The Jordan College of Sciences and Technology is proud to announce its 2025-26 faculty award recipients for their contributions to student success, research and service.

This year’s awardees are:

Dr. Jacob Wenger - Nicolas Salgo Outstanding Teacher Award

The Plant Science Department associate professor teaches entomology classes and conducts research tied to the sustainable management of insect pests that affect California’s citrus and tree nut industry.

Since joining Fresno State in 2015, he has taught entomology and integrated pest management classes, and developed two new courses in agricultural biotechnology and bee biology and apiculture. His recent research projects have focused on insects such as the Western leaffooted bug, navel orangeworm and pests in harvested nuts and beehives.

He also serves as the chair of the Plant Science Department, and many of his classroom and lab activities are available at his YouTube channel.

Dr. Shabnam Pooya - Outstanding Research and Scholarly Activity

The Food Science and Nutrition Department associate professor integrates nutrition, human health and biology into her academic pursuits and clinical and community-based research.

Since joining Fresno State in 2016, she has taught nutrition and health classes, which also relate to micronutrients, fluid metabolism, food and culture.

As a researcher, her projects related to nutrition, genetic variation and chronic disease risk have exceeded $1 million. She has excelled in integrating students, both as researchers and participants, with campus healthcare professionals into innovative intervention and lab studies.

Dr. Sharon Freeman - Distinguished Service Award

The Animal Sciences and Agricultural Education associate professor has combined her passion for teaching and outreach to create the Agricultural Career Readiness Skills Certificate Pathway for the 21st Century [ACRS 21] program.

The program received a $1 million grant from the USDA-National Institute of Food and Agriculture as she and Fresno State students and faculty work with high school, community college and university students and ag teachers across the state and nation. Their work the past five years has led to over 50 manuscripts, peer-reviewed poster abstracts, media articles and presentations.

Besides teaching eight ag education classes, she has mentored graduate students and undergraduate students in the Jordan College Honors Program since she joined campus in 2019. She also serves as the Ag Ambassadors outreach program coordinator and Mule Packing Team supervisor.