Editorial Office

California magazine
Cal Alumni Association
1 Alumni House
Berkeley, CA 94720-7520

californiamag.org
californiamag@alumni.berkeley.edu

Phone: 510.900.8247
Fax: 510.642.6100
Toll-free: 888.CAL.ALUM (888.225.2586)

Editorial Staff

Editor-in-Chief
Pat Joseph

A former syndicated newspaper columnist for Universal Press Syndicate and Ted Scripps Fellow in Environmental Reporting, Pat’s writing has appeared in The Atlantic, Scientific American, Smithsonian and the Virginia Quarterly Review.

Managing Editor
Esther Oh

After a stint in startup-land, Esther escaped into editorial. Previously, she worked at Communication Arts, where she discovered how the world intersects with design. She’s now discovering the world of UC Berkeley.

Features Editor
Coby McDonald

Coby is a Berkeley native. And a Berkeley graduate. He’s Berkeley in the streets and in the sheets (that’s slang for newspaper pages for you youngsters). A writer, editor, and award-winning podcast producer, he’s most interested in the stories that bring this University and city—and the characters who populate both—to life.

Senior Editor
Nathalia Alcantara

Nathalia first joined California as a remote intern while studying journalism in New York City. She decided Berkeley wasn’t a place she wanted to admire from afar, so she packed her bags and joined the team full-time.

Associate Editor
Thomas Sawano

Thomas caught the writing bug in the wacky town of Santa Cruz, CA. Though he’s made various attempts to shake it, through work in news photography and documentary film, he’s thrilled to be writing every day about his grad school alma mater at California.

Design Director
Michiko Toki

A creative director and graphic designer for more than 20 years, Michi designs books and publications for numerous publishers, museums and galleries.

Awards and Recognitions

• 2021 Best American Essays notable selection
• 2020 CASE Circle of Excellence Grand Gold for Best General Interest College or University Publication, (circulation 3X or greater)
• 2018 Best American Science and Nature Writing selection
• 2015 CASE Circle of Excellence Silver Award, Best General Interest College or University Publication, (circulation 4X or greater)
• 2014 American Illustration 33
• 2013 CASE Circle of Excellence Gold Awards (two), Best Articles of the Year
• 2012 CASE Circle of Excellence Gold Award, Best General Interest College or University Publication (circulation 4x or greater)
• 2012 Best American Science and Nature Writing selection
• 2009 Best American Science and Nature Writing selection
• 2009 Best Special Interest Magazine, Western Publishing Association
• 2008 Folio Gold Eddie Best Association Magazine
• 2007 Best American Essays selection