Dr. Katy Tarrant, associate professor, Animal Sciences and Agricultural Education Department led eight Fresno State students on a trip to the International Production and Processing Expo in Atlanta, where they connected with leaders in the poultry industry and showcased their research at the world’s largest annual poultry, egg, meat, and animal food industry event.

Tarrant, who serves as a chair of the International Poultry Welfare Alliance, presented a TechTalk on the public/private partnership between the Center for the Optimization of Poultry Production, Fresno State, and International Poultry Welfare Alliance on Welfare Training Through Extended Reality and Immersive Learning Experiences. Tarrant also hosted an in-person training workshop titled "Key Welfare Indicator Guide Training," in collaboration with International Poultry Welfare Alliance, Fresno State Center for the Optimization of Poultry Production, and the Professional Animal Auditor Certification Organization.

Dr. Susan Pheasant, director, Institute for Food and Agriculture, attended the expo as well, leading students on a tour of a cheese-making operation so students could learn more about mechanization of processing equipment.

Dr. Laura Huisinga, associate professor Department of Art, Design, and Art History, also attended the event. Pheasant and Husinga's ties to a USDA-funded poultry industry grant (tied to education and training programs) allowed partner students and faculty from Fresno City College to attend the conference too.

Dr. Aseem Hasnain, assistant professor, Department of Sociology, and co-author Dr. Prakash Kashwan, Brandeis University, discussed their new book, "Decolonizing Environmentalism: Alternative Visions and Practices for Environmental Action," Feb. 21, in the Library.

Their discussion focused on sustainability, climate engineering, youth movements, and ongoing polycrisis topics that affect us all, including our local community.

A similar book talk for the public was held Feb. 20 at the Central Valley Community Foundation in downtown Fresno.

Hasnain, a native of Lucknow, India, received a master's degree in community-based natural resources management from Bhopal University in Bhopal, India, and later worked as a community organizer and program manager with indigenous communities and non-profits in Western, Central and Northern India. The political sociologist teaches classes this semester tied to race and ethnicity, theory and quantitative research methods.

Dr. Elizabeth Lowham, dean of the College of Social Sciences and interim dean of the Division of Graduate Studies, has been named to the board of directors of the Central Valley Community Foundation.

Dr. David Zakarian, Haig and Isabel Berberian professor of Armenian Studies, co-convened and participated in the "Armenia and Byzantium without Borders" Workshop at the University of Oxford.

This event was a graduate and early-career workshop that Zakarian has been involved with for the past seven years. However, this year, as the newly appointed Haig and Isabel Berberian professor of Armenian Studies, he represented Fresno State, with the Armenian Studies Program also contributing to its organization.