KATIA OBRACZKA – DIRECTOR
Katia Obraczka is campus director of CITRIS at the University of California, Santa Cruz, and a professor at UC Santa Cruz’s Jack Baskin School of Engineering. She received her B.S. and M.S. in electrical and computer engineering from the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro. She received her M.S and Ph.D. degrees in computer science from the University of Southern California in 1990 and 1994, respectively.
Research interests: computer networks, distributed systems, internet information systems, operating systems.
MICHAEL MATKIN – EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Michael Matkin is the Assistant Director of CITRIS and the Banatao Institute, UC Santa Cruz. He works with Director, J.J. Garcia-Luna-Aceves, managing and developing programs at the UC Santa Cruz main campus and Silicon Valley extension. Prior to joining CITRIS he served as COO of an award-winning public relations agency in New York City that specialized in technology and healthcare clients.
SAARA KORPELA – ADMINISTRATIVE AND PROGRAM ASSISTANT
Saara Korpela is the administrative and program assistant at CITRIS at UC Santa Cruz. She supports the operational needs of several funding programs and the drone education and research program by coordinating programs and activities, planning events, building community relationships, and assisting with special projects.
Saara has a background in education. Before joining CITRIS at UC Santa Cruz, she developed school programs in nonprofit settings to increase awareness of social and environmental justice and cultural diversity. Outside of work, she enjoys hiking, mountain biking and playing basketball.