UCRAB Board

Elise Woods is President & Treasurer of UCRAB, the UC Berkeley CUCRA representative, UC Retirees Travel trip escort, and a UC Davis alumna. Retired in 2018, she worked on three campuses, UC Santa Barbara, UC Office of the President, and UC Berkeley, where she retired as the Chief Administrative Officer of the UCB Libraries. Elise’s 36-year career within the UC system covered a broad range of experience in business administration, strategic planning, training, coaching and mentoring with a strong emphasis on operational efficiency and continuous improvement. Elise earned her MS in Organizational Psychology from Saint Mary’s College of California and her BS from UC Davis in Human Development. During her career, she earned numerous certificates ranging from Excellence in Management (2) to Executive Coaching and awards such as distinguished service, achievement and the Chancellor’s Outstanding Staff award. Elise loves to run, travel, and spend time with family and friends.

Marty Takimoto, class of ’79, is the current UCRAB Vice President. His 34-year career at Cal was spent entirely in student affairs and included stints in admissions, new student services, student activities, student housing, and student affairs communications. In retirement, he spends much of his time riding motorcycles (including trips to Mexico, Baja California, and Alaska and 47 other States) and in community service. In between, he follows Cal Football, SF Giants, and the Grateful Dead diligently.

Patti Owen is currently Secretary of UCRAB, after serving 4 years as its President. She is also Secretary of CUCRA and has served as Chair of the UCB Retirement Center Advisory Board. She is a 1973 graduate of UC Santa Barbara. She began her UC career at Berkeley in 1975, retiring in 2009 as Assistant Vice Provost for Academic Personnel. In retirement, she spends her time traveling, quilting/sewing, and taking care of her health.

Kurt Libby serves as Director At-Large for UCRAB. Kurt Libby graduated from the University of Minnesota. He has a BA in English and an MS in Management,. Upon graduation, he spent 30 years as an officer in the U.S. Navy. A highlight of his career was a visit by President Clinton while Kurt was serving as Commanding Officer of the Naval Supply Center Oakland. Following the Navy, he spent 5 years as a consultant before coming to UC. Berkeley in 1999. Kurt is a member of the Lake Merritt Breakfast Club, a member of the Board of Directors for Pacific Coast Community Services, on the Board of Directors for the Navy Supply Corps National Foundation, and a Trustee for the USS HORNET Museum.

Marian Gade is a UCRAB Director-at-Large. Marian has made service to UC retirees at Berkeley and the University statewide a major center of her life for 30 years; President & Secretary of UCRAB, a representative on the Retirement Center Advisory Board as well as 5 years as Chair of CUCRA, and an honorary member. For 35 years, Marian was a Research Associate with UC President Emeritus Clark Kerr, assisting with his two-volume set of memoirs of his years as Berkeley Chancellor and UC President, the last two years, Marian was Deputy Director of UC Berkeley’s Center for Studies in Higher Education. Marian is active with the San Francisco Folk Music Club, an 80+ year Girl Scout, former President of the SF Bay Area Council, a former whitewater kayaker and kayaking trainer and a ham radio operator involved in West Contra Costa County emergency preparedness efforts.

Alma Valencia Gross is a UCRAB Director-at-Large. She retired in 2017. Her 42 years at UCB began at central HR, shifting to special projects for the Chancellor’s Office. The bulk of her career was at the Office of Environment, Health & Safety. She held analytical, management, and director level positions and received numerous campus distinguished service and management excellence awards. Her degree is from UCB in Environmental Studies. She enjoys world travel, reading mysteries, and dabbles in vegetable gardening. She and her husband Ron, another UCB retiree and Cal graduate, met as college students.