CSUB receives $1.5 million from The Wonderful Company to enhance student spaces

Gift will establish Wonderful Scholars Center in Rohan Building

By California State University, Bakersfield

February 27^th, 2026

Students at California State University, Bakersfield are set to receive a significant upgrade to their communal spaces in the Rohan Building thanks to a $1.5 million gift from The Wonderful Company.

The investment will fund a new exterior elevator and remodeled restrooms to bring the building into Americans With Disabilities Act compliance and expand much-needed space for student services. The project includes upgrades to the second floor to establish a new Wonderful Scholars Center that will include new furnishings, flooring and paint to better support academic success and community.

“College should be a place where students feel supported, connected and able to achieve a future bigger than anything they imagined,” said Andy Anzaldo, chief operating officer of corporate social responsibility at The Wonderful Company. “This investment reflects Wonderful’s long-standing commitment to the Central Valley and to helping cultivate future leaders. This work includes creating environments where students can thrive — academically, personally and in the community.”

One of the biggest agricultural enterprises and employers in the Central Valley, The Wonderful Company is known for its healthy consumer brands, including Wonderful Pistachios, FIJI Water, POM Wonderful, Wonderful Halos, Wonderful Seedless Lemons, as well as Teleflora, and JUSTIN, Landmark and Lewis Cellars wines.

The company and its founders, Lynda and Stewart Resnick — along with their foundations — have provided significant philanthropic support in the Central Valley, investing more than $850 million so far in the region where most of its workers live and raise their families across health and wellness, education, infrastructure, affordable housing and more.

President Vernon B. Harper Jr. believes the donation will be transformational for the university and its students, including 175 Wonderful Scholars attending CSUB on a scholarship provided by the Resnicks and their foundation.

“With this generous gift in the service of excellence through higher education, The Wonderful Company has doubled down on its role as a powerful force for good in our community,” he said. “The path-breaking work that The Wonderful Company is doing to support students through the Wonderful Scholars program is a model of innovation in our community, state and nation. On behalf of Kern County’s University, we are humbled and honored to deepen our partnership through this extraordinary opportunity.”

The Resnicks, their foundation, and The Wonderful Company have long been supporters of higher education in the Central Valley, providing scholarships of up to $40,000 each to more than 3,500 students across the region. Most are among the first in their families to attend college. In addition to financial support, Wonderful Scholars also receive college application support and on-site coaching support to help them navigate their college experience.

In recognition of the company’s longstanding support, the CSUB student lounge located in the Student Union will also be renamed the Wonderful Student Lounge.

“The Wonderful Company has been an incredible partner to CSUB and, most importantly, to our students,” said Emily Poole Callahan, associate vice president and dean of students at CSUB. “This generous gift, and the space it will create, will provide even more opportunities for academic success, career readiness, student support, and well-being through campus and community collaborations. We are truly grateful for this support.”

The Rohan Building was formerly a residence hall and now serves as the home for multiple departments on campus. Associate Vice President of Capital and Facilities Management Services Kristine De Young said building upgrades will also include roof repairs and the installation of a new fire safety system. Work is expected to begin in late 2026 or early 2027 and be completed in 2028.

“We are grateful to Wonderful for this exciting opportunity to remodel the Rohan building and enhance its impact and usefulness for our campus community,” she said.