Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Council Members

Deborah Morillo
Indigenous Cultural Knowledge, Primary

hatʸu yakʔistʸonoʔistʸono wasaqsiʔsaqsiʔ
mitɨ Deborah Morillo yakʔiłsimałsimaʔistʸonoʔistʸono yakʔielewexe tsɨtqawɨ tsɨtqala tsɨtkawayu
yakʔitʸu yaktitʸutitʸu

Board member and Co-Chair of Language of the yaktitʸutitʸu yaktiłhini Northern Chumash Tribe of San Luis Obispo County and Region.

tstʸu yaktʸipɨ yaktšašina

Nakia Zavalla
Indigenous Cultural Knowledge, Primary

Nakia is the Tribal Historic Preservation Officer for Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians (SYBCI).

Leah Mata Fragua
Indigenous Cultural Knowledge, Alternate

Leah Mata Fragua is a member of the yak tityu tityu yak tiłhini Northern Chumash Tribe and serves on the Tribe's Ocean Committee. She is an artist, educator, and cultural practitioner whose work centers California Indian cultural knowledge, kincentric stewardship, and community governance. Leah brings extensive experience in advocacy and education, engaging in intertribal and governmental partnerships to advance marine conservation, environmental justice, and the protection of coastal homelands.

Regina Gradias
Indigenous Cultural Knowledge, Alternate

Regina is a Barbareño Band of Chumash Indians council member with 15+ years of experience working with both Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities, including building Indigenous programming in higher education and fostering partnerships between local community colleges and K-12 Indian education programs. She is also the Tribal Programs Manager for a health equity nonprofit serving tribal communities and is involved in Indigenous language revitalization as the Community Engagement and Outreach Coordinator for the Advocates of Indigenous California Language Survival.

Kara Woodruff
Public-at-Large, San Luis Obispo, Primary

Member of the Diablo Canyon Decommissioning Engagement Panel and the Diablo Lands Conservation Planning Work Group, District Director and Senior Policy Advisor to Senator Laird (SD 17), and a 30+ year resident of San Luis Obispo, with a dedication to marine, coastal, and land conservation, as well as strong community engagement and sustainable public access.

Margaret "PJ" Webb
Public-at-Large, San Luis Obispo, Alternate

Involved in CHNMS nomination and designation process working with the Northern Chumash Tribal Council. 20 years of experience as Public-at-Large seat on MBNMS Advisory Council and served as Secretary, Vice Chair, and Chair during that time. Participated on multiple working groups and subcommittees.

Jason Dominguez
Public-at-Large, Santa Barbara, Primary

Former Santa Barbara Councilmember and Deputy County Counsel with extensive experience in coastal policy, environmental governance, and community engagement. Former member of the City of Santa Barbara Sea-Level Rise Adaptation Plan Subcommittee and director on nonprofit boards addressing sustainability, equity, and public access. Committed to advancing Indigenous Collaborative Co-Stewardship and participating in working groups and subcommittees that enhance marine and cultural resources.

Nathan Irwin
Public-at-Large, Santa Barbara, Alternate

Policy Associate for Santa Barbara Channelkeeper, has experience collaborating with Indigenous communities and organizations, environmental organizations, and researches. He has a strong desire to support the strengthening of relationships with Indigenous communities, including advocating for co-production of knowledge and co-development of management actions.

Breckin Tate Morillo
Conservation, Primary

hatʸu tspu wa kɨnitʸaninʔi qiqsmu. mitʸa'imɨyi' wa mitɨ Breckin Tate Morillo. mitukɨłhɨ elewexe tsɨtqawɨ tsɨtqala tsɨtkawayu wa tshamiʔhamiʔ yatspasini.

Breckin Tate Morillo is a biological researcher, naturalist, and linguistic apprentice from the yaktitʸutitʸu yaktiłhini Northern Chumash Tribe. He studied Molecular Environmental Biology at UC Berkeley and now conducts his research on invasive species molecular ecology in the Tsutsui Lab. His research focuses on threats to California Indian foodways utilizing eDNA barcoding techniques. Additionally, Breckin works for National Breath of Life and is currently completing his tribe's digital language archive as the lead transcriptionist. He aims to accurately represent the conservation and research needs of coastal California Indian communities by prioritizing traditional kinship protocols and his family's linguistic worldview. His intention is to advocate for Indigenous knowledge systems in partnership with western scientific institutions to guide conservation that reinforces the sanctuary's commitment to holistic and sustainable management.

Dan Robinette
Conservation, Alternate

Dan Robinette is the Coastal Program Leader for Point Blue Conservation Science based in Petaluma, CA. He founded Point Blue's Coastal Program at Vandenberg Air Force Base in 1999 and has since worked with his team to expand the program throughout the state, including many sites within the CHNMS. Dan is enthusiastic about supporting co-development of knowledge to protect and manage the natural, cultural, and historic resources within the CHNMS and to promote community resilience throughout the area.

Maria Elena Lopez
Education, Primary

Mia has served the Chumash community for 30+ years as a culture bearer, Tribal representative and cultural educator, former Tribal Chair, and former board member of the Chumash Maritime Association. Mia aims to cultivate community educators and build relationships with other organizations, and governments based on inclusive dialogue, openness, and collaboration.

Emily Bockmon
Education, Alternate

Emily is the Associate Director of The Center for Coastal Marine Science and a professor at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. She is also an Executive Committee member of the Morro Bay National Estuary Program. Emily looks forward to supporting implementation, effectiveness, and longevity of CHNMS programs, and to develop pathways to link students to the environment, community, and conservation efforts

Christopher Free
Research, Primary

Christopher Free is an Associate Researcher at UC Santa Barbara and studies ocean fisheries and marine conservation. He also serves as a member of the Pacific Fisheries Management Council (PFMC) Scientific and Statistical Committee, the NOAA Pacific Scientific Review Group, and short-term advisory bodies to the California Ocean Protection Council 30x30 and Ocean Report Card programs. Chris is eager to listen and learn from his fellow council members and to and support a collaborative co-stewardship of the sanctuary.

Dawn Murray
Research, Alternate

Dawn A. Murray is a marine scientist examining the dynamics of marine ecosystems. She is a Professor at Antioch University and a Lecturer at UC Santa Barbara in the Environmental Studies Departments. Dawn is passionate about exploring and co-creating generative ideas that support opportunities for Indigenous co-management.

Jennifer Harrison
Tourism and Recreation, Primary

Jennifer Harrison is the Vice President of Marketing and Communications for the Santa Maria Valley Chamber and Visitors Bureau. A mission-driven professional, she is passionate about regional growth, community vitality, and conservation. With expertise in strategic storytelling, digital campaigns, and public-private partnerships, Jennifer has led initiatives that elevate the Central Coast's identity while promoting sustainable tourism and community engagement.

Matt Jaffe
Tourism and Recreation, Alternate

Matt Jaffe is an author and journalist who writes about the environment and cultures of California, the Southwest, Mexico, and Hawaii.

Born and raised in Chicago, Matt earned a Master of Journalism degree from the University of California at Berkeley. He gained reporting experience at wire service and daily newspaper jobs in San Francisco and Lompoc before joining the staff at Sunset magazine, where he worked for 20 years as a senior travel writer.

Matt has written for such magazines as Los Angeles, Sierra, Alta, Arizona Highways, and Westways. He contributes articles to Visit California, the state tourism agency, and serves as lead writer for the Visit Native California website, which spotlights Indigenous travel opportunities and tribal stories around California.

Matt wrote an outdoors column for the Los Angeles Daily News and also book reviews, travel articles, and features for the San Francisco Chronicle. His books include the acclaimed natural and cultural history The Santa Monica Mountains: Range on the Edge and Oaxaca: The Spirit of Mexico.

The government of Mexico honored Matt with a Pluma de Plata award in the environmental tourism category for an article on the Sea of Cortez. He has earned three Lowell Thomas Awards from the Society of American Travel Writers Foundation, and the International Regional Magazine Association twice named him Magazine Writer of the Year.

Matt was also a national finalist for the M.F.K. Fisher Distinguished Writing Award from the James Beard Foundation. In 2017, he was part of a delegation of international journalists selected by the Republic of China to travel to Taiwan and meet with government officials, media members, and cultural notables. 

Jacqueline Moore
Ports, Harbors, and Maritime Transportation, Primary

Jacqueline Moore is Vice President of the Pacific Merchant Shipping Association in the Long Beach office, representing vessel carriers and marine terminal operators. Her career has spanned both the private and government sectors, including at the Port of Long Beach, BNSF Railway and the California Air Resources Board. Jacqueline earned a Master of Science in Climate Change from University College London in the United Kingdom, with a focus on international policy and a keen interest in the cryosphere. Jacqueline is also the Maritime Commercial Activities seat on the Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Council.

Chris Munson
Ports, Harbors, and Maritime Transportation, Alternate

Chris is the Harbor Director for the City of Morro Bay and previously worked with Port San Luis and Morro Bay as a Planner/Analyst and Facilities Manager. He is also a Certified Marine Mammal Observer. Chris believes in the value of protecting marine, natural, historic, and cultural resources with the need for balance of human uses.

Mark Korte-Nahabedian
Offshore Energy and Telecommunication, Primary

Mark Korte-Nahabedian has worked on the Central Coast as a Geologist, Energy Transition Advisor, and currently an External Relations Advisor supporting Chevron's West Coast Decommissioning Program where he manages community affairs associated with the decommissioning of several offshore oil platforms in the Central Coast and associated onshore facilities, including three within the CHNMS. He believes that oil and gas representation on the SAC creates opportunities for all interested parties to engage with the topic of decommissioning and existing infrastructure in a positive way. 

Dawn Addis
Offshore Energy and Telecommunication, Alternate

Dawn Addis is a life-long coastal resident, representing California's coastal 30th Assembly District, covering coastal San Luis Obispo, Santa Cruz, and Monterey counties. A former Morro Bay City Councilmember, she now chairs the California Legislative Central Coast Caucus, and is the Speaker's appointee to the Ocean Protection Council and the National Council of State Legislatures' Natural Resources, Energy, and Environment Committee. She is also former chair of the Assembly Select Committee on Offshore Wind. Recognized as a California Ocean Champion, Ms. Addis is known for bold leadership on ocean protection, local community choice, and environmental justice.

Lori French
Commercial Fishing, Primary

Lori is the wife of a second generation commercial fisherman. Currently, she serves on the American Fisheries Advisory Council and is an alternate on the Morro Bay Harbor Advisory Board as well as being a member of Central Coast Women for Fisheries, Morro Bay Commercial Fishermen's Organization, Port San Luis Fishermen's Association, Bodega Bay Fishermen's  Association and Pacific Coast Federated Fishermen's Association. She has and is  a strong supporter of the Morro Bay Community and schools with seats on various boards over the years.  She looks forward to being a voice for commercial fishermen.

Mary Nishimoto
Commercial Fishing, Alternate

Mary Nishimoto is the Liaison for the Joint Oil/Fisheries Liaison Office of South/Central California. She also is an affiliate at the University of California Santa Barbara and has over 25 years of regional marine ecology research experience. Mary has built a relationship with the commercial fishing community that is based on open communication.  She views her role on the CHNMS Advisory Council as a bridge for the sanctuary and fishermen to help build an informed community.

Anupa Asokan
Recreational Fishing, Primary

Anupa is the Executive Director of Fish On, a fishing interest organization representing conservation-minded recreational anglers and spearfishers. She has attended council meetings for the Florida Keys, Channel Islands, and Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuaries over the years and engaged in management plan update processes for several sanctuaries. Anupa also regularly attends meetings of the Pacific Fishery Management Council and the California Fish and Game Commission. She hopes to bring a broader constituency of recreational fishers' voices into sanctuary management and visitation, especially the perspectives of more conservation-minded fishers, subsistence fishers, and shore-based fishers, which have not always been represented.

Melissa Tardif
Recreational Fishing, Alternate

Melissa is the owner of Black Pearl Sportfishing, operating out of Morro Bay, and Vice President of the Morro Bay chapter of the Coastal Conservation Association of California (CCA CAL). Melissa is passionate about sharing access to the ocean and protecting and encouraging sustainable use. As a councilmember, she hopes to broaden the community of people who can cultivate relationships with marine resources in a way that engages and encourages the desire to promote and participate in conservation efforts and sustainable use.

Rachel Survilas
Student Leadership, Primary

Rachel is a Master's student at Cal Poly SLO researching the northern elephant seal. She is interested in pursuing a career as a researcher with NOAA and hopes to gain experience with marine and coastal ecosystem management and collaboration with Indigenous governments and organizations. As a Santa Rosa Creek Fellow, Rachel regularly engages students in marine science education and field techniques.

Peyton Rothery
Student Leadership, Alternate

Peyton Rothery is an undergraduate student attending Cal Poly SLO. She is studying political science and regularly engages in beach cleanups, citizen science, and beach explorations through the Cal Poly chapter of the Surfrider Foundation. Peyton is eager to act as a liaison, informing and inspiring her peers regarding issues related to CHNMS.