About Us

Professor Naomi Rutuku

Naomi Rutuku is an English professor at Bakersfield College, where she has been teaching Composition and Literature since 2017.

Naomi holds her Master of Arts degree in English Rhetoric and Composition and her Bachelor of Arts degree in English Literature from California State University, Northridge.

Professor Rae Ann Kumelos

Rae Ann Kumelos holds a Ph.D. and Masters in Mythological Studies, with a Masters in Literature/Mythology and a B.S. in Marketing. Rae Ann has spoken at a number of conferences internationally and in the United States on animals in mythology and her writing has been published in  newspaper and magazine columns, academic journals, and as a series on XM Satellite Radio. Rae Ann’s book Wild Wisdom: Animal Stories of the Southwest won a national Independent Publishers Award and she is currently under contract with her publisher working on a book about Gemstones.  

Professor Keri Wolf

Keri Wolf is Professor of English at Bakersfield College. She holds a Ph.D. in English from the University of California, Davis, and teaches a variety of classes at Bakersfield College including composition and Shakespeare.

Professor Olivia Garcia

Olivia Garcia is a history professor at Bakersfield College. She also is a part-time lecturer for the Communications Department at California State University, Bakersfield, teaching classes on media ethics, journalism and writing. Before her teaching career, Olivia spent 20 years as a professional journalist, working as daily newspaper reporter and magazine editor.

Olivia holds a master’s degree in history from CSUB and a bachelor’s degree in mass communication and journalism and a second bachelor’s degree in Chicano Studies, both from Fresno State.  She is also a BC alumni, having graduated with dual associate’s degrees in journalism and Spanish.

When she is not teaching or writing, Olivia is spending time with her husband and their sons, running, hiking, and reading. She also volunteers in the community with groups such as the Kern County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, the Mendiburu Magic Foundation, the CSUB Public History Institute, the BC Women’s History Month and The Grapevine.

Professor Laura Peet

A Bakersfield native, Laura attended Foothill High School and CSUB and got a Bachelor’s Degree in English Literature and a Master’s Degree in English with an emphasis on composition.  Laura has taught English at CSUB and Taft College and has been teaching at Bakersfield College for the past 14 years.  She enjoys reading and writing (obviously), cooking, and spending time with her family. 

Professor Justin Bell

Justin Bell teaches English at Bakersfield College.