Biography

Ikuko “Coco” Nakano, a Los Angeles native with a UCLA B.S. in Civil Engineering (with a focus in Hydrology & Environmental Engineering) and Certificate in Food Studies, serves as Media Assistant for the Semel HCI Center. Her work on the development of the Humans of UCLA Instagram project captures personal stories across campus through engaging Instagram content.

Professionally, Coco is the Agricultural Environment Systems Specialist at the Ventura County Resource Conservation District, where she manages climate and soil resilience grants. Her background also includes operational management of a farmers’ market collective and hands-on experience at a regenerative farm in Southern Vermont.

This diverse experience in nonprofit management, engineering, and sustainable agriculture fuels her passion for creating scalable opportunities that foster agricultural resilience and robust local economies. Outside work, Coco enjoys bread baking, exploring trails, and finding second-hand treasures.