Ethan Mermell

Ethan joined Valley Vision in October 2024 as a Project Coordinator to support the Food and
Agriculture and Clean Air and Climate impact areas. Ethan’s professional and academic careers
have shown him the importance of supporting community-led initiatives to produce lasting
change.

Professional Experience

Ethan began working in garden-based education during his undergraduate degree, which was
his entry point into the nonprofit sector. Ethan worked as a garden educator in public elementary
schools, community centers, and at environmental education centers. Interested in expanding
his understanding of the food system, Ethan went through organic farming apprenticeship in
coastal Oregon. This experience led him to work on a variety of for-profit and nonprofit farms.
These experiences opened Ethan’s eyes to a variety of agriculture and climate related issues
and inequities. His interest in community led solutions to these issues is what brought Ethan to
the Community Development Graduate Group at UC Davis. Ethan is passionate about working
to establish a food system that uplifts local communities, promotes environmental sustainability,
and supports growers and land stewards.

Education

• Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Studies from San Francisco State University
• Masters of Science in Community Development from University of California, Davis

Interests

Gardening, cooking, biking, playing music, seeing live music, and camping in the beautiful state
of California