2025-2026 Student Research Scholars

The Grimm Family Center for Agricultural Business at California State University, Bakersfield is excited to host our annual Student Research Symposium in the Dezember Reading Room of the Walter W. Stiern Library. The Student Research Symposium will provide students the opportunity to present their current research relating to the topic of agriculture. The Grimm Family Center for Agricultural Business selected the students based on applications and recommendations from CSUB faculty. This year’s cohort included the following students: Anhar Alomaisi, Atlas Tillery, Cecelia Holguin, Eric Perez, Malachi Hogg-Madden, and Thi Diem Quyen Ngo. Please join us on April 10, 2026 to cheer on our Student Researcher Scholars!

Anhar Alomaisi

Anhar Alomaisi is an undergraduate student at California State University, Bakersfield, scheduled to earn her B.A. in History in Spring 2026. She has been researching the impact of Yemeni migrants on the history of the San Joaquin Valley. Through this research, she has had the chance to interview Yemeni agricultural workers who were active during the 1960s-1980s. Utilizing the Historical Research Center has given her access to the immigration and naturalization records of many Yemenis who impacted the agricultural industry of Kern County through their activism and labor. Her interest in this topic arose upon finding out about Nagi Daifullah, a Yemeni farm-worker and member of the United Farm Workers who was killed by a police officer while picketing. Anhar hopes to pursue graduate studies in history, focusing on the international migration of Yemenis and their impacts on global history.

Atlas Tillery

Atlas Tillery is a graduate student studying History at California State University, Bakersfield. Tillery began his college career as a STEM major, earning a degree in Food Science and Technology before starting his journey towards becoming a historian. Tillery background in food science, as well as his love for a good meal, has fueled his interest in the history of food and its use as a holistic approach to healthcare. Tillery's current research focuses on this history of food as a treatment for mental health. Tillery looks forward to using the GFCAB research scholarship to continue his research at the Huntington Library.

Cecelia Holguin

Cecelia Holguin is a graduate research student in the Master of Science in Biology program at California State University Bakersfield. As a first-generation college graduate, her initial passion for science took root in microbiology. As she progressed through her coursework and research experiences, her core interests have now expanded to include host-pathogen interactions and molecular genetic signaling pathways like gene regulation and host immune response mechanisms. Currently, Cecelia is pursuing a thesis investigating pathogenicity, enzyme delivery, and fungicide resistance in a potentially novel species of Oomycete that could form a considerable threat to crop protection. Cecelia also volunteers at the Public Health Lab in Bakersfield, as well as the biology stockroom at CSUB where she supports laboratory work while gaining hands-on experience with microbial/fungal materials and lab procedures. Once she has successfully defended her thesis, her goal is to pursue a PhD degree in microbial pathogenesis and molecular/cellular microbiology.

Eric Perez

Eric Perez is a decorated combat veteran with a new mission to give back to the community through selfless nonprofit service and higher education. However, the path taken to get where he is today was not always linear. Perez was raised in Richgrove, California, a small agricultural community that helped shape his values of respect, service, discipline, and commitment to others. Perez was part of the first graduating class of César Chávez High School in Delano, California, where he met his future wife on a school bus at the age of fourteen. Perez earned his GED at sixteen, and with his mother’s consent, enlisted in the United States Army at the age of seventeen. Perez married his high school sweetheart one year into his first enlistment and went on to serve seven years as a dog face soldier in the 3rd Infantry Division. During Perez's military service, he deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan in support of operations Iraqi Freedom, New Dawn, and Enduring Freedom. Following his first deployment, he became a proud father to one son, an experience that profoundly influenced his personal and professional direction. Several years after completing his service, he made the decision to pursue higher education to set a strong example for his son. Perez is currently a full-time student pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a concentration in Human Resource Management, with an academic focus on organizational behavior. He also serves full-time as the Operations Director for the Wounded Heroes Fund, a local nonprofit serving veterans of Kern County, where he applied his professional training and lived experience to support veterans in their transition from military to civilian life.

Malachi Hogg-Madden

Malachi Hogg-Madden is a sophomore at California State University, Bakersfield, where he is
pursuing a degree in Agricultural Business and hopes to one day become a farmer. Driven by a
curiosity about the local economy and its agricultural roots, Malachi is currently conducting a
research project on the Kern County potato industry. His work explores the history, production
practices, and economic impact of potato farming in the region. Through his research, Malachi
aims to highlight the significance of agriculture in Kern County and contribute to a broader
understanding of how local industries shape community identity and growth.

Thi Diem Quyen Ngo

Thi Diem Quyen Ngo is an international student from Vietnam. She is currently a senior majoring in Human Resource Management at California State University, Bakersfield. She has had a chance to study and live in Bakersfield, specifically in Kern County, which allows her to witness how the environment, especially air quality, in this area significantly impacts our community's health and the workforce in local agricultural and food processing industries. She is eager to participate in the GFCAB Student Research Scholars program and honored to work with Dr. Sunjin Pak on the project “From Pollution to Action.” This research explores how daily air quality changes affect employees' turnover intentions and environmental behaviors. This topic aligns perfectly with her HR career goals and desire to address real-world workplace issues. Through this project, she hopes to develop her research skills while contributing meaningful insights to support Kern County's agricultural workforce.