Contact Us

Meet the Team

Matt Deines
  • Matt Deines
  • Principal Physical Planner
  • 949-824-4929
  • Matt provides guidance on the physical form of campus including the built environment, open space initiatives including the Naturescape program, sustainable landscaping, and our urban forest. With over a decade of experience in the UC system Matt provides leadership in campus and UC-wide climate action planning.
Aarushi Gupta
  • Aarushi Gupta
  • Senior Sustainability Planner
  • 949-824-0635
  • Aarushi is responsible for sustainability-related data reporting such as the AASHE STARS report. In addition, she is focused on bringing innovative sustainability ideas to campus and finding ways to implement them.

Lindsey Hashimoto
  • Lindsey Hashimoto
  • Principal Environmental Planner
  • 949-824-8692
  • Lindsey is responsible for project compliance with federal and state environmental regulatory statutes, including the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). She leads the preparation of environmental documentation and analyses, and interfaces with off-campus stakeholders regarding UCI's Capital Program.
Justin Low
  • Justin Low
  • Executive Assistant
  • 949-824-8630
  • Justin provides high level operational support to the Campus Operations and Capital Planning teams. He is focused on driving productivity and increasing efficiency through strategic planning and effective communication.

R. Umashankar (Uma)
  • R. Umashankar (Uma)
  • Executive Director
  • 949-824-1826
  • As the lead for the Campus Planning & Sustainability team, Uma makes it a priority to have an integrated approach that ties the team's three primary areas of focus. He brings to his position well over twenty years of higher education planning and design across both private consulting, and with the University of California.

2024-25 Fellows and Interns

Jazmín Romero
  • Jazmín Romero
  • Fellow
  • Jazmín is a fourth-year undergraduate Environmental Science & Policy major and Global Sustainability minor. As a curious scientist-in-the-making, their fascination has endured for scientific principles that hover over our environment. Jazmín’s strong passion lies in the field of soil science, where their research experience involves the integration of field observations and geochemical analyses to investigate the influence of climate and anthropogenic activities on carbon cycling and storage within terrestrial ecosystems, as well as their connections to air pollution and global carbon cycle. As the Decarbonization Fellow for the 2024-2025 academic year, Jazmín will be tackling projects focusing on UCI’s Central Plant, on-campus housing, sustainable transportation, and scope 3 (commuting) emissions. Jazmín's dedication to decarbonization is beyond imagination, as they strive to foster awareness and collaboration within the university community, paving the way for a sustainable and eco-conscious future.

Cecilia Anna Del Rivo
  • Cecilia Anna Del Rivo
  • Fellow
  • Cecilia is a third-year undergraduate student majoring in Earth System Science and Political Science. With research experience in ocean carbon cycling, she has developed a passion for sustainable living and environmental justice. As the resiliency fellow for the 2024-2025 academic year, Cecilia will be working on UCI's Climate Impact Assessment and developing adaptation strategies to help mitigate the effects of climate change on vulnerable populations to build a more resilient campus.

Keelan Williams
  • Keelan Williams
  • CLL Intern - Bee/Tree Campus
  • Keelan Williams is a fourth-year undergraduate at UC Irvine majoring in Earth System Science, with a specialization in hydrology and terrestrial ecosystems and a minor in Global Sustainability. Her lifelong love for the outdoors has evolved into a deep academic and personal commitment to environmental stewardship.

    Keelan is currently serving as a Bee/Tree Campus Intern through the Campus as a Living Lab (CLL) initiative, where she supports sustainability efforts that enhance UCI's living landscape. Through this internship, she is gaining hands-on experience in ecological research and sustainable campus planning, aligning her studies with real-world impact.

    Outside the classroom, Keelan is a senior outside hitter on UCI's Division I women's volleyball team and enjoys mountain biking, hiking, and gardening. Her diverse interests reflect a holistic approach to sustainability—one that blends science, community, and a genuine love for nature.

Matthew Lam
  • Matthew Lam
  • CLL Intern - Green Labs
  • Matt is a second-year undergraduate student majoring in Urban Studies and Criminology, with a minor in Urban and Regional Planning. He is continually exploring the intersection between the planning world and crime prevention, with a focus on fostering communities grounded in safety, sustainability, and aesthetics. His previous research experience and projects have explored strategies to reduce urban heat and homelessness. To continue navigating environmental sustainability, Matt will be working as a Green Lab Intern, helping to advance sustainable practices within campus laboratories.