Esther Ngumbi  Doctoral student of entomology College of
Agriculture  Kenya native Esther Ngumbi, who earned her
bachelor's and master's degrees in her home country of Kenya,
began her pursuit of a doctorate in entomology at Auburn
University in 2008. Under the guidance of entomology associate
professor and integrated pest management specialist Henry
Fadamiro, Ngumbi focused on alternative strategies for
controlling crop-destroying insect pests. On Saturday, Aug. 6,
during Auburn's summer commencement ceremonies, she will realize
what at times seemed to be an impossible dream when she becomes
Esther Ngumbi, Ph.D. That day, she says, will be "the happiest
day of my life." A fervent advocate for ending world hunger, the
energetic, upbeat Ngumbi has received numerous awards and honors
while at Auburn, including most recently being selected to
participate in Clinton Global Initiative University 2011 and
being awarded a prestigious Schlumberger Foundation Faculty for
the Future Fellowship grant, a program that pro