Community Member Milestones
- Welcome to Caltech:
Sharon W. Tran
Sharon joined Caltech on July 14 as the campus communications specialist in the Office of Communications and External Relations (OCER). In this role, she will support the development and deployment of the Institute’s internal communication strategy and help shape coverage of campus life. Previously, Sharon served as a career coach and communications coordinator at Stanford University.
- Welcome to Caltech:
Adriana Popescu
Adriana joined Caltech on July 1 as University Librarian. She previously served as Dean of Library Services at California Polytechnic University, San Luis Obispo, and has held leadership positions at the University of Notre Dame and Princeton University, where she was Head of the Engineering Library and the Furth Plasma Physics Library.
- Welcome to Caltech
Laura Andrade
Laura joined Caltech on June 16 as a new program manager in the Student–Faculty Programs Office. She will be working on programs that support first-year undergraduates and graduate students as they transition into the research setting.
- Marking a new chapter:
Julia Ehlert Nair
After two and a half years as Campus Communications Specialist in the Office of Communications and External Relations (OCER), Julia is departing Caltech on June 20, 2025, to begin her PhD in Communication at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore. In addition to developing and supporting Ion Caltech Today, Julia covered Caltech news; wrote for Caltech magazine, and the Caltech Science Exchange; led Caltech's Communicators Council; and managed various special projects for the Institute.
- Welcome to Caltech:
Tom Greene
Tom joined Caltech on May 27 as the executive director of IPAC. An astrophysicist, former director of the NASA Ames Center for Exoplanet Studies, and former chief of the NASA Ames Astrophysics Branch, Tom brings years of experience as a scientist and leader. He has also led numerous studies of protostars and exoplanets and has served as co-investigator for two instruments on the James Webb Space Telescope: NIRCam and MIRI.
- Welcome (back) to Caltech:
Matthew Berbée
Matt began as assistant vice president for facilities operations and services on May 12. In this role, he provides strategic leadership and oversight for the maintenance, repair, and operation of the Institute’s campus and facilities. Previously the vice president of facilities operations, engineering and sustainability at NBCUniversal, Matt also served in various roles at Caltech from 2002 to 2018, including as director of maintenance and energy services on campus and as energy manager at NASA’s JPL, which is managed by Caltech.