Food Science & Nutrition Student Spotlight: John K. Mua

When the pandemic slowed activity on campus and many students returned home in 2020, the campus farm continued to operate and make fresh products for our Gibson Farm Market thanks to student assistants like John K. Mua.

The recent food science and nutrition graduate also received his degree in the fall 2020 and focused on a culinology option. The exciting, hands-on program blends the food science and culinary arts to prepare students for a variety of food industry positions, especially in research and development areas.

Learn more about the Merced native (and Fresno City and Merced College transfer), who still serves as a lead worker for the campus creamery to better prepare himself for a dairy processing industry career. 

 

Q: Why did you choose to attend Fresno State and how did you pick your academic area? 

Mua: "I came to Fresno State because it was a great way for me to mature and challenge myself as I took classes and lived on my own. At the same time, I was only one hour away from Merced, so if I missed my family I could go back on the weekend."

Mua: "I was drawn towards the degree mainly because my love of cooking and science. As a kid I wanted to be a cook as I always helped out at family and church events by helping others. As for science, I just love to understand how things work. I was the type of kid that opened up toys to see how they worked." 

Q: Which classes & faculty members had the biggest influence on you while at Fresno State?

Mua: "When I first transferred to the food and nutrition science department, Dr. Sara Shinn Griffin really listened to me and made me feel welcome. She just makes class better and more joyful, and was the faculty member that had the most influence on me."

 

Q: Talk about your of responsibilities at the campus creamery, and how has it prepared you for your career path?

Mua: "I have worked there for the past three years. As the lead, my job now is to make sure that everything in the plant runs as smoothly as it can. This includes training workers, paperwork, making ice cream and ice mix, preparing the plant to receive raw milk and working with heavy equipment."

Q: Have you been involved with research on campus, and how will it benefit your career path?

Mua: "I did a little research related to the halo effect, and this helped me better understand everything related to the reseach process. This topic is relates to how consumers are affected by positive actions on a type of product. By understanding this we can understand how the market will react to wording on a type of food."

 

Q: What was your background in agriculture before you started at Fresno State?

Mua: "I had no background in agriculture at all. When I transferred in, I had no idea that I was going to be in agriculture. However as I learn from my classes, the farm plays a big part in feeding everyone and keeping everyone safe."

Q: Have you overcome any challenges to get where you are today that have shaped who you are?

Mua: "Two challenges that I had to overcome were my speech impediment and depression when I first came to Fresno State. The experiences in my classes, labs, and creamery have played a big part in helping me gain confidence and successfully work toward my academic and professional goals."

 

Q: What's your potential next career step?

Mua: "I was planning on working as a meat inspector but now I am trying to become a milk inspector and earn my milk related licence(s) and certification(s). With these dairy certificates, I hope to become an inspector or move on to a bigger milk plant. I also want to add more leadership skills so I can help workers learn how to help solve problems as quickly and smoothly as possible. "