Keiko grew up in the passenger seat of her dad’s “big rig,” traversing the levee roads of the Sacramento River and the Delta. On these long hauls, she would gaze out the window and watch the river flow by for hours. Her exposure to California’s water system began at a young age, and from there her passion for protecting its natural resources blossomed. Keiko is excited to get back to her natal region and to work to protect California rivers.
Keiko thoughtfully curated her skills throughout her career to prepare her for this role. She earned her B.Sc. in Wildlife, Fish, and Conservation from UC Davis in 2016. She then worked in fisheries biology for several years studying Central Valley Chinook salmon and floodplain rearing. With a drive to learn more, she returned to graduate school and earned an M.S. in Environmental Policy and Management.
In her first job after graduate school, Keiko led advocacy campaigns in the Yuba watershed to protect salmon, prevent new dams, and to encourage environmentally friendly cannabis cultivation. She also tracked and engaged in relevant policy issues at the local, state, and national level.
In her free time, Keiko enjoys travelling, cooking, listening to music, creating art in many forms, and bonding with her three tiny dogs.