Staff in Development Engineering

Kara Nelson is the Blum Chancellor’s Chair in Development Engineering, Chair of the Development Engineering Graduate Group, and a Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering at UC Berkeley. Nelson’s research investigates practices to improve wastewater-based epidemiology, water reuse, disinfection, nutrient recovery, and international WASH (water, sanitation, and hygiene). She teaches courses on innovation in the water sector, drinking water and wastewater treatment processes, pathogen detection and inactivation, and natural treatment systems. Nelson is the recipient of the Chancellor’s Public Service Award for Campus Community Partnership, a Fulbright Fellowship, and the National Science Foundation PECASE Award. Prof. Nelson is passionate about creating a climate in which everyone belongs and can reach their full potential, and previously served as Associate Dean for Equity and Inclusion in the College of Engineering.

Yael Perez is the Development Engineering (DevEng) Program Director at UC Berkeley’s Blum Center for Developing Economies, managing the DevEng Masters and the DevEng PhD Designated Emphasis. Yael holds a PhD in Architecture from UC Berkeley with a scholarship on co-design methodologies and technologies to support and empower communities and design practitioners in fostering sustainable development. For over a decade, she has been collaboratively leading CARES—Community Assessment of Renewable Energy and Sustainability—a team of UC Berkeley faculty and students working with Native American Citizens in their pursuit of sustainable development. Recently, this initiative grew into the Native FEWS Alliance, a cross-institutional collaboration working to significantly broaden the participation of Native American students in Food, Energy, and Water Systems (FEWS) education and careers to address critical challenges facing their communities. Before joining the Blum Center, Yael was a visiting scholar at IIT Mandi (India).

pyael@berkeley.edu

Adrianne is the Director of Partnerships & Career Development for the M.DevEng program. She has lived and worked in Russia, Ukraine, Thailand, San Francisco, and Washington DC. Adrianne has more than fifteen years of broad experience working in executive recruitment and talent development for US Government contractors, NGOs, start-ups, SMEs, and educational institutions. Adrianne served in the US Peace Corps in Ukraine and has a BA in Russian Language and Literature from the University of Oklahoma and an MA in International Development from American University in Washington DC. She is a Certified Executive Career Coach and is focused on student career development as well as alumni and employer engagement for the department. When she’s not engaging with alumni, employers, or students, Adrianne volunteers for the International Rescue Committee and enjoys hiking and trivia.

devenginfo@berkeley.edu

Chetan Chowdhry manages and serves as the Lead Academic Advisor for the Global Poverty & Practice Minor. Prior to joining the Blum Center team, Chetan served as a Graduate Coordinator with the University of Maryland Multicultural Involvement and Community Advocacy Office. He holds a Master’s degree in Counseling and Personnel Services from the University of Maryland, College Park, and a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science and Environmental Analysis & Design from UC Irvine.

(510) 664-4423 | cchowdhry@berkeley.edu

Sam Goldman is an administrative officer at the Blum Center, where he oversees much of the center’s communications, including website stories, social media, and a couple newsletters. He is also class scheduler for the center’s development engineering programs, for which he also assists with communications; assists top center faculty with their scheduling; and oversees the center’s branded merchandise. Sam spent several years as a professional journalist before arriving at the Blum Center in 2021 and has a BA in geography from UC Santa Barbara and a master of journalism from Berkeley. When not officiating administration, is off somewhere reading, writing, running, or rooting on his favorite sports teams.

samuelgoldman@berkeley.edu

Brittney Byrd is the Marketing Specialist for the MDevEng program and the Big Ideas Contest. She joins the Blum Center with more than six years of education enrollment management experience. Britt specializes in content strategy, social media marketing, video production, photography, print design, public relations, project and vendor management and event support. She obtained her BA in Journalism at Baylor University, completed her minor in History at the University of Maastricht and earned an MA in Strategic Communication from Texas Tech University. Outside of the Blum Center, Britt is a certified Pilates coach, and you can catch her at a Cal football game! Go Bears!

Maryanne McCormick is the Executive Director of the Blum Center. She leads a team of professional staff bringing together academics, scientists, entrepreneurs, and business leaders to make a positive social impact. The Center facilitates interdisciplinary research and education, and equips the next generation of problem-solvers with the skills they need to make a difference. She has a JD and an MBA, and is a member of the California Bar.

mmccormick@berkeley.edu

Phillip Denny serves as the Senior Program Director of the Blum Center for Developing Economies, a position he assumed shortly after the Center was established in March 2006. He manages the Big Ideas Contest–one of the oldest and most respected student innovation competitions in California. In this capacity, he has encouraged and supported approximately 2,500 interdisciplinary teams to develop creative solutions to today’s most pressing social challenges. Under Phillip’s direction, the Big Ideas Contest has helped secure millions of dollars in seed funding for student start-ups, expanded the contest to 18 campuses, and recruited over 1,500 industry, government and non-profit experts to judge ideas and mentor participants. He has also been integral in developing key partnerships across academia, private sector organizations, and entrepreneurship networks to strengthen social innovation initiatives on campus. As recognition for his leadership of Big Ideas, he received UC Berkeley’s Chancellor’s Outstanding Staff Award in 2015. Prior to joining the Center, Denny held leadership roles in multiple successful grass-roots and political campaigns, specializing in research and communications strategies for both candidates and organizations.

(510) 666-9120 | pdenny@berkeley.edu