“The sea, once it casts its spell, holds one in its net forever,” wrote Jacques Cousteau. For UCLA’s environmental compliance officer Ivy Nunez, that spell was cast in a tide pool when she was just 12 years old.
Growing up just 30 miles from the Pacific Ocean, Ivy Nunez vividly remembers the moment her lifelong connection to the sea began. It was during a seventh-grade field trip, exploring tide pools along the Southern California coast. As she carefully stepped across the rocks, she was mesmerized by the sea anemones, snails, sea urchins, starfish and crabs thriving in the shallow pools.
“I started wondering how the tides worked, what these animals needed to survive and how something as small as a snail could play a role in the ocean’s ecosystem,” said Nunez, who joined UCLA Environment, Health and Safety in her new role just a year ago. “It made me start thinking about how connected everything is — and now, years later, that’s what drives the work I do at UCLA.”
Nunez brings a deep commitment to environmental stewardship to her role, along with a degree in hydrological science with an emphasis in policy from UC Santa Barbara and nearly a decade of experience working in various environmental compliance roles within the manufacturing sector.
“My job is to make sure UCLA follows all environmental regulations. I’m the first point of contact for inspectors who come to campus, and I respond to community concerns. It’s a big responsibility, especially with so many people coming in and out of campus, and we must be vigilant and proactive.”
Her primary areas of focus include stormwater and wastewater management, hazardous materials and waste compliance, air quality support and underground tank inspections.
Nunez, who is currently developing a new stormwater management plan to improve existing practices, is passionate about helping others understand how campus activities affect the ocean. She often reminds people that storm drains eventually lead to the sea — meaning that anything washed off the streets and swept into storm drains during rainstorms, including trash, chemicals and oil, ends up in our waterways.
“That matters to those tide pools, to the wildlife and to the health of our beaches,” she said. Under the Clean Water Act, UCLA is required to ensure that stormwater passing through campus is relatively clean. “Our goal is to reduce pollutants and eliminate them wherever possible,” she said. “There are a lot of ways we can do that.”
Nunez encourages the campus community to support stormwater protection through everyday actions such as properly disposing of trash and recycling, using eco-friendly shopping bags, eliminating reliance on disposable utensils and straws and reducing motorized vehicle emissions. These actions not only support her work but also align with UCLA’s Zero Waste, Single-Use Plastics Policy and sustainable transportation initiatives.
Additionally, operational policies in Facilities Management, and Housing and Hospitality, help UCLA conserve its stored water. For example, more than 90% of campus grounds are managed without chemical pesticides, which has earned UCLA the distinction of being the first California campus to receive Green Grounds Certification. Furthermore, Nunez works closely with colleagues in Facilities Management and Housing to reduce sewage overflows, diesel and oil tank leaks and debris buildup in high-traffic areas, as these can contaminate stormwater systems.
During Stormwater Awareness Week, held September 22–26, Nunez hosted a tabling event on the Hill, UCLA’s undergraduate residential community that houses more than 15,000 students. All UCLA students, faculty, and staff were invited to learn more about stormwater protection and participate in a quiz for a chance to win a prize, she said.
“What excites me the most is seeing people get excited about this information because it connects with their lives,” she said. “Everyone’s been to the beach. Everyone’s seen areas that are dirty versus clean. It’s a space where everyone can see the importance of environmental protection — and care about it.”
Nunez said she loves working at UCLA because of its strong environmental research and its role in educating people about critical environmental issues.
“Being part of the potential growth of environmental protection is amazing. The more people talk about it, the more aware they become — and that awareness is where real change begins.”
