About the Pacific Coast Coalition - Dairy Business Innovation Initiative

Dr Licon is the Associate Director for the Institute for Food and Agriculture and the Director of the Milkulture Institute, which brings an interdisciplinary approach to the art, science, and culture of dairy products. Director of the Dairy Products Technology Center at Cal Poly, Dr. Licon earned her M.S. and Ph.D. in Agricultural Science and Engineering at the University of Castilla La Mancha, Spain, specializing in dairy product development and aroma analysis. She also served as a postdoc in France at the National Institute of Agricultural Research and at the Institute of Neuroscience in Lyon, where she explored how bacteria interactions in cheese will influence the aroma composition and how consumers perceive these aromas. She has secured >$23 million in grants, much of which supports the PCC-DBII. Dr. Licon created the recipe for an award-winning cheese with saffron and is a cheese enthusiast fascinated by the olfactory system and how it influences emotions and food choices.

Dr. Susan Pheasant is the Director of the Institute for Food and Agriculture and “cowkeeper” for the Pacific Coast Coalition - Dairy Business Innovation Initiative, a >$23 million endeavor spanning six states and eight institutions of higher education. Her educational background includes undergraduate degrees in Agricultural Economics and Business Administration (WSU) as well as an MBA-Ag Specialization (Cal Poly-SLO) and an Interdisciplinary Ph.D. incorporating ag econ, marketing, education, and rural sociology (WSU) to evaluate how growers make decisions to adopt new technologies and ideas. Dr. Pheasant has consulted with national and international agribusinesses and non-profit organizations to implement change technologies and educational programs, helped producers prepare for food safety audits, and conducted 3rd party audits. She is part of a six-generation lineage of tree fruit growers who firmly believe and practice that apple pie is best a la mode with ice cream.

Jennifer graduated from Fresno State with a blended program degree in Liberal Studies and Elementary Education. With seven years’ experience in Human Resources and Office Management, she now supports Fresno State Foundation grants by paying invoices, reimbursements, travel claims, ordering supplies, student new hires, and processing timesheets. She also plays a critical role in organizing the Ag Kids Camp for local youth (ages 7-11) to experience farm, food, and agriculture at the 1,000-acre Fresno State farm.

Grace earned her Bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Business with a minor in Animal Science from California State University, Fresno. Her academic background provides a strong foundation in agricultural systems, financial management, and regulatory frameworks within the agriculture industry. In her role for PCC, she oversees federally funded grants administered through the Institute for Food and Agriculture. She also works closely with PCC awardees to manage contracts, process reimbursements, and monitor grant expenditures throughout the full lifecycle of each award — from contract execution through closeout. In addition to financial oversight, she serves as a key point of contact, providing guidance on compliance requirements, reimbursement procedures, and grant-related processes. Her work supports the success of agricultural programs and research initiatives by ensuring funding is managed with integrity, transparency, and accountability.