SBRA Board

Co-founder of and a driving force behind the birth of SBRA, Ryan rowed for UCSB from 2012 to 2016 in the men’s V8. Ryan, referred to as “Peff” by his teammates, served as the UCSB Rowing team Secretary from 2015-2016. Racing as a Port, Ryan racked up several wins while rowing for UCSB: 2nd in the V8 at ACRAs and champion in the V8 at WIRAs, Cal Cup SDCC and PCRC. Ryan also rowed for a stint with New York Athletic Club (NYAC), where his Senior 8 boat won 1st at Canadian Henley, and for CRI in Boston. One of Ryan’s favorite memories was beating Washington Crew by 0.1 seconds at PCRC and winning “the most coveted tank in rowing”.

Now, Ryan is working as a Software Engineer at Datadog in NYC. When asked about SBRA, here is what he says:

“Starting SBRA with some great rowing friends has been a highlight of 2025. I’m really excited about the opportunities that the Association will give to current rowers and alumni through fundraising and organization of an alumni network.”

1444@santabarbararowing.com

Co-founder of SBRA, Kelly rowed for UCSB from 2016 to 2020 in the V8. A trusted Port, Kelly quickly made a name for herself on the team, obliterating Women’s team speed records on her erg tests and establishing herself as a leader. Kelly served as the UCSB Rowing Team Vice President in the 2018-2019 school year, and as President the following year. Kelly is a champion, carrying the title of San Diego Crew Classic champion, WIRAs champion and 3 x ACRA champion. One of Kelly’s favorite memories while on the team was:

“Getting 5th in the Jessop Whitter Cup at San Diego Crew Classic 2018 where we were the ONLY Club team Women's V8+ to be invited to race against all other D1 teams. We beat the University of San Diego and were beyond STOKED. The next year we raced in the club category and won by a lot of open water, which was fun, but I'll never forget the feeling during our race the year before.”

After UCSB, Kelly went on to row for Stanford while working on her Masters of Science, winning Pac-12 in the 4+ and placing 2nd at the NCAA D1 National Championship. Now, Kelly is a PhD student at UCSB conducting research in the Bren School.

Founding treasurer for SBRA, Jessica (or J-Mo to her friends), rowed for UCSB Rowing from 2011 through 2015 as Stroke seat or 2-seat. During Jessica’s time on the team, she was voted Varsity Women's Captain and, subsequently, awarded the title of “Ms. Cachuma”, a coveted honor given to the most inspirational teammate, during her senior year. Her favorite memory was of the early morning van rides to and from Lake Cachuma for practice.

After UCSB Rowing, Jessica spent 2-years coaching the Masters and Youth Programs at the Nashville Rowing Club. Currently, Jessica is the COO for Krasnibarger Industries.

Serving as SBRA’s Founding Alumni Relations Secretary, Joseph rowed for UCSB from 2013 to 2017 as bow seat and 7 seat. Joe’s legacy reflects the heart of what it means to row for UCSB, starting out as a lightweight rower his novice year to rowing in the V8 his senior year and wining ACRAs. Joe has many more wins, including WIRAs NLWT 4+ champion, Elite Nationals LWT 2- and WIRAs V8 champion. Joe spent the Summer of 2015 rowing for NYAC in their lightweight boats. Joe’s favorite memory during his time with UCSB is, “Beating Virginia and winning silver in the V8+ at ACRA my Junior year”.

When he isn’t focusing on his role as the Alumni liason, Joe works in Data Engineering at AppFolio and races for IVRC. If you are an alumni and want to stay in touch, email Joe below and check out out Alumni and Events page for upcoming events!

1475@santabarbararowingassociation.org

Serving as the Historian for SBRA, Nate rowed for UCSB from 2010 through 2014 in both Stroke and 2-seat. Prior to UCSB, Nate learned to row in high school at Don Bosco Prep. Nate’s achievements while on the team included 2 x WIRA Champion in the JV8+ in 2013 and 2014, and placing 4th at ACRAs in the JV8+ in 2014. Nate’s favorite memory was:

“Seeing the growth of the UCSB Rowing team from Fall 2010 through Spring 2016 - from barely being able to field two varsity 8+'s to competing for men's team points titles at ACRA was an incredible journey.”

After Nate’s time on the team, he coached the UCSB Men’s Novice Team from 2014 to 2016. During his time as a coach for UCSB, Nate helped the N8+ earn an ACRA bronze in 2015 and a WIRA gold in 2016. Nate has since coached with NYAC, Williams College, Columbia University, Trinity College, and USRowing's junior pathways system. Nate currently works as the assistant coach and recruiting coordinator for the Trinity College men's rowing team who recently won the 2025 DIII IRA National Title.

Nate was an English major at UCSB and has a love of story telling. He is thrilled to help compile and build the story of UCSB Rowing as SBRA's first historian.

1323@santabarbararowingassociation.org

Serving as a Founding Board Member for SBRA, Craig rowed for UCSB from 1982 through 1986 in the 7-seat. Unlike a majority of the rowers who go through the UCSB Rowing program, Craig was promoted from the Freshman Crew during his first year and rowed a majority of his career with the Varsity Heavyweight team. Craig’s favorite memory of his time on the team was:

“Being there when UCSB Crew transitioned from “barely scraping by” into a powerhouse upon receiving the Olympic money (resulting in the hiring of Doug Perez and Jan Palchikoff).”

Craig’s primary goal in being on the SBRA Board is to upgrade/strengthen alumni communication and outreach, and to increase networking opportunities for UCSB rowers. This includes creating a network to strengthen alumni presence (and food stock) at the UCSB tents at regattas. In Craig’s own words, “The UCSB tents should be the best and liveliest parties…anywhere in the USA.” Craig works as an Attorney in the San Francisco, Bay Area.

Serving as a Founding Board Member for SBRA, Haley rowed for UCSB from 2013 to 2017 as a proud Bow seat in the N8+ and V8+, and as Stroke seat in the V8+ and V1+ during her senior year. Haley, coming from a background in gymnastics, walked onto UCSB Rowing never having seen a boat or heard of rowing. During Haley’s time on the team, she won several awards, including gold in the WN8+ at ACRAs, gold in the V8+ at SDCC, silver and gold in the V8+ at ACRAs, and gold in the V2+ at SDCC Fall Classic. Haley was awarded ACRA All American all four years she rowed for UCSB. Haley rowed for NYAC during the Summer of 2016 and placed third in the W4- at Canadian Henley. Haley’s favorite memory from rowing at UCSB was:

“That’s a tough one.. I would say there are two. The first was losing in the V8+ to Grand Valley by a bow ball during my sophomore year. Even though we lost, it was an incredible race and the comradery and trust that I felt with the other girls in my boat that year rivaled that of the boat dynamics described in the book, Boys in the Boat. If you’ve ever been in a boat like that, you never forget it. And second, was the privilege of seeing the sun rise over the Cachuma mountains every morning, especially my senior year when I was training in the single due to an intercostal injury. It was pure bliss, and I think of those rows to this day.”

Post UCSB days, Haley has gone on to row for the UCSB Alumni boats at HOCR and SDCC, and currently works as a freelance photographer for Row2k in her spare time. Haley’s day-to-day job is working as a Geologist in Environmental Remediation in the Bay Area.

Serving as a Founding Board Member for SBRA, Andrew rowed for UCSB from 2013 to 2017. Rowing in any seat he was needed, Andrew’s rowing career allotted him a 2 x WIRA Champion and a bronze medal at ACRAs with his crew. Here is what Andrew has to say about his time on the team:

“UCSB crew taught me mastery of my body, the value of discipline, focus, and tenacity, the power of showing up, and how to be a friend and teammate for others. Life, like a well-trained crew, is bigger than any one of us. I’m excited to support UCSB crew so it continues to be the shaping force for others that it was for me and my teammates.”

Andrew’s favorite memory about the team happened after he was on the team when he attended the wedding of a teammate with most of the current rowers present. It showed him an appreciation of how much bigger the shared experience rowing as a Gaucho is.

After his time at UCSB, Andrew rowed with the Masters Crew at South End Rowing Club in San Francisco, CA. Andrew now works as a sustainability consultant, and trains as a marathon swimmer and holds several marathon swimming records.

Serving as a Founding Board Member for SBRA, Bella rowed for UCSB Rowing from 2013 to 2017 in both 6-seat and Stroke seat. Bella raced in the JV8+ until earning her seat in the V8+ her Senior year by smashing her 2k PR, breaking 1:50, taking home the gold at ACRA and making the All-American 1st Team. Bella has a lot of fond memories from her time on the team, but here is one of her favorites:

“Senior year, the Varsity boat raced against some pretty fast DI/II/III teams, including UCSD. We ended up beating them and medaling (I believe Silver), which was already pretty surreal; I was walking around with my medal on my way back to the boats after our race and their head coach at the time, Olympic legend Susan Francia, stopped to congratulate me on a great race. It was such a cool experience to have the opportunity to compete our level, win, and then get a compliment from an Olympic gold medalist to top it all off!”

“I am eternally grateful for the confidence, opportunity to find myself, and lifelong community support that rowing brought to my life. I'm not sure who I'd be without it, but I'm glad I'll never know!”

After her time at UCSB, Bella went on to coach the Novice Women’s team at LGRC. Bella now works as a New Product Launch Program Manager at Apple.

Serving as a Founding Board Member for SBRA, Karina rowed for UCSB from 2004 through 2008 as 7-seat. During her time on the team, Karina walked home with a silver medal in the N4+ from WIRAs, and bronze medals in the V8+ from ACRAs and the V4+ from WIRAs. Karina was also voted an ACRA All American and Academic All American, and was granted the coveted Miss Cachuma Award during her junior and senior years. Her favorite memory during her time on the team was:

“Winning bronze at the inaugural ACRA Championships in Oklahoma City, and beating Grand Valley, who was a huge favorite at the time, all after a delay for a tornado warning!”

After UCSB, Karina didn’t stray very far from Santa Barbara, coaching as the UCSB Novice Women’s Coach from 2008 through 2011. Karina was awarded the 2009 ACRA Western Region Women’s Coach of the Year. Now Karina works as a Physican Assistant.

Serving as a Founding Board Member for SBRA, Michael rowed for UCSB from 2018 to 2021 in the 6-seat. One highlight from his time on the team was winning silver at WIRAs. One of his favorite memories has to do with a longstanding team tradition:

“[My favorite memory was] throwing a 5 course dinner party for the the Varsity Women as part of the annual Novice/Varsity Dinner.”

After rowing for UCSB, Michael stayed on to coach both the UCSB’s Novice Women & Men during the post-COVID academic years (2021 - 2023). Fun fact, not only did he coach both novice squads at the same time, but he also honed his rowing skills by learning to row both sides! After coaching with the team, Michael coached the Channel Islands Rowing Club’s Masters and Scholastic programs. Nowadays, Michael works in Resource Recovery & Waste Management, running waste diversion and recycling programs.

Serving as a Founding Board Member for SBRA, Ciaran rowed for UCSB from 2015 through 2019 as a Stroke seat. During Ciaran’s time on the team, he served as Team President for the 2018-2019 academic year. Ciaran won silver in the V4+ at WIRAs in 2019 and won bronze at the Windermere Cup in 2019. Ciaran has also represented UCSB Rowing at HOCR, twice! Ciaran’s favorite memory while at UCSB was:

“Freshman year spring break training camp! What a wildly fun camaraderie filled week!!”

Since UCSB, Ciaran has continued in the sport of rowing by competing with the UCSB Alumni group, Isla Vista Rowing Club (IVRC) at SDCC, and with the LA Rowing Club at Head of the American. Ciaran has since pivoted his passion for athletics and competition into triathlons after graduation, competing in an Ironman Triathlon in Portugal in 2024 and 4 Ironman 70.3 Triathlons. Ciaran’s day job is working in commercial real estate development.

Serving as a Founding Board Member for SBRA, Bernie rowed for UCSB from 2019 to 2022 as a “proud 3-seat”. One of Bernie’s highlights from his time on the team was becoming a WIRA B4 winner in 2022. Bernie also served as Team Whip for a year during his time on the team.

After his time on the team, Bernie stayed and coached the UCSB Men’s Novice Team from 2022-2023. Bernie’s favorite memory was watching his novice squad go from learning on the UCSB lagoon to competing at ACRAs later that same academic year. Bernie now works on the Security team at Notion and Coaching De La Salle and Carondelet HS Robotics in San Francisco, CA.

Serving as Founding Board Member for SBRA, Bret rowed for UCSB Rowing from 2013 to 2017 as Stroke seat. During his rowing career, Bret established himself as a champion, bring home two gold medals from WIRAs and a gold from ACRAs. Bret’s favorite memory while on the team was:

“The 50th reunion [in 2015], seeing so many generations of Gaucho rowers demonstrating how much the team meant to them.”

Post UCSB Rowing, Bret coached the University of Alabama men’s team while studying law. Nowadays, Bret works as an Attorney in Atlanta, Georgia.

Serving as a Founding Board Member for SBRA, Erin rowed for UCSB from 1988 through 1989, first in the JV8 in the 6-seat and later in the V8+ in the 2-seat.

Erin’s favorite memory while on the team was being on the lake rowing while watching the sunrise in the early mornings. She loved her time on the team, and while the workouts and hours posed a challenge, her teammates and coaches made it all worth it!

Erin joined the board so that she can reconnect with the sport that she loved and contribute to the amazing rowing program at UCSB.

Serving as a Founding Board Member for SBRA, Ruby coxed for UCSB Rowing for 4 years.

Ruby will be assisting SBRA with their fundraising and event coordination efforts.