YPE Sacramento

Sarah is the Deputy Director of the California Council on Science and Technology (CCST) where she leads the Sacramento-based team in outreach and collaboration efforts to connect CCST’s network of S&T experts with state policymakers. In support of the organization’s mission to make California’s policies stronger with science, she directs the CCST Science Fellows program, large-scale commissioned projects, expert briefings, and workshops requested by the Legislature and state agencies.  While at CCST she has continued to strengthen existing science services and create new opportunities for engagement.  Sarah is also a member of the CCST Science Fellows Alumni Steering Committee.  Prior to joining CCST, Sarah served as Legislative Director in Assemblymember Susan Bonilla’s office where she was hired after her placement as a CCST Science and Technology Policy Fellow in 2014. Sarah earned a Doctorate in Chemistry at the University of Oregon researching the degradation of plastics and Bachelor’s degrees in Chemistry and French from North Central College.  She was also a GK-12 Fellow and an NSF-IGERT Fellow where she worked at Hong Kong Baptist University.

Kelly is a Sacramento area native who is passionate about the region. She is a double UC Davis alum with an undergraduate degree in Managerial Economics and a Master of Business Administration. Her current role is a Business Planning Analyst at SMUD where she advises on the fiscal management of technology spending and works to improve budget efficiency and accountability. At SMUD she is also the Co-Lead of the Young Professionals Employee Resource Group. Prior to joining SMUD in 2018, Kelly’s background included working in both large corporate and start-up environments. No matter her role Kelly has always been passionate about acting as a catalyst for change and improvement. In her spare time she also sits on Metro Edge’s Leadership Council as the Give Committee Chair, driving volunteering efforts and nurturing the philanthropic spirit in the region’s young professionals. She also sits on the Leadership Council of Inspire Giving which supports one local nonprofit a year with a $10K grant. Outside of work Kelly enjoys the outdoors (she has a goal to see all of the US National Parks!), frequents the amazing Sacramento food scene, and enjoys spending time with friends and family.

Fritz Foo is an advisor to Commissioner Andrew McAllister of the California Energy Commission, the state’s primary energy policy and planning agency. As an advisor, he provides technical and programmatic support to the commissioner’s portfolio, which includes energy efficiency, building decarbonization, energy research and development, international relations, state funding programs, hydrogen market development, and formerly electricity and natural gas system planning. Before working on energy and climate change policy, Fritz conducted research in a molecular biology laboratory analyzing glucocorticoids and the genetic regulation of the insulin pathway. His passion for communication and the life sciences, both cellular and environmental biology, eventually led to his transition to public service. He holds a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Molecular Environmental Biology from the University of California, Berkeley. In his free time, Fritz enjoys the great outdoors, cooking and eating delicious foods, and dancing to live music.

Sydney Chamberlin is a Climate Policy Associate for The Nature Conservancy (TNC) in California, advancing policy that moves California toward carbon neutrality. She investigates pathways to accelerate and scale the use of nature-based climate solutions in California and coordinates projects and partnerships that demonstrate the efficacy of nature for climate mitigation and adaptation. She also tracks regulatory proceedings and legislation, engaging with State agencies on behalf of TNC. Before working in the policy arena, Sydney worked as a researcher in physics at Penn State University, where she searched for tiny gravitational signals produced in energetic astrophysical processes. Her passion for science communication and drive for service led her to the CCST Science and Technology Policy Fellowship, and as a Science Fellow, she spent a year analyzing legislation on natural resource management and climate change for the Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Water under Chairman Henry Stern. Sydney is a member of California Women in Energy and the CCST Alumni Steering Committee. She holds B.S. degrees in Physics and Mathematics from Utah State University, a Ph.D. in Physics from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, and a Certificate in Project Leadership from Cornell University. In her free time, Sydney enjoys endurance sports, her cat and dog, gardening, and spending time in nature.