KIN UC Santa Barbara
KIN UC Santa Barbara
2023-2024
Kaila Yi
Chapter Director
Hi! I’m Kaila, a second year biology major, and I am SO EXCITED to be KIN’s Chapter Director this year! Being a part of KIN is such a fulfilling experience because we work together to create a foundation for nutrition education in our very own local community. I love regaling kids about mindful eating habits and sustainability while also learning alongside them! KIN’s mission to forge the precedent for a healthful lifestyle within the younger generation deeply resonates with me, and I am eager to carry on its cause with my team. In my free time, I enjoy sunset walks, baking (whether it’s healthy or slightly less healthy), yoga, painting, and watching movies!
Matthew John
External Outreach Director
Hey! I’m Matt, a fifth year Psychological and Brain Sciences major and KIN’s External Outreach Director. I love that, by educating the youngest generation, we have a role in interrupting the commercially incentivized cycles of unhealthy eating that affect our community. I enjoy singing and playing guitar, cooking and fermentation, tennis, and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.
Aisha Aranda
Bilingual Liaison
Hello everyone! I’m a second-year biopsychology major! I love that KIN, not only inspires kids to take charge of their eating habits, but it encourages them to be creative with their food!It is rewarding to see how the kids take on their weekly challenges. I hope that as a Bilingual Liaison, KIN could reach our Spanish speaking community and excite them about food! In my free time, I love to cook, run, and spend time with my family.
Zixin Lu
Food Access Co-Director
Hey, everyone! My name is Zixin, but most people call me Z, and I’m an incoming third year. I’m one of the Directors of Food Access, and I’m so excited to work on expanding towards our mission of fighting food insecurity in our classrooms and across Santa Barbara. For me, Kids in Nutrition is an incredibly rewarding program to be a part of, and I love being able to play a role in increasing the access to food education for the younger generation. Feel free to reach out to me if you have any questions or just want to talk!
Mindy Lam
Food Access Co-Director
Hi everyone! My name is Mindy and I am a 4th year Biology major. I am very grateful to be this year’s Food Access Co-Director ◡̈ I look forward to working with my amazing team in providing resources for cultivating food justice via sustainable nutrition education for the youth! In my free time, I like to read, crochet, play guitar, sing, and paddle-board to catch beautiful sunsets.
Gianna Zeno
Research Co-Director
Hi! My name is Gianna Zeno and I’m a third year Biology major. In my free time I love cooking and working out. I’m so grateful to be a part of KIN because of how impactful this curriculum is on the students we teach. I love how fun and enriching KIN is for all of our students, while also teaching them sustainable habits that will last a lifetime. I can’t wait to see what we do next!
Mahsun Mirmohammadsadeghi
Research Co-Director
What I admire most about KIN is the dedicated teamwork of volunteers that work together to empower children with knowledge about the foods they eat and the lifestyles they have. Interacting with the kids is always very fun and seeing the lightbulb of understanding turn on for them on aspects of what we teach them is very exciting to see. My hobbies include cooking + baking, singing, watching movies, art, writing, daydreaming, and going on walks w/music.
Connor Vo
Education Co-Director
My name is Connor and I am a fourth year Biological Sciences major at UCSB. I joined KIN because I thought it would be a great experience talking to kids about what it means to live a healthy and nutritious lifestyle. Not only do I have a super fun time teaching, but I've also gotten closer to the Santa Barbara community as well! When not studying for my biology classes or doing KIN activities, I like to read, spend time outdoors hiking, surfing, and gardening.
Mark Kugel
Education Co-Director
Hi, I’m Mark! I am a fourth year Biology major, and I am one of the Education Directors for the school year. What I love about KIN is how it introduces topics that might seem complicated at first in a way that excites kids. It is amazing to see how much the kids retain and how eager they are to learn, so being a part of this is really special. Some of my hobbies include playing the piano, playing tennis, and going on hikes.
Anusha Srinivas
Education Co-Director
Hi, I’m Anusha! I am one of KINs education directors this year and a second year biopsychology major. What I like about KIN is how we’re able to help the younger population build a healthy nutritional lifestyle. I love seeing the kids get excited and understand the information we teach them! In my free time, I enjoy watching TV, playing basketball, and trying new coffee shops.
Zeki Ye
Treasurer
I appreciate how KIN enables me and others to empower the younger generation with valuable knowledge about the significance of nutrition and a healthy diet, fostering lifelong wellness habits. My interests are bodybuilding and music.
Emma Gareis
Social Chair
Hi everyone! What I love most about KIN is seeing the difference we make in these children’s lives. I love seeing how much they have learned from the beginning of lessons to the end. It really is so fulfilling to see this tremendous change. My hobbies are reading, taking beach walks with my friends, and getting matcha!
Lily Weiss
Community Clinics Director
Hi, my name is Lily and I am the Director of Community Clinics for KIN! I am a second year psychological and brain sciences major. I love KIN because I love seeing the kids we teach get excited to learn about their health. In my free time I enjoy running, swimming in the ocean, and roller skating. I am so excited for a great year of KIN!