Meet the 2023-2024 TGIF Committee
The TGIF Committee is the decision-making body of The Green Initiative Fund. It chooses which projects receive funding, approves changes to awards, and guides the general direction of TGIF.
Voting Members
Anya Desai | Chair
Anya Desai (she/her/hers) is a 4th-year Environmental Science major concentrating in Environmental Systems & Society. She is passionate about environmental justice and enjoys learning about the intersections between the environment, disability, gender, and race. Outside of TGIF, Anya is a coordinator for the Environmentalists of Color Collective, the External Assistant Commissioner in FAC, and a member of the Disabled Student Union. In her free time, she loves chasing sunsets, reading, and baking!
Avery Ngo | Vice Chair
Avery Ngo (she/her/hers) is a 2nd-year Political Science major minoring in Environmental Systems & Society. Find her trail running and biking, brewing and cupping different types of espresso beans, and spending time with her three sisters and dog, Buster.
Avantika Mohan | Outreach Chair
Avantika (Av) Mohan (she/her/hers) is a 2nd-year Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics major. She’s interested in the intersection between sustainability and healthcare. She’s also an Avatar The Last Airbender fan, loves Indian food, and loves watching stand-up comedy.
Nilaya Kanuri | Admin Chair
Nilaya Kanuri (she/her/hers) is a 3rd-year student majoring in Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology and minoring in Public Affairs. She’s interested in the intersections between accessibility, sustainability, and healthcare, and she hopes to work in the medical field in the future. Outside of TGIF, she is the USAC Facilities Commissioner, a Resident Assistant on the Hill, and a Pedagogy Head Learning Assistant! In her free time, Nilaya enjoys reading poetry, exploring LA, and looking at the moon.
unfilled undergraduate student committee member seat
apply here to be on the 2023-2024 TGIF committee!
Tamar Christensen | Faculty Committee Member
As a Continuing Lecturer in Writing Programs, Tamar uses the platform of rhetorical analysis as an access point for students to both understand and act on our climate crisis. In her pedagogy, campus involvement, community engagement, and lifestyle, Tamar’s focus on the intersection of access and ability empowers others to take tangible climate action that will help manifest the kind of equitable climate future we want to see. In her spare time, Tamar enjoys living in LA without a car, regenerative gardening, spending time with her cats and backyard chickens, traveling slowly, and eating spicy vegetarian food.
Professional Staff
Jessica Alexander | Grant Coordinator
Jessica Alexander is the Student Government Services Division Manager and TGIF Grant Coordinator at Associated Students UCLA. She oversees the Student Government Services department and works closely with the Undergraduate Student Association Council (USAC) and the Graduate Student Association (GSA) in various capacities, in addition to managing operations and funding for The Green Initiative Fund (TGIF). With over nine years of experience in nonprofit and grant management, she aims to increase awareness of and access to TGIF funding for all students. Jessica holds an MPA in Nonprofit Sector Management from CSUN and a BA in Sociology from UCLA.
Fernando Perez | Interim Grant Coordinator
Fernando is the TGIF committee’s favorite person at UCLA
Tara Ganguly | Support Staff
Tara Ganguly is a third-year double majoring in Environmental Science and French. She serves as a member of the committee's support staff and has been working for TGIF since February 2023. Outside of TGIF, Tara is on the executive board of Model United Nations at UCLA and is involved in Greek Life. She also enjoys baking, making Spotify playlists, and teaching her friends about recycling.
Sustainability Advisors
Nurit Katz | Chief Sustainability Officer | Email
UCLA’s first Chief Sustainability Officer, Nurit Katz is working to foster partnerships among academic, research, and operational departments to facilitate creating a world class living laboratory for sustainability at UCLA. Nurit also serves as an Instructor for UCLA Extension’s Sustainability Certificate Program. For six years Nurit also served as Executive Officer for UCLA Facilities Management.
Bonny Bentzin | Deputy Chief Sustainability Officer | Email
As Deputy Chief Sustainability Officer at UCLA, Bonny is a key member of the leadership team for sustainability at UCLA, helping manage sustainability across the university and working to foster partnerships among academic, research, and operational departments to create a world class living laboratory for sustainability.
