Susana Cabrera-Mariz
Susanacabreramariz5@gmail.com |(669)222-9327|in/susana-cabrera-mariz-b1399a53/
A skilled organic farmer who explores society and culture through the lens of agriculture, history, and art.
Education
Masters of Arts in Anthropology, Iowa State University (Currently)
Bachelors of Science in Environmental Studies, San Jose State University 2014
Focus: Restoration Ecology and Resource Management
Dean's Scholar, Salzburg Scholar, Global Technology Initiative Scholar
Work Experience
Iowa State University, Ames, IA. Jan 2022 - Current
Teaching Assistant
• Managed Introduction to Cultural Anthropology through grading, facilitation, and course reminders
• Created supplemental learning modules that highlight the course content using art, poetry, music, and film
Research Assistant
•Managed the production of seeds for the Three Sisters project
•Taught and led undergraduate students in farming techniques
Seed Savers Exchange, Decorah, IA Jan 2020 - Dec 2021
Assistant Seed Historian
• Interviewed seed donors and narrated seed and familial histories
• Documented the histories of heirloom seeds within the SSE seed bank
Greenhouse & Field Assistant
• Sowed, watered, thinned, and maintained over 200+ crop varieties in three greenhouses
• Planted, maintained field and farm infrastructure, and harvested crops
Apprentice - Center for Agroecology and Food Systems, Santa Cruz, CA Mar 2019-Oct 2019
7 acres mixed vegetable, seed, flower, and fruit farm with a 100-customer community-supported agriculture program
• Developed curriculum and facilitated alternative farming business models and led workshops about seeds and the exploration of farmer-seed shed-art relationships
• Executed agriculture plans while performing field operations including seeding, bed preparation, transplanting, cultivation, harvesting, and integrated pest management
Ranch Hand - Tucker Family Farm, Hamilton, MT Nov 2018-Feb 2019
20-acre ranch with 200+ flock of sheep and pigs, outlets included a farmers market, local coop, and direct to customer
• Cared for livestock using holistic management practices, focused primarily on tending to ewes and lambs during gestation and delivery
Apprentice - Rogue Farm Corp, Williams, OR Mar 2018-Oct 2018
5 acres mixed vegetable, herb, and berry farm, with a 40-acre rotational grazing system
• Performed field operations, led field teams, assisted in operating a community-supported agriculture program, and a weekly farmers market stand
• Managed varietal trials, seed production, and processing
Apprentice - Veggielution Community Farm, San Jose, CA Oct 2017-Feb 2018
3 acres mixed vegetable and fruit community farm located in East San Jose
• Performed field operations: seeding, bed preparation, transplanting, cultivation, harvesting, integrated pest management, and creating a planting plan for the following season
• Introduced volunteers to the workings of the farm and led fieldwork activities
Project Manager, Mobile Market - Fresh Approach, San Jose, CA Dec 2016-Feb 2018
• Developed and maintained relationships with local farmers and vendors, collaborating with partners to cross-promote and market local public health campaigns
• Managed the operations, inventory, budget, staffing, capital, and expenses for a mobile market
Elo Touch Solutions, Milpitas, CA Oct 2014-Nov 2016
Information Technology Project Manager
• Managed timeline, capital and expense budgets, staff, and delivery of software products • Created vision, scope, and work definitions that were clear and attainable, ensuring that projects were on-time, on budget and within scope
• Led cross-functional team meetings and acted as the liaison between teams
Information Technology Security Analyst
• Performed intrusion detection, identified trends and anomalies, and determined strategies
• Collaborated with business, engineering, marketing, and legal teams to resolve security incidents
• Setup and monitored automated testing of software vulnerabilities and implemented solutions
Additional Experience
Environmental Scientist - City of Santa Clara, Santa Clara, CA Aug 2014 - Sep 2014
Collaborated with designers and subject matter experts to ensure new developments met state standards & analyzed water quality data
Environmental Services Intern - City of San Jose, San Jose, CA Aug 2012 - Apr 2014
Reviewed industrial irrigation plans for compliance with the California Health and Safety Codes & authored public service documents
Instructor - Galileo Educational Services, San Jose, CA Summers 2008 - 2011
Instructed Kindergarten to 8th grades in Environmental Sciences, Engineering, Culinary Arts, Dance, and Art
Library Assistant - Martin Luther King Jr. Library, San Jose State University Sep 2007- 2010
Assisted patrons with research and utilization of the collection, created an employee-training curriculum, and organized community events
Certifications
Organic Seed Production - Organic Seed Alliance 2020
Seed Production - Seven Seeds Farm & Siskiyou Seeds 2019
Ecological Horticulture and Sustainable Food Systems - U.C. Santa Cruz 2019
Organic Farming - Rogue Farm Corp 2018
Beginning Farmer Training Program- Multinational Exchange for Sustainable Agriculture 2017
Community Involvement
Seed Savers Exchange - Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion 2020 - 2021
Advised the organization on matters pertaining to diversity, equity, and inclusion
EcoFarm - Diversity Advisory Group 2017 - 2021
Created workshop and conference programming to engage a culturally diverse audience
Presentations
Plenary Organizer: Seed Names - Organic Seed Growers Conferences - Feb 2022
Guest Lecturer: Why We Save Seeds - Guilford College - Oct 2021
Poster Session: The Power of Seeds - Oral History Association Conference - Nov 2021
Keynote: Digging Deeper with Seeds - Seed School, Seed Savers Exchange - July 2021
Plenary Speaker: The Power of Seeds - Seed Savers Exchange Annual Conference - May 2021