2022 Bren Commencement Celebration

Congratulations to the Class of 2022! The Bren School invites you to join us for a celebration of our graduates on Friday, June 10, 2022 at 9:00am Pacific Time. The celebration will be held in the Bren Hall Michael J. Connell Memorial Courtyard, followed by a reception on the lawn. The program will also be streamed live online (see below).

Program:

• Presiding - Steve Gaines, Dean, Bren School
• Keynote Address - Ann Hayden (MESM '02), Associate Vice President, Climate Resilient Water Systems Program, Environmental Defense Fund
• Presentation of Awards
• Student Address - Meghan Fletcher, MESM 2022
• Recognition of Graduates
• Music by Brengrass

Regarding COVID-19 Precautions: The UC SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine Program Policy requires that everyone using campus facilities either have their COVID-19 vaccines up to date (including a booster shot if eligible) or have obtained a recent negative COVID-19 test (within 24 hours for rapid at-home tests or 48 hours for PCR tests). We ask everyone visiting UCSB to comply with this requirement for the safety of everyone on our campus. UC Santa Barbara cannot guarantee that all patrons or employees on site are vaccinated. Unvaccinated individuals may be present. None of these precautions eliminate the risk of exposure to COVID-19

Keynote Speaker: Ann Hayden (MESM '02), Associate Vice President, Climate Resilient Water Systems, Environmental Defense Fund

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As associate vice president of Environmental Defense Fund’s Climate Resilient Water Systems Program, Ann Hayden oversees implementation of sustainable water management approaches across the arid U.S, including California and the Colorado River Basin. With a focus on incentive-based approaches, Ann leads EDF’s initiatives to help the agricultural sector transition to a future with less water in ways that minimize economic impacts, while taking into account the needs of disadvantaged communities and ecosystems. For more than 19 years, Ann has built broad coalitions to advance of pragmatic solutions that benefit both people and the environment. By fostering relationships with state and federal agencies, nonprofit partners, landowners, local stakeholders and the private sector, Ann has developed an inclusive approach to resource management that considers a wide array of perspectives and disciplines. She is an expert in the development and implementation of well-designed markets that strike the right balance between ecosystem protection and the prosperity of communities. Prior to EDF, Ann led the development and implementation of coastal resource management strategies and community engagement as a Peace Corps volunteer in Belize.  Ann is board vice-chair of the San Francisco Estuary Institute and a director on the board of Restore Hetch Hetchy.  She received a BA in marine biology from UC Santa Cruz and a Master of Environmental Science and Management from the Bren School.