Julie Colbert

Environmental Director

Julie has been working in the Santa Ynez Chumash Environmental Office since June 2008. An enrolled member of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe, Julie was born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area. As an undergraduate, she attended UC Santa Cruz where her research focused on uranium mining in the Black Hills of South Dakota and the associated health and environmental impacts on Lakota communities. After graduating with a B.A. in Environmental Studies, she worked for a consulting company performing groundwater monitoring and sampling where she developed a keen interest in water resources and pollution prevention. While in graduate school, Julie began working with the Tribe’s water quality monitoring and pollution control programs. In 2009, she received her Master’s degree in Environmental Science & Management specializing in Water Resources from the Bren School at UC Santa Barbara. Since then she has led water resource management projects for the Tribe. To contact Julie, email jrandall@santaynezchumash.org.

Diego Cordero

Lead Environmental Technician

Diego Cordero is the Lead Environmental Technician for the Santa Ynez Chumash Environmental Office. He joined the team in 2016, and enjoys working on all SYCEO programs including Zero Waste, native plant propagation, water and air quality monitoring, and collaborating with other departments and community organizations. Diego promotes greater respect and understanding of the importance of the natural world that we depend upon for life, and takes pleasure in sharing what he has learned as much as he appreciates what he is taught by others. He looks forward to seeing you all at events like Chumash Earth Day and Pow Wow again soon! To contact Diego, email dcordero@santaynezchumash.org.

Matthew Cogorno

Environmental Specialist

Matthew joined the Santa Ynez Chumash Environmental Office (SYCEO) as an Environmental Specialist in February 2024. Matthew was born and raised in Sonoma County of the San Francisco Bay Area, where he gained a love for the outdoors through the many trails and access to nature available there. He received his bachelor's degree in society and environment from the University of California, Berkeley in 2016. While there, Matthew learned about climate change, bioethics, as well as rhetoric and the language surrounding environmental issues. He gained understanding of the deep interactions between people and the world they live in, along with the power words carry in this struggle. Matthew served in the AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps for two service terms, and then managed a nonprofit farm in New Mexico dedicated to healing military veterans through farming, recreation, and working outdoors. In 2023, Matthew started working for the Grants Department, finding his home here in Central California. Matthew looks forward to reconnecting with nature, water, and the community through the SYCEO’s events. To contact Matthew, email mcogorno@chumash.gov.