Institute for Food and Agriculture
Meet the team
Dr. Katy Tarrant
COOP Director
Email: ktarrant@fresnostate.edu
Dr. Katy Tarrant joined the Fresno State Animal Sciences and Agricultural Education
faculty at California State University, Fresno in August of 2016. She holds a Ph.D.
degree in Cell and Molecular Biology from the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville,
Arkansas. In addition to directing COOP, Dr. Tarrant advises students and teaches
undergraduate and graduate courses in poultry production, animal genetics, and welfare
and handling.
Dr. Laura Huisinga
COOP UX and UI Design Director
Email: lhuisinga@csufresno.edu
Dr. Laura Huisinga is an Associate Professor in the Department of Art, Design, and
Art History (ADAH) (graphic design area; Interactive Multimedia BFA track) in the
College of Arts and Humanities at California State University - Fresno. She has her
Ph.D. in Human-Computer Interaction from Iowa State University and her MFA in Graphic
Design from the College of Art and Design at Iowa State University. Dr. Huisinga conducts
design research as a co-pi of the Visualization Lab housed in the Department of ADAH.
Her interest focuses on user experience (UX) design, usability testing methods, universal
design, game theory for education, immersive design for extended reality (XR), including
augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR), leveraging AI in design and designing
for new technologies. Dr. Huisinga’s research focuses on using augmented and virtual
reality for education.
Jesse Bower
Content Manager and Curriculum Specialist
Email: jessebower@csufresno.edu
Mrs. Jesse Bower has an extensive background in agriculture and a passion for teaching. Growing up on a ranch in Le Grand, CA, she gained hands-on experience in raising various animals, from sheep and goats to cattle, rabbits, chickens, and horses. Actively involved in 4-H and FFA during her youth, Mrs. Bower developed a strong interest in agriculture, which motivated her to pursue a career as an Agriculture Teacher. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Education-Teacher Preparation from Fresno State, followed by completing the credential program at the same institution. Her teaching journey began in Nebraska, where she taught for five years while simultaneously pursuing a Master's degree. In 2019, she returned to California and joined Fresno State as a lecturer, focusing on imparting her knowledge and experience to aspiring agricultural educators. In addition to her lecturing role, she serves as a "University Coach," overseeing and mentoring Agricultural Education student teachers as they conclude their credentialing program.
Outside of her professional life, Mrs. Bower enjoys a bustling household with her husband, Chad, and their two children, Paisley and Lane. They reside locally and share their home with an array of animals, including three dogs, two water turtles, chickens, a horse, a mini-horse, and two goats. Her personal and professional experiences uniquely position her to share a wealth of knowledge and practical insights in agricultural education.
Cynthia Lopez
Content Manager and Curriculum Specialist
Email: cynlopez@mail.fresnostate.edu
Cynthia Lopez is a Lecture for the Animal Science Agriculture Education Department, and also is Enterprise Manager of the Poultry Facility on the farm. Her education background includes an undergraduate degree in Animal Science as well as a Masters of Science in Agriculture studies both obtained at California State University, Fresno. Cynthia is serving as Content Manager for the Center of the optimization of poultry (COOP).
Cirenio Hisasaga
Content Manager and Curriculum Specialist
Email: chisasaga@ucdavis.edu
Cirenio Hisasaga is a PhD Candidate at the University of California, Davis studying poultry welfare. His research focuses on the impacts of broiler management on the development of muscular diseases. Cirenio obtained a Bachelor of Science in Animal Science and a Master of Science in Agricultural Science from California State University, Fresno. Additionally, Cirenio’s passion for student education has led him to develop poultry outreach programs aimed at recruiting and retaining students from traditionally underrepresented backgrounds.
Asmaa Althami
Student Research Assistant (UX/UI Designer)
Email: asmaaalthami@mail.fresnostate.edu
As a senior Integrated Design student at Fresno State with an associate's degree in
Art New Media, Asmaa brings diverse experience in Graphic Design, Web Design, Marketing,
and Design Studies to her academic background. Currently serving as a Research Student
Assistant for COOP, she contributes to UX/UI and Graphic Design aspects while eagerly
exploring the cross-disciplinary opportunity titled "Interdisciplinary COOP: Empowering
Art and Animal Science Students for Impactful Career Training."
Asia Nunez
Student Research Assistant (Agriculture Research)
Email: asia_nunez@mail.fresnostate.edu
Asia is a dedicated advocate for agriculture with lifelong ties to the industry. Growing up on her grandparents’ farm, she developed a strong interest and passion for agriculture early on. She graduated from Fresno State in the fall of 2023 with a degree in Agriculture Education emphasizing Animal Science. During high school, Asia was actively involved in FFA, competing on judging teams and traveling around the country. She will begin her credential program in the spring of 2025. Her goal is to inspire and educate the next generations about agriculture.
Jenna Anderson
Student Research Assistant (UX/UI Designer)
Email: jennaanderson@mail.fresnostate.edu
Jenna is a senior business entreprenurship student with expereience and interests in user expereince design, digital marketing, and graphic design. Jenna has created various small businesses throughout their youth and uses design thinking to create new business ideas. They are interning at a local digital marketing agency and often do design projects for fun. Currently they serve as a Student Research Assistant for COOP, contributing to the general and UX design needs.
Nick Wolfenden
Sustainable Animal Welfare Director, Global for Cargill
Nick Wolfenden leads Global Animal Welfare at Cargill. Nick is responsible for driving
commitment to Animal Welfare across the organization through continual improvement.
He
leads the development and implementation of the company’s overarching animal welfare
strategy, communicates work with external stakeholders, leads collaboration for a
team of
welfare and sustainability professionals, and serves as the face of Cargill to customers
and
governments and non-governmental organizations.
Nick serves on a variety of industry organization boards and committees such as Animal
Ag
Alliance (AAA), Merck Animal Health, International Poultry Welfare Alliance (IPWA),
International Poultry Council (IPC), National Chicken Council (NCC), and the North
American
Meat Institute (NAMI). He is a PAACO and PHT Certified Poultry Welfare Auditor and
Trainer
and PAACO Certified Red Meat, Beef Feedlot, and Dairy Auditor.
Janet Helms
Senior Manager in Global Sustainable Sourcing, Animal Health and Welfare
Dr. Janet Helms is a veterinarian with extensive experience across the food
chain. Janet’s current title is Senior Manager, Global Sustainable Sourcing,
Animal Health and Welfare. Her responsibilities include chicken, antibiotics,
animal feed, and fish. She has been with McDonald’s for over one year.
Prior to joining McDonald’s, Dr. Helms owned and managed a large animal
veterinary practice in Southern California, providing preventative health services
to dairy and beef clients. She was the first practitioner to offer ultrasound and
dairy records analysis in the area. Following her career in veterinary practice,
Janet worked in multiple roles at Pfizer/Zoetis including regulatory compliance,
organizational development, and technical sales. Dr. Helms was the National
Director of a third-party animal welfare certification, working across species with
auditors, developing audits, and driving program growth. More recently, Janet
was a Global Sustainability Developer at Inter IKEA Group responsible for
sourcing animal and plant based foods in North and South America. In addition
to finding sustainable and high welfare chicken, pig, beef, dairy, and eggs, she
developed strategic approaches to sustainably source leather, down, hides, and
biofuels. Outside of work, Janet enjoys cooking for friends and family, gardening,
hiking,
swimming, and paints in several mediums. A fan of travel and art history, she
loves to visit museums on her international travels.
Eden Arreguin
Superintendent Foster Farms South Grow-Out
Rafael Rivera1
Director of Food Safety and Production Programs for USPOULTRY
Contact Information
Center for the Optimization Of Poultry
2415 E. San Ramon, MS AS75 Fresno, CA 93740
coop@mail.fresnostate.edu
559.278.2901