share her knowledge of healthy eating and living while continuing to have a positive impact through food.

Salina Brice

Environmental Education Specialist

Salina is the Volunteer Coordinator at Olivewood Gardens and Learning Center. With a degree in Agroecology and Food Systems from the University of California, Santa Cruz, Salina channels her passion for the environment into creating meaningful connections between people, land, and food. Salina’s experience, from farming in Santa Cruz and San Diego to teaching horticulture and hosting sustainability workshops, reflects her dedication to knowledge sharing and food justice. Salina enjoys fostering community, as the power of people has been behind all of their work. Salina is excited to continue cultivating relationships at Olivewood Gardens. Outside of work, Salina enjoys spending time in the sun, painting, and cooking delicious meals.

Patty Corona

Director of Kitchenista Engagement & Cooking for Salud

Patty is the Director of Kitchenista Engagement & Cooking for Salud at Olivewood Gardens and Learning Center. She grew up between Tijuana, Santa Veronica Ranch in Tecate and summers at her grandmother’s ranch in San Pedro, Jalisco. She obtained her B.A in Foreign Trade and Customs at Universidad Iberoamericana del Noroeste in Tijuana. After a year as a volunteer at Olivewood, the Children’s Home Society of California offered her an intensive training about a nutrition curriculum in Spanish, which helped to open the doors to National City community. After becoming a Kitchenista^® of the 1st Generation of Cooking for Salud, Patty was highly motivated to have a higher and deeper impact in the community and became a Resident Leadership Academy facilitator. She found her real passion in the combination of teaching about nutrition, cooking and leading the Kitchenistas to become a driving force in the community. Patty loves to eat, cook, drink wine, coffee, talk and be surrounded by the Kitchenistas family. She also likes to travel around Mexico, hiking, connecting with her indigenous roots, and checking things off her bucket list. She really enjoys to spend time at home with her son and daughter as well as laying on the carpet with her jerky dog licking her face.

Angelica Gastelum

Communications & Marketing Manager

Angelica Gastelum is the Marketing Manager at Olivewood Gardens and Learning Center. A San Diego-Tijuana native and graduate from SDSU, Angelica has over 10 years of experience in Marketing. Her love for her family and desire to improve her family’s health outcomes, landed her at Olivewood Gardens’ Cooking For Salud Program. Angelica is a Kitchenista^® graduated from the 7th Generation, and is honored and thankful for the opportunity to call Olivewood Gardens, ‘work’ and to be part of such a dedicated staff that share a passion for healthy and sustainable programs. In her spare time she loves hospitality, reading, traveling and connecting with friends and family.

Laura Guerrero

Garden and Nutrition Education Specialist

Laura is the new Garden and Nutrition Education Specialist. She was born and raised in San Diego, CA. Her family, San Diego and Mexico is where she found her love for nature. Since graduating High School, Laura has dedicated 10 years of her life working with youth, outdoor education and the nonprofit world. It is her passion and mission to connect youth of all backgrounds to the outdoors, in a healthy and meaningful way. As well as, bringing awareness to inequity and systemic oppression in the outdoors. In her spare time, she enjoys living out of her 60 pound backpack above treeline and rock climbing and camping with her friends.

Morgan Harris

Youth Nutrition Education Specialist

Originally from Maryland, Morgan first discovered Olivewood through a field trip at San Diego State University where she obtained a B.S. in Foods and Nutrition. She then completed her dietetic internship and obtained her credentials as a Registered Dietitian (RD/RDN). Morgan’s passions lie in both nutrition and environmental education so she was very eager to join the Olivewood team. Morgan is excited to get to know the National City community, share her knowledge of nutrition and engage with the children who visit Olivewood. Morgan also works at a local start-up called SOULMUCH where she bakes cookies using upcycled ingredients from local restaurants! In her free time, Morgan likes to go road tripping, get outside to enjoy the San Diego weather, eat at local restaurants and spend time with friends and family, especially her cat, Basil.

Sabrina Heimer

School Garden Specialist

After studying Sustainable Agriculture at San Diego City College, Sabrina realized the importance of having fresh, organic food access for all. She volunteered with grassroots organization, Cultivando, to set up sidewalk garden boxes in underserved areas of San Diego. Cultivando, working closely with the Kumeyaay people, planted culturally relevant crops while involving community members. Sabrina’s goal is to own and operate a care farm, a place for struggling youth and young adults to use gardening as a form of therapy. In her free time, she enjoys adventures with her dog, hanging out with friends, crafting, practicing photography and getting her hands dirty in the garden.

Monica Lim

Kitchenista Program Manager

Monica Lim is the Kitchenista Program Manager at Olivewood Gardens and Learning Center. She graduated from SDSU with a B.A in International Business with emphasis in Latin America. Prior to Olivewood, Monica worked as an International Customer Service Specialist. Monica got involved in Olivewood Gardens as a volunteer, thanks to her mother who has inspired her to follow in her footsteps by graduating from The Cooking for Salud^® program in the 10th Generation. This inspired Monica to become involved in the community by teaching others the tools to help them be healthy eaters and lead by example. In her free time, Monica enjoys doing arts & crafts and spending quiet time with her husband and her golden retriever, Bali

Rocina Lizarraga

Garden Support Specialist

Rocina works at Olivewood Gardens and Learning Center as a Garden Support Specialist, and also supports special projects as by coordinating transit justice and community outreach efforts in collaboration with the San Diego Association of Governments. She is also a 9th Generation Kitchenista^®, gardening support staff and a recently elected National School District Board Member trustee. Rocina loves adventures with food, cooking, dancing, sewing, new cultures and friends. She had a wonderful mother and very loving grandparents that taught her the main principles in life: courage, respect, kindness and showing the best of you. Born and raised in Mazatlán, Sinaloa in northwest Mexico, she learned many different ways to adapt to a new life, language, culture and lifestyle when she came to the United States. In her free time she enjoys outdoor adventures like bikes, hiking, picnics and beach outings with her family. She also loves all kinds of music that touches your soul and makes you move with a smile on your face.

Maya Markillie

School-Based Environmental Education Specialist

Maya is an environmental studies and art graduate with a minor in art history. She has a passion for community engagement, gardening, and environmental stewardship. She most recently worked for AmeriCorps at the Water Resources Education Center in Vancouver, Washington as an environmental education specialist. Maya likes to engage students in creative learning that partners her affection for art and nature. She has community garden and compost management experience and has a passion for outdoor education. In her free time Maya likes to read, make fused glass art, and spend time at the beach.

Carlos Olvera

Content Creator

Carlos is the Content Creator at Olivewood Gardens. Born in San Diego and raised in Tijuana. His love for the outdoors and nature began as a Boy Scout and through traveling Baja with his family. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Marketing Management from CETYS Tijuana and a Media Production certificate from Media Arts. Carlos is known for creating engaging, social-first content that fosters community. In his free time, he enjoys going to the beach and writing short stories.

Paola Orjuela

Accounting Coordinator

Born and raised in Colombia, Paola is a determined and motivated individual with a B.A. in Business Administration. Paola’s professional path has mainly been focused in hospitality, as she finds it very encouraging to be able to provide assistance and ensure people’s happiness and satisfaction. Serving the community and giving back to those in need is something that Paola values, as she has been supporting multiple organizations through the years who look to serve the community. Paola recently graduated from Cooking For Salud from Generation 29 program as is proud to join the community of Kitchenistas. Something very important to Paola is teaching her 7 year old son to care for and help others!

Kelsey Pennington

Youth Program Manager

Kelsey is the Youth Programs Coordinator at Olivewood Gardens and Learning Center. As a California native, she has always been a lover of nature and the outdoors. She received a B.S. in Environmental Studies from UC Santa Barbara. Her passion for transforming the food system in a way that supports both food justice and environmental sustainability drove her to pursue a career in the nonprofit sector and led her to discovering Olivewood. In her free time Kelsey likes to exercise, read, cook, and explore farmers markets and art shows.

Isaac Ramos

Garden Support Specialist

Isaac Ramos began his journey in the biotech field, and quickly realized that instead of finding new medicines to cure disease, we need to revolutionize the way we think about food and what we put in our bodies. After taking a course on hydroponics, he realized he wanted to get more involved with gardening and regenerative agriculture. Working on a ranch in South Mexico, he learned how to make different kinds of compost specific to what they would be used for. Isaac’s personal mission is to learn to live through food sovereignty and regenerative agriculture. He enjoys talking about the mysteries of life, exploring the world and different cultures, and sharing stories in community.

Jorge Robledo

Maintenance Specialist

We are excited to welcome Jorge Robledo to the Olivewood Family! With 24 years of experience in maintenance and construction in San Diego, Jorge brings a wealth of expertise to our team. When he’s not ensuring everything runs smoothly at Olivewood, you can find him fishing, enjoying time with his family of four, or riding his motorcycle. Commuting from Tijuana, Jorge’s dedication and passion for his work make him a valuable asset to our community.

Jeremiah Tatola

Environmental Education Specialist

Miah is an Environmental Education Specialist for Olivewood Garden and Learning Center’s School Based Program. He obtained his BA in Anthropology with a concentration in Climate Change and Human Solutions at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) and brings a wealth of knowledge relating to the natural world and native landscape. Miah also works at the San Diego Natural History Museum as a Special Events Lead. Miah was born and raised in Riverside County and worked for 5 years as a Special Needs Paraeducator for the Lake Elsinore Unified School District before moving to San DIego for university. He is passionate about ecological restoration and conservation and shares this enthusiasm with his students throughout the National City School District. In his free time, Miah enjoys tending to his food garden, planting native plants to help promote ecological health within his urban environment, and educating his friends and neighbors about the importance of the native landscape. He also likes to play Minecraft, crochet, and read horror novels.

Adan Teposte

Garden Support Specialist

Adan is one of the Gardeners at Olivewood Gardens and Learning Center. He migrated from Mexico in 1980, and after working for many years in the manufacturing industry in Los Angeles, he moved to San Diego where he gained experience in gardening. Adan has seen the transformation of the Walton family home gardens into the extensive Gardens we have today, for he has been part of the working team for 11 years! He loves going to the beach in his free time.

Teddy Routsis

Volunteer Coordinator

Teddy started her environmental education journey among the scenic wild beauty of various nature preserves in Florida, where she guided groups of all ages through various environmental programs. With a background in Environmental studies she led immersive nature hikes, taught lessons on local ecosystems, and sometimes if lucky, would assist in manatee rescues. Through this she found a passion for fostering a sustainable connection between the public and the natural world, and has led her to believe environmental education is an essential component in a child’s development. Prior to her focus on environmental education, she was teaching children with special needs and learning disabilities. In her spare time she loves to hike, create all kinds of art, and explore San Diego with friends.

Leonard Vargas

Director of Gardens & Facilities

Leonard is the Gardens and Facilities Manager at Olivewood Gardens and Learning Center. He brings more than two decades of professional growing experience in San Diego County, and has been gardening since he was about 2. He most recently managed operations for Waterwise Botanicals in Bonsall and has overseen growing at Miramar Wholesale Nurseries, HerbThyme Farms, and other local nurseries. For many years, he managed the urban farm onsite at San Pasqual Academy in Escondido for their resident students. Leonard is excited to work with students and families here at Olivewood. He is happiest when his hands are in the soil and looks forward to inspiring and empowering our community to grow both food and flowers.

Jennifer Walker

Development Manager

Jennifer attended San Diego State University and earned her B.S. in Business Administration with an emphasis in Finance. She holds a Certificate in Nonprofit Management from the University of San Diego, and an Equitable Community Change Certificate from Cornell University. Prior to joining Olivewood Gardens, Jennifer used her business development skills to cultivate valuable and productive relationships with clients, colleagues, and partners alike in the financial services sector.

Jennifer first learned of Olivewood after her niece raved about a school field trip; intrigued she signed up for the Cooking for Salud Program and graduated as a Kitchenista from Generation #3 . The experience left a long-lasting impact on her; she found that being at Olivewood not only nourished her body, but it also fueled her soul. She is proud to be a part of an organization that creates positive ripple effects in our local community. In her free time, she loves spending time with her family, friends, and pets, hosting her book club, trying new recipes, and running.

Alyssa Zurita

Garden Support Specialist - Fruit Tree Focus

Alyssa is the Garden Support Specialist that is fruit tree focused at Olivewood Gardens and Learning Center. She maintains all of the fruit trees growing at Olivewood and is currently working on a project to develop an orchard on a hillside at Olivewood. Alyssa received an A.S. in Retail Nursery and Plant Production, a minor in Soil Science, and a B.S. in Plant Science. She loves working outdoors and enjoys serving the community with Olivewood through Thursday’s produce stand and with guiding volunteers through different projects. In her spare time, she enjoys other outdoor activities such as hiking and camping with her family, friends, and pets. Alyssa also spearheaded the School Garden Specialist position for her first two years at Olivewood. She is proud of her work and looks forward to providing the community with fruit grown at Olivewood.

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