Greg & daughter Maya	Photo: Leticia Cowan

Greg Bernal-Mendoza Smestad is an eighth generation descendant of several members of the 1775-1776 Anza expedition. Like many descendants of the expedition (Californios), he also has several American Indian ancestors. Like many Americans, his ancestry also reflects a mixture of immigrants from many lands. A chemist and materials scientist by training, his vocation involves research in solar energy. He has taught both science and policy classes related to these fields, has written a book on the “Optoelectronics of Solar Cells,” and has created educational products to teach basic science. While these topics are far from those of Early California History, he has never forgotten what his maternal grandmother said about the importance of the Anza expeditions and the role they played in his ancestors’ lives. Through Challenge Cost Share Program funds from the U.S. Department of the Interior National Park Service, he developed the Anza Trail Guide and CD to inspire the stewardship of this land and the preservation of our cultural heritage.

Download a personal history of California in pdf format (892 Kb) in the University of Florida's Latin American and Latino Studies Reader. Go to the University of Florida's Center for Latin American Studies website to learn more about Latin American and Latino Studies. This opens in a new window, so please close that window when finished.