Office & Project Support

Chelo Abrenilla

Rachel (Chelo) V. Abrenilla
Analyst - Supervisor

Prior to joining the International Programs office in 2007, Chelo was an Administrative Coordinator with International Food Policy Research Institute in Washington DC for 4 years and before that, she was a Senior Secretary-Administrative Assistant with the International Rice Research Institute in the Philippines for 18 years. At IRRI and IFPRI, Chelo’s primary responsibility was to provide key administrative oversight and support to a team of multi-disciplinary and international senior scientists that includes assistance at various conferences and meetings. At CAES-IPO, Chelo is responsible in independently serving as the administrative liaison for and coordinator of the unit, particularly in day-to-day transactions with various university sectors and both local and international clients and partners. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Management obtained from the University of City of Manila, Philippines.

Nick Madden

Nicholaus Madden, PhD
Postdoctoral Fellow

Nicholaus Madden joined IPO as a Post doctorate Fellow in July 2009 soon after finishing his PhD in soil science at UC Davis. He is currently one of the program coordinators for the Advancing Afghan Agriculture Alliance (A4) project for UC Davis.  After completing this B.S. in hydrology at UC Santa Barbara, Nicholaus served as the Peace Corps volunteer in Honduras working in soil conservation.  Upon returning from the Peace Corps, he completed his Master’s degree in International Agriculture Development at UC Davis and returned back to Honduras to work for Nuestros Pequenos Hermanos orphanage. 

Donna Maricich

Donna Damanchyk Maricich, B.Sc.
Program Coordinator

Donna Maricich became a staff member of the International Programs Office (IPO) – CA&ES in September 1989. She currently works part-time for IPO and is responsible for the coordination of agreements of cooperation, the Postgraduate Certificate Program, and the Peace Corps Master’s International Program. During Donna’s 23 year tenure on campus she has worked in various departments—food science cooperative extension, financial aid, CA&ES Dean’s Office college personnel, agronomy and range science, and currently holds a part-time position (along with her IPO duties) as program coordinator for the International Agricultural Development Graduate Program. She has an A.A. degree in office administration from McNeese State University, Louisiana, and a B.S. degree in business administration from the University of San Francisco, California.