Alumni Testimonials

She is a first generation Latino student that started CSUB in 2015. Her parents are both Spanish speaking and never finished high school. She grew up in a small town called Shafter, and graduated high school in 2015. Her academic career definitely has been a rough journey but has had the support of her mentors and family to keep going. She is  married now, got married in May of 2021) to an amazing husband and proud to say that she is the first to graduate with her bachelors in her entire family. She is currently interviewing for multiple positions. She has a  job offer from Ross Distribution Center for a Corporate Human Resource Specialist. Her goal is to expand multiple work portfolio and eventually open up her dream cafe

His parents were first generation college graduates from East Bakersfield with his mother being an Alumni of the CSUB MPA program. His family was born and raised here in Bakersfield ‘Bakersfieldians’ with a deep love for the Central Valley. He grew up with a passion for outdoors and spent most of his childhood conquering peaks of mountains, fishing the streams of the wonderful Sierra Nevada’s, and traversing the cryptic desert of Mojave. During his time at CSUB, he has served as the ASI Director of the School of Business & Public Administration, the President of the National Society of Leadership & Success, and the President/Founder of the Business Experience Association. He is a member of two distinguished honors societies, the Helen Hawk Honors Society and Alpha Chi Honor Society. He has obtained two internships through CSUB as an Assistant Loan Officer at Mid State Development and a Tax Intern at Barbich Hooper King Dill Hoffman Accountancy Corporation. He also accelerated his graduation by graduating in only 3 years instead of the typical four. He is a Roadrunner Society and a Student Leadership Hall of Fame Inductee. He will be graduating with a 3.81 GPA at the end of the semester. After graduation, he plans to enter into commercial lending as a Relationship Manager for a regional bank in Kern County. He also plans in returning for his MBA within the next two years, and open an outdoors retail/experience business within the next 7 years.

Elizabeth transferred from BC in the fall of 2021 and started working on campus as a student assistant for Project Rebound. In 2022, she became the Director of Students support for ASI. It was in ASI she found her passion advocating for students, especially those of special populations such as Project Rebound.  A couple weeks ago, she found out she was accepted into the MBA program here at CSUB and will begin in Fall 2023.  She will also continue to advocate for students while working fulltime for Project Rebound.

Her parents have always taught her to work hard and she has done that throughout her life. She set goals to better herself to be provided with better opportunities. Being hispanic and female she has always felt the need to prove her abilities to her employers. She decided to return to school to earn her degree in Human Resources after being faced with discrimination for being pregnant and dismissed from a previous employment. She was young at the time and did not have the knowledge or courage to fight for  what had been done. She then began a career in the public sector where she was introduced to Human Resources. She began to learn to about FMLA. That is what drove her to return to school and it began her journey of almost 10 long years to complete my degree with a concentration in Human Resources in order to prevent anyone else from experiencing what she had in the past. While attending school she was also a full-time employee, mother of two boys, and a wife. It was challenging, but she finally did it! Her goal is to pursue a career as a Human Resource Manager to build the bridge between employers and employees. Everyone deserves to know their rights. 

Her background experience is in the banking industry, as well as working in a city environment. She is currently working in the public sector. After graduation, she plans on furthering her career within the organization she currently works.  She plans to pursue further education by obtaining a master's degree in a related field. 

Darianna's  resilience has brought her to where she is today. As a first generation student, she  has the great honor to say she is becoming a college graduate. Her fathers dream was to go to college. Due to needing to provide for his family, that was never possible. Her father had to walk to his own high school graduation where none of his family was able to attend. He has also taught her that it is up to them to change their future. Her father went from walking to his own graduation, to being the first parent in line to attend his daughters high school graduation. He is the reason she holds her head up high no matter the situation. Her parents have taught her that there is nothing she cannot do. We are the only obstacle we have and nothing is unreachable. She has the honor of making her parents proud. Proud that their daughter will finally be a college graduate in a field they are passionate in. "Gracias mamá y papá". Only you know how hard you worked to get somewhere and until you spread your wings, you never know how far you can fly. After graduation, she will be continuing my education in pursuit of her MBA. 

She is a first generation Mexican-American student who grew up never giving it much thought about what she wanted to do with her life, especially when it came to career aspirations. She overcame many challenges as an adolescent that prevented me from thinking about those things seriously. When she first started her higher educational journey, it was the first time she thought about what she wanted to. Over the course of 8 years pursuing higher education, she changed her majors more times she can count. Bryana struggled to learn what careers she wanted to pursue with her degrees and felt pressured to know what the rest of her working career would look like. Her experience working with the deans' office for the school of BPA and with the city fire department through the Bakersfield Youth Jobs Program fellowship, she encountered many individuals she learned from. They shared their stories about their working history and shared with her it was ok to not know what career path she wanted to take and it was ok to change her mind. Hearing some of their stories about how they changed their minds, moved into different roles and industries, and started off not knowing what they wanted to do lifted a pressure she felt for years. Her experiences with the school of BPA were great and she is glad she had the experience of working with the staff and faculty of that school because she learned valuable information that went beyond the course work she took.  Bryana wants to start her career in municipal government working in roles related to emergency management and public administration. 

Yuridiana is a first-generation student growing up in a farmworker household in Arvin, California. She has learned the value of hard work and dedication from a young age. After moving to Bakersfield and attending Mira Monte High School from Fall 2014 to Spring 2017, she graduated a year early and decided to take a gap year to explore the world and gain some life experience. During that time, she worked in various jobs and traveled to different parts of the world, discovering her passion for making a difference in her community. When she enrolled at CSUB in Fall 2018, she initially was pursuing a degree in biochemistry with the intention of becoming a dentist. However, her world was turned upside down when she lost her only sibling, her 15-year-old brother, in Fall 2019. This devastating loss took a toll on her mental health, but it also led her to reevaluate her priorities and shift her focus to public administration. She realized that she didn't have to become a doctor to make a positive impact on her community; instead, she could use her voice and advocacy skills to create change. Today, as she is a Public Administration major, she is committed on using her education and experiences to make a meaningful difference in the lives of others. Her brother's passing inspired her to live her life to the fullest and make a positive impact on the world, one step at a time. She is determined to honor her brother's memory by dedicating herself to improving the lives of those around her, and she looks forward to pursuing this goal with passion and determination.

After completing her degree in Public Administration, she is eager to pursue a career in the State Capitol or with nonprofits to work towards improving water policy and infrastructure for disadvantaged communities and tribes across California and beyond. She is passionate about ensuring that every individual has access to safe, clean, and sustainable water, and she believe that working within the government will provide her with the resources and platform to make a meaningful impact in this field. To achieve this goal, she will be moving to be closer to the State Capitol and actively seek out opportunities to gain experience in water policy and governance. She is committed to learning as much as she can about the intricacies of water management. She believes that this knowledge will enable her to identify gaps and opportunities for improvement in the current system. Additionally, she plans on applying to Americorps in 2024 to volunteer her time towards making a global impact in sustainable and clean water access for all. Through this program, she hopes to gain valuable experience in implementing projects and programs that promote clean water access in disadvantaged communities across the world. Overall, she is excited about the possibilities that lie ahead and committed to dedicating her skills and expertise towards creating positive change in the field of water policy and governance.

Brandon is  originally from Georgia. He served 5 years Active Duty Air Force​ and has lived in California since 2014. He is currently working as a civilian at Edwards AFB. He will be pursuing an MBA from CSUB.

She is a Mexican-French Canadian Christian woman, who comes from a multicultural background. After graduation, she will continue her educational journey at CSUB for her Masters in Business Administration.

Annabel is the oldest of four siblings. She is a first generation graduate from Mexican parents. She attended CSUB since fall of 2009 with a lot of life hurdles ​and health challenges but she is finally able to graduate. She has been in the banking industry for 12 years in lending. She has run her own business on the weekends with her brother for the last 9 years to pay for tuition.  Annabel's ultimate goal is to obtain a position for the credit union she works for. She had positive orientations when she started in the two companies. She has worked for and its game changer.  She would like to make the same impact to other employees. 

Jacqueline Aguilar graduated from CSUB with her bachelor's in Business Administration in the Fall of 2020. She continued with the MPA program in the Winter of 2021. After much government involvement and civic engagement, she’s pursuing her passion in government and public affairs for one of Central California's top strategic communications firm.  

“Being a first-generation Latina and pursuing higher education, I encountered many barriers while rising to these leadership positions. But, I had to set that fear aside and be the resilient & fearless daughter of immigrants my parents taught me to be in order to work, do for my communities, and be the representation that encompasses the Central Valley. I am proud to be the first in my family to earn a Master's degree and I hope to inspire others with my story and encourage other Latinas to fight for their space in higher education and leadership roles. Faculty from CSUB along with local government leaders played a key role in mentoring and guiding me along the path of career success and I hope to be that voice for other students as well.  My experience in the MPA program has prepared me to take the initiative in improving social fairness and play a critical role as a voice for my community. I look forward to growing my career in public administration by focusing on empowering others to increase their community impact through leadership, education, and advocacy strategies. Every journey will present major challenges, but I am here to encourage every young Latina to keep fighting despite all odds.”

Genevieve Branco is graduating with her Master of Science in Health Care Administration with a 4.0 G.P.A. She has worked in healthcare leadership for 11 years, in acute and post-acute rehabilitation. She is eager to use her education to continue to advocate for patients to gain more access to rehabilitative care after an accident, illness, or injury.  She currently works for Centre for Neuro Skills in patient acquisition and hopes to continue to grow with her company.

Nicolas Caver will receive his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a Concentration in Marketing. He transferred from Taft College, so he didn't begin his academic career at CSUB, but he is pleased to say that he is finishing up a portion of it there.  “My background is extensive, but in brief, I began my career in the music/entertainment industry and culinary arts at a young age. As time went on, however, I encountered innumerable obstacles and felt as though I had reached rock bottom. For this reason, I returned to school to complete my degree, and it was the wisest decision I ever made. After graduation, I intend to travel overseas and explore whilst also living abroad, hone my talents, and then utilize my skills acquired not only from this prestigious institution but also from my life journey to open my own series of small businesses in Southern California. In conclusion, there is only one from down and so, therefore, I’m going up. I wanted to leave everyone reading this with a quote from my role model, “The best teacher in life is your own experience, none of us know who we are until we fail. They say every man is defined by his reaction to any given situation; Well, who would you want to define you, someone else or yourself?” -Nipsey Hussle.”

Christina Coriano will receive her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a Concentration in Human Resource Management.  She is a long-time accountant who decided to return to school so her credentials could match her experience.  “After graduation, I plan on putting my degree to work for me as hard as I worked for it!”

Anthony Estrada is a 24-year-old Bakersfield native, and he is pursuing a career with the Kern County Fire Department. He is set to start the fire academy in January of 2023. Before he enrolled in the master's program, he received his B.S. in Business Administration with a concentration in Finance in May of 2021. Upon graduation, he worked as a wildland firefighter for the summer and then came back to enroll in the master's program. After graduating, he will join the KCFD!

Amandeep Kaur will receive her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a Concentration in Health Care Management.  After graduation, she plans to obtain her Master of Science in Health Care Administration.

Kosuke Matsui will be receiving his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. He was born and raised in Japan until he came to Bakersfield in 2019. He didn't speak English at all when he graduated from high school, but he studied English for a year after graduating high school and joined CSUB in the Fall of 2019. “I'll go back to Japan and start my career. It is half sad to leave here but half excited to start my career at the same time. I'm looking forward to starting my career in my country and hopefully coming back to the United States for my MBA and work in a few years.” 

Marco Antonio Medina, Jr. will receive his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. He is a first-generation Mexican American. He grew up in McFarland, CA but moved to Bakersfield in the 6th grade. Marco attended Rio Bravo Greeley, then went on to graduate from Liberty Highschool in 2018. He wanted to attend Cal State Bakersfield because of the struggles his parents faced to get them to where they are today. “My father worked in the fields of various agricultural crops throughout the San Joaquin valley which included Grapes, Oranges, Tomatoes, Bell Peppers, and Carrots. Etc. My father went on to start his own company in Farm Labor Contracting. He went from employee to employer, and within 10 years, he steadily grew his business well past his expectations. Today our family business employs 1,200 seasonal workers in the agriculture sector from Lancaster to Fresno. We work hand in hand with companies such as Grimmway Farms, Bolthouse Farms, Bejo Seeds, and various other companies throughout California. My father's success, failures, struggles, and stresses all motivated me to go on to Cal State and study business to improve the business even more. My father wanted to become an optometrist in Mexico however, he did not have enough money to finish his last semester of school and had to come to the United States to work in the fields to stay afloat. My father was my biggest motivation, and I am proud to be here today 4 years later graduating and being able to say to him “I did it dad thanks to you, onwards and upwards!”  

I plan to continue to work in the family business after graduation, however, I am going to shoot for my Master's Degree (MBA) at Pepperdine University. I want to further my education so I can be a role model to the next generation of our bloodline and prove to them that with perseverance and hard work, anything is possible regardless of where you start. I have also received my Harvard Online Business School CORe certification. I plan to continue my education via more certifications from Harvard Business School as well as eCornell and even my SHRM Certification. California State University will forever be my home and I will never forget the hardships and pleasant memories I had here!”  

Simmren Mudhar will receive her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration.  She graduated from Golden Valley High School and decided to attend CSUB as a business student.  She dedicated herself to her education and career and now is currently working as an insurance claims adjuster. “After graduating I plan to find a job out of the US and spend some time abroad learning about new cultures and living life to the fullest!”

Jay Shyamdasani will receive his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a Concentration in Finance.  “Coming from India, I never imagined I would get to go to a university here, let alone be an American. I am so proud to call America my home and graduate from CSUB. Go, Runners! I am looking for jobs in the finance industry. In the near future, I see myself as a successful businessman. I am also planning to do MBA after gaining some experience in the market.”

Previously, Brumm worked various jobs in different industries such as assisted living, education, retail, and food service. She transferred to CSUB in Fall of 2020 to pursue her bachelor’s degree in business administration after graduating with two associate degrees from San Joaquin Delta College.

After graduation, Brumm will be looking into her first professional business job, hopefully in the marketing department of a company. She would like to possibly get into product marketing or advertising. Down the line, she may consider going back to school to pursue her master’s degree.

Capalac's ethnicity is Filipino, and Hawaiian. She grew up with her dad and stepmother who are no longer here with us. She says, “growing up with my parents was a blessing because during their time they had shown me how to persevere during hardships.” For Capalac, walking the stage at commencement was dedicated to her guardian angels.

After graduation, Capalac says, “I will have plenty of time to improve in promoting my ecommerce business, She Cute Fash, while continuing to work with the city job position, I am currently in.”

Cantely earned her BSBA in Agricultural Business at CSUB in the Spring of 2020. She decided to continue her education and further her career at CSUB.  She is looking forward to her next adventure in agriculture.

Harrison received her Bachelor of Science from Pepperdine University with a Degree in Sports Medicine. She continues seeking a position in healthcare management that will allow her to contribute to a healthier world, make a difference in the lives of others, and consistently pursue systems that protect the service of healthcare within the community.

Humphreys received her bachelor's degree in Political Science in 2020 and has since grown a passion for the public service during her time studying for the MPA. Humphreys has been fortunate to serve the community of Kern with her experiences working as a member in the Office of Assembly and with Rudy Salas and Eaton & Associates Immigration Attorneys. She recently moved out of Kern County with her husband and is beginning a new chapter working in the public service for El Dorado County.

Ipatzi has a professional background in accounting. Additionally, Ipatzi has worked in diverse industries in various roles for over 17 years. She looks forward to the new opportunities that are coming with her MBA.

Leyva will be receiving a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration with a Human Resource Management Concentration. She attended Wonderful College Prep Academy for middle and high school until she graduated high school in 2018. Leyva began her journey as a first-generation college student at CSU Bakersfield. After graduating in 2022, she will be starting an internship in a Human Resource Position at Wonderful College Prep Academy Highschool in Delano. She says, “I am excited to go back to my hometown to begin my career.”

Lyons was President of the Marketing Club and was a volunteer in planning Rowdy Con. As this semester comes to an end, Lyons will be looking forward to continuing his education here at CSUB in the Master of Business Administration program.

Lyons has served as a club officer for the marketing club at CSUB. Lyons also helped coordinate the Runner Dance Marathon event. She will continue her education here at CSUB for the Master of Science in Health Care Administration.

Rohina got her undergraduate degree in Business Administration and did a one-year program of Diploma in Information Technology. She has five years of experience in Human Resources and has served as a women rights' activist throughout the duration of her career. After graduation, Rohina would like to work in Human Resources for an organization where teamwork and diversity are valued. In the future, she would like to have her own personal business.

Non-traditional (44 years old), working professional (higher education) and Sergeant in the CA National Guard, with a spouse and 3 kids ranging from 4 to 21 years old.  This is Silva's second master’s degree as she received her MBA in 2017 (another university).  Due to a career change from private for-profit university to public non-profit university, she decided to add more tools and knowledge of the public sector to her “toolbox”: https://news.csub.edu/a-guiding-hand

Silva is continuing a career in public administration and is always looking for opportunities to volunteer or learn new perspectives of different public sectors and organizations.  She was invited to participate in the FBI Citizens Academy for Spring 2022 and has gained some great knowledge of the organization, including working on recruiting efforts that would benefit our CSUB graduates.  It’s a work in progress, but she wants to invite special agents for a workshop through the Graduate Student Center as a starting point.  Currently, as the graduate advisor at the GSC, she enjoys speaking with prospective graduate students and any opportunity she has to broaden the career opportunities of our students is one of her many personal objectives.  She also wants to motivate prospective students to go for a  Ph.D. or Ed.D. Her next step is to continue helping our community increase our county’s population rate of advanced degree earners, which is one of the lowest in CA.

Current Title: Community Engagement Specialist for Chevron Public Affairs

Alvidrez’s Community Involvement includes Board member of The Boys and Girls Clubs of Bakersfield, Kern County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce chair-elect, Bakersfield North Rotary member, board of directors member for the California Living Museum Foundation, volunteer for the Bakersfield Mavericks Baseball Club. Alvidrez has spent the last eight years increasing the importance of STEM education for students and parents in the region. The idea behind pushing STEM education is not for every student to work at Chevron after college graduation, but the importance of communication skills, time management skills, and other important characteristics that apply to any career.

Freddy Carias knew he was destined to attend CSUB when he turned into the parking lot in Antelope Valley. Moving from the San Fernando Valley to Palmdale, Carias saw an exit sign for CSUB near Avenue K and decided to check the campus out. “As soon as I walked in I was greeted and treated very kindly. I even gained access to a counselor who helped me decide on an educational path. I just knew I was in the right place, so I applied and was accepted a year later” said Carias.

During his time at CSUB, Carias said that the professors cared about the success of the students. “They were always attentive and ensured that we (the whole class) understood the concepts. They shared their life stories and experiences with us and that was helpful in figuring out what I wanted to do with my life,” said Carias. The owner of a trucking company, Carias, says that CSUB helped him to discover his true passion, business & computers. This led him to pursue a Master's degree in Information Systems and Technology at Cal Lutheran University.

Carias has since left the trucking industry to pursue other passions and will be launching a new business in 2018, Carias Marketing in Canyon Country. “I would not be where I am today without the foundation that CSUB gave me. CSUB gave me the tools I needed to chase my dreams. For anyone who is considering CSUB, I would say do not doubt your decision and take the first step into your future!”

Carias is currently a Clinical Data Analyst for Antelope Valley Hospital in Lancaster, CA; Web Development Consultant for Mountain Top Data in Canoga Park, CA; Tax Preparer for D&E Reliable Enterprises in Canyon Country, CA; and Founder of Carias Marketing in Canyon Country, CA.

Current Title: Human Resource Consultant for Kelly Outsourcing & Consulting Group

Matthew Cauthron’s Community Involvement includes Bakersfield Young Professionals, Kern County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, CASA of Kern County, Active 20-30 Club of Bakersfield, Kern county society of Human Resource Management, The Petroleum Club, relay for Life. Cauthron’s passion is what led him to be the youngest consultant for Kelly Outsourcing & Consulting Group and it is that passion that he hopes to instill in future generations. Cauthron is currently working on a mentoring foundation for children of immigrants.

Current Title: CEO and Senior Engineer of Central Engineering & Energy

In addition to his BS in Economics from CSUB, Joe has also received his BS in Mechanical Engineering from Akron University and a BS in Civil Engineering from West Clayton University. A member of various engineering associations, and having acquired numerous certifications and several licenses, Joe has immense knowledge of building codes, regulatory guidelines, and construction techniques. He is a Certified Energy Manager as well as Project Manager. Collectively, Joe has over 40 years of experience in management and engineering. He is an army veteran and a Captain Green Beret 10th SFG. “I am old, tired, highly experienced, and overqualified,” says Joe.

James Hefley was named one of 20 Under 40 People to Watch for 2017 in the Bakersfield Life Magazine June 2017 edition. At the age of 14, Hefley was given books by his grandfather on investing and the stock market, which led him towards the pursuit of a bachelor's degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Finance from CSU, Bakersfield.

Hefley accepted an internship position with Northwestern Mutual, which led to full-time employment upon graduation where is currently a Financial Advisor. Hefley says the biggest challenge in his field of work is his age due to the majority of their clients being in their 50s, 60s, and 70s. “It made me step up my game and elevate my education level so that, even though I’m young, I know what I’m talking about and have the experience to back it,” says Hefley, “When people ask me if I like what I do, I say I would never do anything else…. I’ve found the thing I’m most passionate about and something that I’m good at.”

Hefley’s community involvement includes Alex’s Lemonade Stand, Kappa Sigma fraternity, National Multiple Sclerosis Society, and the Alzheimer’s Association. Hefley’s personal motto: Whatever you do, do well.

*Information for this article was used with the permission of Mark Nessia, author of 20 Under 40 People to Watch.

Current Title: Tenure Track Assistant

Professor in Sociology at CSUB Dr. Isabella Kasselstrand (Ph.D.) first came to CSUB from Sweden ten years ago as a student-athlete for the women’s tennis and track and field teams. She was awarded her B.S in Economics (2008) and M.A. in Sociology (2009) from CSUB. She earned her Ph.D. in Sociology from the University of Edinburgh, Scotland (2014). Before returning to CSUB in 2016, Isabella spent two years as a tenure-track sociology professor at Colorado Mesa University. Isabella specializes in the sociology of religion and quantitative research methods. Her research has appeared in journals such as Sociology of Religion and Nordic Journal of Religion and Society. Her research explores contextually situated patterns of religious decline and remaining functions of churches in secularizing societies. At CSUB, Isabella teaches Quantitative Analysis for Sociology, Intro to Statistics for Sociology, Sociology of Religion, Classical Social Theory, and Research Methods.

Current Title: Manager of Financial Planning and Analysis at Kern Schools Federal Credit Union

Lindsay Reyes began working at Kern Schools Federal Credit Union in 2005 as a Member Service Representative and was promoted to Junior Financial Analyst within months of graduating in April of 2009. In June 2012, Lindsay was promoted to Financial Analyst. Lindsay is one of the key organizers of the Credit Union’s Accounting and Finance Internship program. Lindsay is actively involved with Valley Bible Fellowship (VBF) where she is a Jr. high, preschool, and nursery class leader. She also volunteers at the local Ronald McDonald House, community clean-ups, and at local satellite church camps.

Current Title: Wonderful Leadership Program at Wonderful Orchards

As a student, Oscar Salazar was the Vice President of the Economics Student Association (ESA) and the Director of Budget Management for Associated Students Inc. (ASI.) Salazar is currently in his first year in the Wonderful Leadership Program where he is exploring multiple department operations.

Current Title: Multicultural Communications Manager at Brighthouse Network

Solis-Vargas’s Community Involvement includes CSUB Hispanic Excellence Scholarship Fund, Community Adviser board member, Kern County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce board member, Prospanica Bakersfield Chapter, judge for CSUB’s CAMP Program. Solis-Vargas credits her father for instilling passion and work ethic, which is a part of her drive. Outside of work, Solis-Vargas finds time to volunteer and be a guest speaker at local educational events.

Current Title: Relationship Manager- Wells Fargo & Company

As a student, Amir Zabrani served the University Accounting Association (U.A.A.) as both Vice President and President and currently serves on the BPA Accounting Advisory Board. Amir joined Wells Fargo as a summer financial analyst in 2013 and joined his current team upon graduation in June 2014. He was promoted to Relationship Manager in September 2016. Zabrani has also served as a business advisor for the Student Professional Development Initiative.

Current Title: Chief Operations Officer at Countryside Market & Restaurants

Brar’s Community Involvement includes Director of the Bakersfield Sikh Women’s Association and a director of the Kern County Fair Board. Brar was born to immigrant parents who started off as farmworkers in the Central Valley, and now she is a successful businesswoman. She recently co-founded the Bakersfield Sikh Women’s Foundation, which is a first for the city. (*source information: Bakersfield Life Magazine, June 2015, author: Mark Nessia)

Current Title: Executive Director for the Center for the Blind & Visually Impaired and Advanced Center for Eyecare

Cave’s Community Involvement includes: providing free glasses and exams to visually impaired children in Kern County. Cave is the force behind two nonprofit organizations that focus on serving the blind, visually impaired, and medical eye needs of Kern County: The Advanced Center for Eyecare (ACE) and the Center for the Blind & Visually Impaired (CBVI) complement each other and share common values and goals. To date, 1,760 children and counting have received these vital services, increasing their ability to do classroom work and manage school assignments, Cave said. (*source information: Bakersfield Life Magazine, June 2015, author: Mark Nessia)

Current Title: Planning Director for the City of Bakersfield

Kitchen’s Community Involvement includes: being a motivational speaker at schools and youth groups, and one-on-one counseling with students bound for college. Kitchen’s one focus: Create development in Bakersfield that is sustainable, enduring, and facilitating the big picture of a community that is modern and an enjoyable place to be. The Bakersfield native … works with out-of-town developers who want to bring the next big thing to Bakersfield. She also meets with local business owners who want to expand their businesses. (Bakersfield Life Magazine, June 2015, author: Mark Nessia)

Current Title: Asset Management Analyst- Grimmway Farms, Office Manager- Central Engineering and Energy

As a student, Amanda worked with fellow peers to charter the student organization known as the Economics Student Association. and states “My experience at CSUB, especially within the BPA department, was extraordinary. The support I received from the staff and the opportunities given to me truly helped me make the transition into the workforce.” Amanda began her career at Central Engineering and Energy as a part-time assistant to the CFO and was promoted to Office Manager upon graduation. Her role at Grimmway Farms (GF) began with the help of Jeff Green (GF attorney and adjunct professor of Ag Law at BPA), who encouraged her to submit her application. Although it is a challenge to balance both jobs, Amanda states “CSUB prepared me to be able to manage my time appropriately.” Amanda has plans of returning to CSUB for the MBA program.

Current Title: Juris Doctor Candidate 2019, focus in Environmental and Natural Resources Law – University of Colorado, Wolf Law School

As an MPA student, Dalton balanced life as an accomplished CSUB wrestler and worked for the Kern County Farm Bureau where he gained hands-on experience working with agricultural policy. Upon graduation, Dalton worked as a Measurement While Drilling Technician for Ensign Directional Drilling Services in Bakersfield from 2014-2015, where he gained experience working in the energy industry. Dalton will be attending the University of Colorado in the Fall of 2016, where he is pursuing a law degree. His interest in pursuing a career as a Natural Resource Lawyer was sparked by several BPA faculty members he worked with on his thesis. Dalton states, “The faculty of the MPA program does an outstanding job of incorporating theoretical framework with projects that give students hands-on experience with current issues affecting Kern County, California, and the United States.” Dalton’s community involvement includes his continued support of the CSUB wrestling program through grant writing, nonprofit management, and organizing funding initiatives.

Current Title: Manager, Visit Bakersfield (formerly Bakersfield Convention and Visitors Bureau)

David has been with the City of Bakersfield for 31 years and has been in his current role for four years. David is also an Adjunct Lecturer in Public Policy and Administration with BPA. David is a frequent presenter on economic development topics and enjoys motivating others about the power one person can make in his or her community. David states “I have been in the trenches of economic development for my hometown of Bakersfield since 1984 and now help visitors spend their money in California’s 9th largest city.

Current Title: ADP Time Supervisor- Wonderful Pistachios & Almonds (WP&A).

Cindy began her career at WP&A in 2013 as a Production Clerk and was promoted to Time Supervisor at Wonderful Pistachios and Almonds upon graduation. As a student, Cindy balanced working full-time while also attending CSUB full-time. In December 2014, Cindy transferred to the time department. Her manager, Justin Sperbeck, states “Cindy embraced the role and proved herself as a leader with her optimistic and energetic approach to managing employees’ time.” When asked about her experience at CSUB, Cindy states “my experience at CSUB was stressful at times, but nonetheless enjoyable and satisfying. I owe my success to my two wonderful advisors (Dr. Hegde and Dr. Price), and I could not have completed my journey (successfully) without their advice and guidance.”

Current Title: Director of Development at San Joaquin Community Hospital

Amanda is a Bakersfield native with a passion for helping our community grow and flourish. She has served as a mentor for the Kern Economic Development Foundation Health Careers Academy and is active with the American Cancer Society, CASA of Kern County, and the Housing Opportunity Foundation of Kern. In addition, she serves on the Plank Foundation Board and the Greater Bakersfield Chamber of Commerce Leadership Bakersfield Advisory Council. In her development role, she works to raise funds for vital programs, services, and capital projects that help to elevate the healthcare landscape in Kern County. Over the past 5 years, the SJCH Foundation team has raised more than $10 million to help build the AIS Cancer Center and bring other significant programs to those in need. She has been married to her husband Ryan for nearly 20 years and they have 2 active and fun teenage daughters.

GOCF 2014 hire

Current Title: Marketing Associate at Sun World International

Danielle Loustalot came to California State University Bakersfield from Frontier High School and graduated in 2014. During her time at CSUB, Danielle studied and received her Bachelor’s Degree in Communications with an emphasis in Public Relations, and spent an extra year to achieve a double major in Communications and Economics. Danielle completed four years of classes in the CSUB Hawk Honors Program, was inducted into the Economics Honors Society Omicron Delta Epsilon, and spent a period of time involved in the Public Relations Student Society of America. Today, Danielle is the Marketing Associate at Sun World International, a produce company headquartered in Bakersfield that specializes in breeding, growing, and shipping table grapes around the globe. As a member of the marketing department, Danielle manages the tactical execution of Sun World’s marketing strategies including advertising, consumer relations, tradeshow planning, packaging design, and more. She gained the opportunity to work at Sun World upon attending CSUB’s Growing Opportunities Career Fair just months before graduating and has now been with the company for two years. The skills Danielle learned in both Communications and Economics are essential in her daily responsibilities at Sun World including internal and external communication, as well as a continuously growing understanding of the produce industry and of ever-changing market landscapes.