- Author: Diana Cervantes
From her Hmong family's roots to the vast expanses of Fresno's fields, Lilian Thaoxaochay weaves a story of unwavering commitment to the land and community. Thaoxaochay shares her knowledge of revitalizing and strengthening agriculture in the San Joaquin Valley, acquired from her childhood among crops to her academic training in medical anthropology and agriculture.
Thaoxaochay, who grew up in the San Joaquin Valley, joined the UC Agriculture and Natural Resources (UC ANR) three years ago as a UC Cooperative Extension community educator for small farms in Fresno County. Since then, Thaoxaochay has extended a helping hand to small-scale Southeast Asian farmers.
When she joined UC ANR in 2021, she became part of an integrated team addressing the COVID-19 pandemic. Because most information about COVID-19 was in English, Thaoxaochay and her team translated information about the vaccination process into other languages for farmers in the region. Her Hmong heritage came in handy for the task.
"We went out into the countryside to raise awareness among residents about the importance of getting vaccinated," explained Thaoxaochay, "The Hmong community faces barriers such as language and culture."
She is a first-generation Hmong American in her family of six generations of hard-working farmers. While Thaoxaochay helped on the farm as a child, she absorbed every detail of farm life. Over time, her love of agriculture and interest in human culture and society gave her a new vision for her future.
Determined to explore this connection more deeply, Thaoxaochay embarked on an academic journey that led her to earn a bachelor's degree in medical anthropology at Stanford University and later a master's degree in Southeast Asian agriculture at the University of California Santa Cruz. Armed with her deep knowledge of both the field and the community, Thaoxaochay returned to the San Joaquin Valley with renewed purpose. Besides helping on the family farm, she dedicated herself to sharing her knowledge and experiences with other farmers and community members.
Through workshops, talks and research projects, Thaoxaochay addresses the various challenges small-scale farmers face in the valley, ranging from water scarcity to environmental and economic concerns. She advocates for solutions that will benefit farmers and the community.
Her strong ties to the Hmong community have contributed to her successful career with UCANR. "Part of my success is growing up on a farm in the San Joaquin Valley, which allows me to understand the needs of smallholder farmers," says Thaoxaochay.
"I was asked to see a farmer to help calculate crop loss due to the drought," she said. "However, no one had thought to ask about why these crops had died specifically. We then realized it wasn't just because of heat and insufficient water, but rather almost no water at all because his pump had died and been pulled out completely and he didn't have the means or know-how to fix the issue. This is a very serious example of how growers in our region were impacted by drought - fluctuating water tables (especially lowered ones) causing pump damage and growers not having the resources to diagnose the issue before it becomes a very difficult situation."
Over time, Thaoxaochay's work has strengthened the bonds between farmers and the community. Her story is about a young woman who grew up in the fields and became a passionate advocate for her community. She has become known for her dedication, knowledge and love for the land.
Thaoxaochay has been influenced by strong women including Yuri Kochiyama, a Japanese-American who was incarcerated with her family in a concentration camp in Arkansas during World War II and began championing civil rights for Asian American, Black and Third World people in the 1960s. "I have great admiration and respect for activist Yuri Kochiyama, whom I met in 2008 at a dinner," she recalls.
And while the age difference between Lilian and Kochiyama is significant—at least 69 years apart—the two share the same thinking. As Asian American women, they both pursue a passion for community and justice.
"Yuri's legacy drives my determination to represent and express the needs of those I serve," Thaoxaochay said.
In May we celebrate the contributions of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, recognizing their power, courage and resilience. Thaoxaochay, who is paving the way for future generations, invites other Asian women not to be afraid to take risks. "Mistakes don't mean failure. Rather, they offer opportunities and possibilities for empathy, growth and development, which I consider important lessons in pursuing any dream."
- Author: Saoimanu Sope
In celebration of Black History Month
Through music, movies and other media, many people know about Compton, a city located in southern Los Angeles County. Keith Nathaniel knows it from firsthand experience. Before Nathaniel and his family moved to Compton in the 1970s, the LA Watts Riots of 1965 underscored the tension brewing between law enforcement and the Black community that was felt not just in California but nationwide.
“Before we moved, Compton was changing from a predominantly White city to a Black city. The Watts Riots changed that and suddenly, you've got White flight out of Compton and into the suburbs,” said Nathaniel, UC Cooperative Extension director in Los Angeles County.
Growing up, Nathaniel was surrounded by people who looked like him. “It was a typical community of people who supported each other. The adults knew each other, and the kids knew each other,” he said.
Nathaniel remembers his teachers in elementary and middle school, identifying them as first-generation college students – most of whom graduated from universities following the 1954 civil rights case, Brown vs. Board of Education, which resulted in the desegregation of public schools across the United States.
“Those teachers had this real desire for us to match, if not exceed, their success or level of educational attainment,” said Nathaniel. “They were committed to seeing us become healthy and thriving adults.”
Although Nathaniel and his peers had influential Black leaders in their schools, prioritizing academic success was challenged by the introduction of crack cocaine. “With drugs came influx of gangs. Then, you start to see the community become unstable because gangs want to control this block or that corner,” Nathaniel said.
“We used to have shootouts at our high school. But it was Black and Brown lives being affected so it wasn't newsworthy in that sense. Not like today where you see an epidemic of school shootings making the news. This was happening back in the day, too,” he said, emphasizing that he and his peers were constantly reminded to be cautious while out at social events in the community.
“It was scary to think that you could be mistaken for being in a gang even if you had no ties.”
Students that were once friends in elementary or middle school became enemies by the time they started high school. Although Black boys were highly favored as gang recruits, Nathaniel said that his strong family foundation and focus on academics kept him out of the crossfire that others stepped into.
After graduating from high school, Nathaniel started college at UC Davis, where he pivoted to sociology after realizing that engineering was not for him. “I intended to graduate with a degree in engineering, but it was so competitive. I was in classes with pre-med students, and they were jacking up the grading curve,” he joked.
What Nathaniel did not realize prior to college, however, is that academic aptitude would not be the most important aspect of his experience in education. It was also the connections and relationships he built with others. Reflecting on the five years he spent at UC Davis, Nathaniel said that it was the best five years of his young adulthood.
Grateful for the teachers and advisors that kept him grounded, Nathaniel decided he wanted to become a teacher himself. From Davis, he pressed on for his master's degree at Florida A&M University where he studied educational leadership. Despite his high school advisor discouraging Black students from attending a historically Black university or college, Nathaniel felt the urge to do just that.
“My advisor was just incredible. Her goal was to get everyone to college,” said Nathaniel. “But she didn't like the idea of us going to an HBCU because it's not how the real world looks. She would tell us that it's better for us to integrate ourselves on campuses that reflect the world we live in.”
During graduate school, Nathaniel's mother died, and he returned to California. Although his loss led him to believe that returning to school was not ideal at the time, Nathaniel said that his professors reached out to him while he was away, and their concern swayed him.
“They checked up on me and it made me realize how much support I had back in Florida. I'm pretty sure this wouldn't have been the case if I wasn't attending an HBCU,” Nathaniel said.
He went back to Florida to finish what he started. While earning a master's degree, Nathaniel said he was encouraged to pursue a doctorate degree and he seriously considered it, but not immediately. By then, his vision evolved into becoming a principal or superintendent and expanding his influence beyond the classroom. “I wanted a seat at the table, but I knew that I needed the credentials first,” he said.
Upon returning to California, Nathaniel applied for teaching positions and stumbled upon an ad in the Los Angeles Times seeking applications for a 4-H program coordinator. He was not offered the position he applied for, but he was offered a coordinator role for the Americorp/VISTA volunteer program instead and willingly accepted.
Since 1994, Nathaniel has been a part of UC Cooperative Extension and started out by managing the Americorp/VISTA volunteers who were responsible for introducing the 4-H program to communities across Los Angeles. The program grew quickly, engaging 4,000 to 5,000 kids daily. The power of the program was not just in its passionate volunteers, but the fact that the volunteers lived in the communities they served.
Prior to 4-H, Nathaniel worked for the Campfire Council and was introduced to informal education such as teaching youth in life skills and connecting with them outside of the traditional classroom. This experience served Nathaniel well as he transitioned into 4-H, inspiring him to pivot from his original goal of working in the formal K-12 system.
In 1997, Nathaniel was accepted to UCLA where he earned a doctorate of education while working full-time. “Going back to that seat at the table… by this time in my career, I knew that I wanted to influence policy that would benefit young people. I wanted to do more than teach. And I also knew that I needed the credentials to do it,” said Nathaniel.
Now, Nathaniel enters his 30th year of service to the community through UC Cooperative Extension. Realizing how far he has come, Nathaniel said that the adversity of his childhood helped build his character and prepared him for the battles ahead.
Emphasizing the significance of connecting with people, Nathaniel said that it is fulfilling to serve the community that raised him and credits the mentors and peers he has met along the way for his triumphs.
“If we surround ourselves with people that have our best interest in mind, we'd believe that we're going places,” he said. “It's about being selfless, too. So that we can help others see themselves the way we see them; so they feel empowered to do whatever it is they want to do. That's what I had, and that's what I hope to give back.”
- Author: Saoimanu Sope
In celebration of Black History Month
When she was younger, Tamekia Wilkins believed that becoming a movie star was her calling. “Then reality sank in, and I knew that wasn't going to happen,” said Wilkins, an evaluation coordinator based at UC Agriculture and Natural Resources headquarters in Davis.
Her path forward focused on becoming a psychologist instead.
“I had this vision of helping people, but doing it while they were sitting on my couch, telling me about their troubles,” she said. Originally from Tuscaloosa, Alabama, Wilkins earned a bachelor's degree in psychology from the University of Alabama. Although she was set on psychology, Wilkins experienced a shift along the way – most of which was shaped by questions of identity and race.
Thinking back to the place and people that raised her, Wilkins said she had a good childhood. “I spent my days outside playing with friends. We'd play freeze tag, hide and seek… you know, normal stuff,” she said.
Wilkins grew up in Alabama during the 1980s and '90s. Her parents, however, endured the racial discrimination and segregation that catapulted the civil rights movement during the mid 1950s to late 1960s. Alabama has and always will be home for Wilkins and her family, especially her parents who live in the same house she grew up in, to this day.
For Wilkins and her three older siblings – two sisters and a brother – conversation about race and identity was a regular topic in their home. “My parents did not shy away from talking about our Blackness and race relations in this country,” said Wilkins. “It was a good thing, because it prepared us to have these conversations outside of the home, too.”
Despite only having high school diplomas due to circumstances, Wilkins' parents advocated for higher education. “They told us that if we went to college, life would be easier; they wanted us to do better than they were able to,” Wilkins said.
After completing her bachelor's degree, Wilkins packed up her stuff and left the only place she had ever known. She moved to Illinois to pursue a doctorate, getting her master's degree along the way.
As a master's student at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Wilkins studied human and community development. She was primarily interested in understanding the influence parents have on elementary school children's behavior in the classroom, based on their level of involvement. Her interests led to opportunities to learn how to conduct quantitative research, design surveys and use software for statistical analysis.
With her new skills and research-focused mindset, Wilkins completed her dissertation on the influence of racial socialization on children's academic performance and behavior during the early school years. “I wanted to understand internalized behavior, and investigate the how and what parents say about race and its effects on their children in different areas of life,” Wilkins said.
The data collected revealed that Black parents living in predominantly white neighborhoods were more likely to engage in racial socialization compared to those living in neighborhoods where the racial makeup was more diverse or predominantly Black.
“What I learned is that when you live in a community with others who look like you, you don't have to be as intentional all the time,” said Wilkins. “The racial makeup of elementary schools tends to resemble the communities they are located in. So, Black parents are more likely to have conversations about identity when their children are going to predominantly White schools.”
Wilkins surprised herself throughout her educational journey. Earning a Ph.D. was not a solid part of her life plan, but she is grateful that it all happened the way it did, noting some influential mentors along the way. “I had a mentor during grad school, Christy Lleras, whose research, even today, is based on social justice issues and inequity within education. She was my cheerleader and was always on board with everything I wanted to do,” said Wilkins.
Robin Jarrett, another mentor, was the only Black professor in Wilkins' department during the time she was a student. “Even though she wasn't my advisor, she was certainly a mentor with so much wisdom. We keep in touch to this day and sometimes I'll call her up and let her know what's going on in my life,” she added.
Today, Wilkins applies her research skills to her current role as an evaluation coordinator analyzing data for three UC ANR statewide programs: 4-H, UC Master Gardeners, and the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP).
“I never thought I would find myself in California,” said Wilkins. “Coming from Alabama, California always seemed like this ‘other place' that was way too expensive to live in.”
Fast forward to 2016, shortly after graduating with her Ph.D., Wilkins moved to Sacramento to begin working for UC ANR and has been supporting the same programs for eight years now. Despite living in California and being a lot closer to Hollywood, Wilkins admits that her dream of becoming a movie star remains in the past.
These days, she is more eager to take advantage of California's natural beauty and landscapes. “In the eight years that I've lived here, I have not done enough things. I need to do more exploration,” she said.
When asked about her success and the trajectory of her journey thus far, Wilkins said that having a growth mindset is number one. “I've always believed that I could accomplish whatever I set my mind to because I have a growth mindset. After that? You've just got to do the best you can. Always do the best you can!”
- Author: Pamela S Kan-Rice
Yu-Chen Wang is a UC Cooperative Extension plant pathology advisor serving Santa Cruz, Monterey and San Benito counties.
Wang, who joined UC ANR in 2022, studies diseases on vegetable and berry crops.
“So far, I have been contacted by a wide range of growers – including those who grow lettuce, broccoli, pepper, celery, bean, apple, strawberry and blackberry – about their disease problems. I am passionate about providing insight to help the community on their disease problems.”
“The lettuce industry here is suffering from impatiens necrotic spot virus (INSV) vectored by Western flower thrip along with soilborne diseases,” she said. The INSV caused lettuce growers in the Salinas Valley to lose an estimated $50 million to $100 million in 2021 and consumers to experience a shortage of lettuce.
Science piqued Wang's interest when she was in high school in Taipei, Taiwan. “We learned a lot about biology, chemistry and physics,” she said. “Observation of nature brings many questions. I was inspired by the power of science and research giving answers.”
Wang earned bachelor's and master's degrees in horticultural and crop science at National Taiwan University. She earned a second master's degree in plant protection from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo.
She enjoys working as a UC Cooperative Extension plant pathology advisor.
“This is a fun job that uses scientific skills to help people,” Wang said. “I enjoy serving and helping the community, and at the same time understanding how things work.”
For girls who aspire to be scientists, Wang advises them, “Don't get bothered with the gender stereotypes. If science is your passion, follow and pursue your passion. Gender is never the limitation.”
- Author: Heidi Holmquist, UCCE San Diego
When he's not swinging over pools of water or navigating past other obstacles on American Ninja Warrior, Eric Middleton, UC integrated pest management advisor for San Diego, Orange and Los Angeles counties, can often be found examining plants for insect pests.
Middleton, known as Bug Ninja on the TV competition, studies biological control in ornamental plant production. Insects chew on nursery plants, robbing them of their beauty so they can't be sold. He is comparing the efficacy and cost of using beneficial arthropods and pathogens in place of chemical pesticides and conventional management practices so he can share the findings with the growers and communities he serves.
Many people supported him on his road to success as a well-rounded scientist, Middleton said.
The path to entomology
Middleton was born in Salt Lake City, Utah, to scientist parents whom he considers the biggest influence on his career. More so than teachers, his parents were the ones who molded his interest in academics and science. At a young age, Middleton became interested in the scientific process and was intrigued by questions that nobody knew the answers to.
However, his path to a career in entomology was not always clear. “For quite a while I thought I would be a herpetologist because I liked snakes, but I didn't have a specific goal in mind for what I wanted to do.” In late high school and early college, Middleton dreamed about being a stuntman, but never seriously considered it as a career.
Middleton came to a crossroads with the trajectory of his career at his undergraduate college orientation at the University of Utah. He knew he wanted to be a scientist of some kind and that he enjoyed several different scientific disciplines, but the pressure was on to choose a major when orientation staff were dividing people into groups based on the major they wanted to pursue.
“Biology majors this way, psychology majors that way,” they directed students. Interested in both biology and psychology, Middleton momentarily froze, mentally contemplating the gravity of his next decision. It was a very literal “choose which direction you want your life to go” moment, Middleton said. As the two groups began walking in different directions, he was forced to make his choice, and ultimately walked away with the biology group.
Looking back at this moment which many young scholars experience, Middleton knows that he could have been happy in several different areas of study as long as he was still practicing science. Of course, Middleton is very content with where he ended up. “I'm glad I went with the biology group which ultimately led to entomology.”
Getting the teaching bug
After graduating with a B.S. in biology from the University of Utah, Middleton was accepted into the University of Minnesota where he earned his Ph.D. in entomology. In his doctoral program, Middleton got the opportunity to create and teach an entirely new undergraduate course.
“For a semester, I designed and taught a course on “Insect Warriors,” which consisted of the various ways insects fight each other and how they have been used in human warfare,” Middleton said, noting that fleas were infected to carry bubonic plague and flies to spread cholera during World War II and that the Romans launched beehives from catapults to disrupt enemy troop formations.
Middleton also had the students run and jump, then compared their results first to the world records for humans and for insects. “Of course, the insects always perform much better given their weight and size,” he said. “That was a great and unique experience and was a ton of fun.”
The support of his parents, teachers and other mentors along the way helped to develop Middleton into a leader passionate about understanding the natural world. “While I think bugs and agriculture are very interesting and important, the thing I am most passionate about is how we come to understand things and how to rigorously test to make sure we actually understand them.”
Collaborating with growers on research
Today, Middleton collaborates on integrated pest management research and helps Southern California growers establish IPM practices in their crops.
Middleton is currently working on four main projects. The first project is a study on agave mites and how best to manage them in ornamental agave production. The second project is a community-participation science project with the UC Master Gardeners to determine if African tulip trees have a negative impact on native pollinators in Southern California.
His biggest and third project is a USDA-National Institute of Food and Agriculture grant-funded study on small-scale urban agriculture. The goals of this project are to determine if small-scale, urban production is economically feasible for people trying to make money, and to figure out scale-appropriate pest, water and nutrient management.
Middleton's latest project is studying the ability of predatory Amblyseius mites to control agave mites.
While the impacts of his service at UC Cooperative Extension have been invaluable, there is always more work to be done, according to Middleton. “There is simply too much need for me to meet. Lots of people need help with pest management, and there are so many different areas that I could devote huge amounts of time to. It's pretty hard to say ‘no' and to prioritize only the most important things or the things I think I can help the most with.”
Outside of his career, Middleton still enjoys insects, agriculture and the outdoors. “My wife and I just got a new house and are in the process of turning the backyard into a food forest. That is a ton of fun and is very gratifying to work on.”
Competing on an eight season of American Ninja Warrior
Outside of work, Middleton's main hobby is running obstacle courses.
“I've always loved climbing on things and running amok, so it was a great fit for me. I've been lucky enough to get to compete on the TV show American Ninja Warrior every year since I started getting into obstacle courses back in grad school. That has been a crazy experience, both very fun and very stressful. But one of the most fun parts has been getting to share my love of entomology on a national stage and getting the two hosts, Matt and Akbar, to eat cooked insects if I complete the obstacle courses. Getting to compete and do so well on American Ninja Warrior is a very big source of pride. It was something I never would have thought was possible growing up, and also fits well with my pipe dream of being a stuntman.”
Although Middleton just joined UC Cooperative Extension in 2022, with his passion for entomology, he is already helping Southern California growers manage agave and aloe mites. To follow his research on biological control of thrips, mealybugs and spider mites in ornamental production, subscribe to his YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/@emiddleton_ucce or follow him on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/dungbeetlestrong. His seminars on best management practices for current and potential invasive pests will be posted on the UCCE San Diego events calendar at https://cesandiego.ucanr.edu. To watch him tackle obstacle courses, tune into NBC's American Ninja Warrior in 2024.
