Alumni Panel
Natalie Baumgartner
Fresno State Alumnus
Natalie Baumgartner was recently hired as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Animal Sciences and Agricultural Education after serving as a lecturer in the department this past academic school year. She earned her Ph.D. in Education, specializing in Agricultural Education, from Oregon State University in 2024. Her research focuses on school-based agricultural education, particularly the experiences of teachers working with English language learners. With more than a decade of experience in SBAE, Natalie previously served as a graduate teaching assistant and supervisor of teacher candidates at Oregon State University and spent seven years as a high school agriculture teacher in California. Natalie is currently one of the teacher educators in the department, where she mentors and supports future agricultural educators as they prepare for their teaching careers. She is an alumna of Fresno State, where she also earned her teaching credentials, and is excited to return to her alma mater to continue her passion for teaching and supporting students.
Lauren Layne
Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo Alumnus
Lauren Layne is a Partner at Baker Manock & Jensen, PC in Fresno where she chairs the firm’s Business Department and leads the firm’s Water Law and Public Agency practice groups. Her law practice focuses on general water and environmental law, including CEQA and NEPA compliance, and includes various business transactional matters in the areas of water rights, water quality, public agency law, agribusiness, and real property. She also assists clients with land acquisitions and eminent domain proceedings. In addition to representing private farming clients, she serves as general counsel to various irrigation and water districts, flood control districts, and a number of Groundwater Sustainability Agencies.
Lauren is a native of Porterville and has an agricultural background that includes farming, growing citrus and olives, and raising sheep. She was very involved in both 4-H and FFA, is a past 4-H Leader, and received her American FFA Degree. Lauren attended California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, where she majored in Soil Science, chaired the National Agricultural Ambassador Conference, and competed on the Livestock Judging Team. Post Cal Poly, Lauren earned her J.D., with distinction, from McGeorge School of Law. She is currently serving as the President to the Cal Poly Alumni Association Board of Directors and as an Executive Committee Member on the Dean’s Advisory Council for the Cal Poly College of Agriculture Food and Environmental Sciences. Lauren also serves as President of the McGeorge Alumni Association Board of Directors. She is the Vice Chair of the Association of California Water Agencies (“ACWA”) State Legislative Committee and serves on the ACWA Legal Affairs Committee. Lauren is co-chair of the Fresno County Bar Association Ag Law Section and serves as an Advisor to the California Lawyers Association Business Law Section – Agribusiness Committee. Lauren is also a member of the Fresno County Women Lawyers and Fresno County Farm Bureau.
Julia Scarborough
Chico State Alumnus
Julia Scarborough is a recent graduate of Chico State, graduating in 2024 with a B.S. in Animal Science. During her time, she was heavily involved in the Meat Science Judging Team and Club. She transferred from Modesto Junior College, where she was an MJC ambassador. She currently works as a service technician for a poultry company in the Central Valley, where she oversees multiple farms, is responsible for poultry grow out, and manages personnel.