Kristofer Patrón-Soberano creates eye-opening experiences for local government leaders and university students
Kristofer Patrón-Soberano
Program Administrator
Sage Project
Center for Regional Sustainability
San Diego State University
kpatron@sdsu.edu
+1 619-594-0103
Kristofer’s LinkedIn
Favorite Place
The Tijuana-San Diego Border Region
What was your first interaction with a school-community partnership project?
The first time I come into contact with a school-community project was with the “Comuniparques” project, lead by the City of Tijuana and the Sage Project at SDSU. The project brought students from SDSU to Tijuana’s vulnerable communities in order to develop park designs based on the community’s needs. It was amazing to see how eye-opening it was for students to interact with people from different cultures and backgrounds.
How did you first learn about EPIC-N?
I was working for the City of Tijuana, and a contact from the EPA suggested I get in touch with the Sage Project at SDSU.
What are some of the top priorities you are working on this year?
Trying to secure a partner for the coming year.
In what ways are you looking to engage, or work with others, either from within the EPIC-Network, or in general?
Networking to open more possibilities for new partners.
Why do you think the EPIC-Network is important?
Sharing of knowledge and problem solving support.
What is your favorite part of the EPIC-Network?
Camaraderie and networking.
What do you want a community, or university, to know about the EPIC-Network?
EPIC-N programs are great for students’ professional development, and it gives decision makers an easy way to approach communities in a disarming, apolitical, and productive way.
What are you hoping attendees will take with them after attending your presentation?
For my “Report Writing Best Practices and Program Structure” presentation, I hope attendees will leave with diverse ways to establish their report writing process, and having found one that best fits their program’s particular needs.
Bio
Kristofer Patrón-Soberano is the Programs’ manager for SDSU’s Center for Regional Sustainability and program administrator for the Sage Project. He is an economist from the Autonomous University of Sinaloa, Mexico, but turned green by completing his master’s degree in environmental management at El Colegio de la Frontera Norte (El Colef) in Tijuana. His research focused on the economic valuation of natural resources, binational collaboration and US-Mexico governance. After earning his degree, he continued working at El Colef as coordinator of border projects. Kristofer also served as deputy director for Tijuana’s Environmental Protection Agency. There, he developed novel programs such as Replicadores Ambientales (Environmental Replicators) to strengthen local environmental education, and Comuniparques to rehabilitate green public spaces in Tijuana’s most vulnerable areas. Now, as part of the Sage Project, Kristofer hopes to keep contributing to the sustainable development of the region.
