Meet the Team

Climate scientist and Associate Professor in the Department of Meteorology and Climate Science at San José State University. His research interests are focused on understanding the processes responsible for long-term changes in climate through the use of observations and atmospheric models. Eugene coauthored Cool Cuisine: Taking the Bite out of Global Warming, where, together with Bay Area Chef, Laura Stec, they explore the connections between food and global climate change. Eugene teaches various courses in climate change and is involved in projects working to improve methods of education that engage and ultimately stimulate social change.

Director of Television and Film Production at San Jose State University, Radio Television and Film Course coordinator, and a professor in the Department of Television Radio Film and Theatre. Babak has over twenty years of professional experience in the film and television business and has earned numerous award winning shorts, documentaries, and commercials. He has also directed and edited multi-award winning music videos for The Donnas, Mix Master Mike, Townsend, High on Fire, Natalise, Nuthouze and Mark-D with airplay on MTV, MTV Chi, VH1, CMC, and music related websites.

Independent animation director and an instructor of animation at San Jose State University. He has worked on a variety of projects ranging from educational software, animation for television and video, commercial advertising, to independent films. To date, his independent films have screened in over ninety film festivals internationally, including Sundance, Cinequest, Ann Arbor, and Annecy; as well as being broadcast on Atom Films, MTV-2, G4TV, PBS, and ZeD in Canada. His filmography includes 25 Ways to Die (2003), Flames of Passion (2004), Neighborhood Roots (2005), Stoopid Movie (2005), Fumi and the Bad Luck Foot (2005), Cole Needs Women (2006), Aletta Out of Water (2007), Life on a Limb (2008), Ninjas vs. Guilt (2009), and Enrique Wrecks the World (2010), which has been nominated for the 38th Annual Annie Awards, Best Animated Short Category!

Co-director of Spartan Film Studios and a screenwriting instructor in SJSU's Department of Television Radio Film and Theatre. His film credits include: Co-producer / script consultant for the feature film Seizing Me, screenwriter for the feature film Here Lies Lonely (Starring Verne Troyer), Associate Producer / script consultant for the feature film Intentions (featured in more than ten film festivals), and produced several other films that appeared in domestic and international film festivals. He also works professionally as dramaturge and co-authored two children's books. San Jose State University, San José, CA.

Nick Martinez produces film and music videos for SJSU's Department of Television Radio Film and Theatre, where he also serves as General Manager for KSJS, 90.5. He was the producer for the feature film Pizza Wars (Distributed by Brentwood Home Video and Indievisions Films) and the executive producer for the feature film Fox in the Snow (Currently in post production). Nick also produced Mess In the Scene (featured at the 2001Cinequest Film Festival) and three award winning music videos that have been featured on CMC and other music channels. San Jose State University, San José, CA.

Serving as Senior Director, Program Development and External Partnerships, Jeff is responsible for extending and increasing San Jose State University research, grant and collaborative opportunities targeting both private and public sector initiatives. In addition to connecting campus faculty, students and academic programs with private, non-profit and public sector sponsors, he also works with a number of very dynamic University/City/Civic partnerships. These collaborations range from faculty/student community engagement projects (e.g. CommuniverCity) to economic development initiatives, such as Research Foundation's highly successful business incubators focused on sectors ranging from clean/green tech to international company marketing to US.

Professor in the Geology Department and Science Education Program at San Jose State University, Dr. Metzger has served as Co-Director of the Bay Area Earth Science Institute (BAESI), a professional development program for teachers of grades 4-12 funded by the National Science Foundation, San Jose State University, Chevron Corporation, and other community partners. Dr. Metzger teaches Earth Materials, Tectonics, Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology, and Earth Systems and the Environment, an introductory Earth science course for teachers and teachers-to-be. She is past Chair of the Geoscience Education Division of the Geological Society of America, and was the 1994 recipient of the California Science Teacher Association's Distinguished Science Teacher award - College Level. From 1992-1997, her "STRATegy Column for Precollege Science Teachers" appeared in the Journal of Geoscience Education Professor, Metamorphic petrology, geochemistry, earth science education. Her interests also include developing strategies to attract more under-represented students to earth science and activities for teaching earth system science.

Marty designed and produced Footprint Renovations. Marty is an Animation/Illustration students at SJSU. Since he was a kid growing up in Menlo Park, CA, he has always had a fascination with cartoons. Watching classic cartoons by Chuck Jones, Tex Avery, and all of Disney's legends has ingrained a love for the animated medium. Since then, Marty has been inspired by more traditional and experimental directors like Spike Jonze, Martin Scorsese, Brad Bird, and Terry Gilliam. Marty is currently working to become a storyboard artist in the feature animated film industry.

Michael designed and produced Supermarket Showdown.Michael recently got a degree in drawing from San Jose State University, but he has been drawing since a young age. When he wasn't drawing he was usually riding his bike and occasionally he was eating or sleeping. Nowadays, Michael lives quietly meditating on the lessons of the Green Ninja.

Aden designed and produced The Green Prix and For Goodness Rake!, and is in his final semester of San Jose State's Animation / Illustration program, with a focus in story. He grew up in Hayward, CA, and was raised on Super Mario Brothers and The Simpsons, both starting at around age 5 to present day. He started drawing comic strips for his friends in the first or second grade, and continues to do so. His three biggest influences are Matt Groening (Life in Hell, The Simpsons, Futurama,) Stan Sakai (Usagi Yojimbo,) and Jeff Smith (Bone, Rasl.) Aden is working to become a professional storyboard artist, and an independent comic artist.

Michelle designed and produced What's the Bag Deal? and Freight Debate. She is an Animation/Illustration student at SJSU. She began drawing at a young age and consumed any animated media she could get her hands on, carrying her dream of being part of the animation industry through childhood into college. She's also fond of musicals and cultivating her comic book collection. Michelle is currently working to become a professional animator, with an interest in storyboarding.

Jeanie developed the Green Ninja logo, designed and developed the website and works on content development. Jeanie is an Animation/Illustration student at SJSU. Her interests expand across a broad range of the arts and crafts. She loves learning and making things.

Lina is an Environmental Studies student at SJSU. She is interested in the connections between food and their impact on the environment, including global climate change. She has been influenced and inspired by the message of the book Cool Cuisine: Taking the Bite out of Global Warming, written by Chef Laura Stec and Dr. Eugene Cordero. Lina currently works on content and presentation for the website and coordinates outeach events.

Jay Patel is a San Jose State university student, pursuing masters in computer engineering. Jay have been an active student throughout his academic career being a part of various projects, competitions, presentations and as an active learner of different technologies by implementing them on real time atmosphere and analyzing results to improve the present technology as well as seeking different ways to accomplish the task with minimal resources and better efficiency.

Jay helps researching on carbon quiz implementation, facebook apps, website layout and presentation.

Mercedes Rodriguez is a journalism student at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, and is currently a contributing writer for the Green Ninja blog. She aspires to one day become a foreign correspondent. Mercedes is an avid reader and a terrible cook.

Joelle designed and produced Re-user Cruiser. She has been drawing since the age of two, and grew up designing her own characters with written stories to go along with them. She discovered that animation blended her two favorite things together: story telling and characters, so she decided to become a student of the Animation/ Illustration program. She grew up on cartoons and video games and knew she wanted to involved in them as a career. Some of her greatest inspirations are Hayao Miyazaki, Kingdom Hearts, Cirque du Soleil, Disney, different cultures, music, her dreams, and sweets. She is also a dancer and has an obsession with cupcakes. She is currently learning how to rollerblade.

Nilay Shah is a Graduate Student at San Jose State University, pursuing masters in Software Engineering. Nilay brings freshness and enthusiasm to his work. He always shows his enthusiasm to learn new technologies and apply them towards building tools that solve varying kinds of problems. He has a very high level of interest in collecting and comprehending recent literature in the field of Software Engineering. Perseverance, sincerity and thirst for knowledge have always been the hallmark of his personality.

Nilay helps researching on carbon quiz implementation, website designing and development.

Rachana Shah is a Graduate from San Jose State University, having recently graduated with a Masters in Software Engineering. Rachana started of volunteering for the Green Ninja project and later on became an integral part of the team owing to her "never give up" attitude and her philosophy to deliver the best. She has a great deal of interest in learning the newer technologies in the field of software engineering. She also works towards following the Green Ninja mission at her home.

Rachana assists Dr. Eugene Cordero in designing and implementing the ‘Green Ninja Smart Energy Contest’. She is proficient in web development and mobile application development.