Films from across the world illuminate Fresno State’s CineCulture

A women with dark hair and glasses stands in front of a chalk board with many mathematical equations on it. She is wearing a t-shirt and half of her face is illuminated while half is in the dark.

CineCulture is set for a semester of exciting new films from around the world. All screenings will be in the Peters Educational Center Auditorium (West of Save Mart Center in the Student Recreation Center Building.) Each film will be followed by a conversation about the film with a featured discussant who was involved in the filmmaking process or is a subject matter specialist. 

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Gandhi’s 150th birthday begins commemoration with exhibition of peace

Gandhi's bust in the Peace Garden at Fresno State.

The inauguration of an exhibition on the lives of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, Martin Luther King Jr., Daisaku Ikeda, and Cesar Chavez will mark the start of a series of events commemorating the 150th birthday of Gandhi at Fresno State. The community is invited to the ceremony at 9 a.m., Wednesday, Oct. 2 in the Henry […]

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Azores president headlines inaugural lecture for Portuguese institute

Vasco Alves Cordeiro, president of the Government of the Azores

Vasco Alves Cordeiro, president of the Government of the Azores will speak, at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 13, at Fresno State’s North Gym (Room 118), will serve as the inaugural lecture for the new Portuguese Beyond Borders Institute at the University. The event is free and the community is invited to attend.

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Drama-focused program unites future ESL teachers with international high school students

SJMHS drama program students

The innovative after-school program allows teachers to implement creative ways of teaching English through a drama-based context. This 2018 Fall semester, the linguistics department set into motion a brand new program that partners Fresno State’s future Teaching English as a Second Language (TESOL) teachers with English as a Second Language (ESL) international students at San […]

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Institute for Media and Public Trust presents First Amendment Forum

View of the Fresno State Peace Garden

Fresno State’s Institute for Media and Public Trust will present a First Amendment forum from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday, Sept. 17, at the Leon S. and Pete P. Peters Educational Center in the Student Recreation Center. This free event is open to the public. The forum will feature an expert panel that will explore free-speech issues on university […]

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Writer William Saroyan’s longtime Fresno home to open as museum

Author William Saroyan

~ By Barlow Der Mugrdechian, reprinted from FresnoStateNews.com The Fresno house where famed writer William Saroyan spent the last two decades of his life will open as a museum on Aug. 31, the 110th anniversary of his birth, with a private reception. Beginning in September, the William Saroyan House-Museum will be open for tours by […]

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Orff and Kodaly 101 intro workshop running July 16-20

Orff and Kodaly 101: An Introductory Workshop July 16-20 Fresno State Discovery, Diversity, Distinction

Dr. Emily Mason, assistant professor of the Department of Music and director for University Singers at Fresno State, will be holding a week-long summer workshop from 9 a.m. to noon July 16-20. The workshop, open to public school music teachers, will entail an introduction to the teaching pedagogies known as the Kodaly Method and the […]

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This month in the Arts and Humanities — June’s Top 5

June's Top 5 Fresno State College of Arts and Humanities

We take a look back at the fantastic events of this month in the College of Arts and Humanities. Here are the top five stories from the month of June. FOOSA Festival 2018 happening June 10-24 The Fresno Summer Orchestra Academy (FOOSA) held its annual festival on the Fresno State campus this month. Find out […]

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Fresno State launches Institute for Media and Public Trust

Jim Boren will lead the Institute for Media and Public Trust

~ Excerpted from FresnoStateNews.com Fresno State has established the Institute for Media and Public Trust to study media literacy and “fake news,” and develop strategies to restore trust in all forms of media. The First Amendment will be at the center of the Institute for Media and Public Trust’s work, said President Joseph I. Castro. […]

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FOOSA Festival 2018 happening June 10-24

FOOSA Festival Fresno Summer Orchestra Academy Thomas Loewenheim, Artistic Director June 10-24

The Fresno Summer Orchestra Academy (FOOSA), a project of Youth Orchestras of Fresno (YOOF) and Fresno State’s Department of Music, is holding its two-week intensive program June 10-24, on the Fresno State campus. The program centers around the FOOSA Philharmonic, a selective pre-professional level orchestra that provides graduate school, college and high school musicians the opportunity to learn from and work alongside professionals and faculty members.

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This month in the Arts and Humanities — May’s Top 5

May's Top 5 Fresno State College of Arts and Humanities

We reflect on the exciting events this month in the College of Arts and Humanities. Here are the top five stories from the month of May. Arts and Humanities student excels in France while completing his degree See how MCLL undergraduate student of distinction, Leslie Hille, has succeeded during his time studying abroad in France. […]

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Music alum featured on Education Matters

Music alum Michael Gutierrez featured on Education Matters

Congratulations to Michael Gutierrez, choir director for Firebaugh-Las Deltas Unified School District. Gutierrez, a 2013 music education graduate from Fresno State’s Department of Music, is featured in Education Matters!

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Mediator Mentors program will celebrate Mediator Mentor Appreciation Day

Mediator Mentor Appreciation Day May 24 (Pictured Dr. Tahvildary and President Castro)

Fresno State’s Mediator Mentors Program, under the Department of Philosophy, will celebrate Mediator Mentor Appreciation Day Thursday, May 24, located in North Gym 118.

Directed by the Philosophy Department’s Dr. Negin Tahvildary, the goal of the program is for students, as part of a university-public school partnership, to learn the valuable tools needed in supporting the development of conflict resolution skills in school children.

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Symposium embraces complexities of late alumnus, poet

Juan Felipe Herrera speaks at a national poetry symposium, “Together We’ll Be a Song: A Celebration of Andrés Montoya.”

Photo above: Juan Felipe Herrera gave a rousing keynote to open the symposium, followed by readings by winners of the Andrés Montoya Poetry Prize with Francisco Aragón. ~ Article and photos by Jefferson Beavers, communications specialist, Department of English More than 30 published authors from all over the country, including U.S. Poet Laureate Emeritus Juan Felipe […]

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Lyles Center, Ethics Center and BBB honor Jim Boren with ethical leadership award

Celebration of Ethics to honor Jim Boren

A new partnership between the Better Business Bureau Serving Central California & Inland Empire Counties and Fresno State’s Lyle Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship and The Ethics Center will celebrate ethical leadership and highlight the good work done in our community. The “Celebration of Ethical Leadership” event, at noon to 1:30 p.m. on May 9 […]

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Linguistics receives StarTalk grant to teach Chinese to school children

A StarTalk grant will allow the Linguistics Department to teach Chinese to 40 area school students this summer through a free summer camp. The Department of Linguistics at Fresno State applied for and received a StarTalk grant, a program funded by the National Security Agency and administered by the National Foreign Language Center at the University of Maryland. StarTalk aims to increase the number of U.S. citizens learning, speaking and teaching critical need languages, according to the website.

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Fresno State to mark anniversary of Armenian Genocide

Students at the Armenian Genocide Monument at Fresno State

The Armenian Genocide Commemorative Committee of Fresno will hold a commemorative event on April 24, marking the 103rd anniversary of the Armenian Genocide at the Armenian Genocide Monument at the Maple Mall (south of the Satellite Student Union).

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2018 Kazan Visiting Professor impacts Fresno’s Armenian community

From left, Barlow Der Mugrdechian, Yektan Türkyilmaz and Richard Hagopian.

The Henry S. Khanzadian Kazan Visiting Professorship in Armenian Studies is an opportunity that happens only once each academic year, for a semester. This year the Armenian Studies Program hosts Dr. Yektan Türkyilmaz as the Kazan Visiting Professor during the spring semester. Türkyilmaz’ final lecture will take place at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 17, in the University Business Center in the Alice Peters Auditorium at Fresno State.

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Two free Theatre for Young Audiences performances during Vintage Days

Theatre for Young Audiences presents "Wondrous Tales of Old Japan"

~ Reprinted from Campus News Fresno State’s Theatre for Young Audiences touring company of student actors has been a tradition at Fresno State for more than 50 years, and has toured more than 40 schools and over 16,000 children in a single season. During Vintage Days, there will be two free public performances, at 11 […]

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CineCulture honored with 2018 Spirit of Abraham award

This year, the Islamic Cultural Center of Fresno, by unanimous vote, selected CineCulture as a recipient for its 2018 Spirit of Abraham award.
Reza Nekumanesh, director of ICCF, said CineCulture earned the award in large part due to the personal efforts of Dr. Mary Husain, instructor and CineCulture club adviser. 

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This month in the Arts and Humanities — March’s Top 5

Featured images from March's Top 5 articles

We look back on another eventful month in the College of Arts and Humanities. Here are the top five stories from the month of March. Communication student presents at WSCA’s Undergrad Conference A recent Fresno State graduate presented her piece “Mourning the Living: Grieving a Transgender Relative’s Previous Gender Identity” at the WSCA’s 15th annual […]

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Theatre for Young Audiences tour makes a stop for Valley Children’s patients

Theatre For Young Audiences performed at Valley Children's Hospital.

On Thursday, March 15, Theatre for Young Audiences visited Valley Children’s Hospital for a special performance. Theatre for Young Audiences company members turned the Guild Hall into a performance space in a matter of 30 minutes and performed for a crowd of about 15 patients, with their parents and caretakers at their side.

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Fresno State collaborates on High School Journalism Day at FCC

Fresno State MCJ collaborates with Fresno City College

Fresno State and Fresno City College partnered up for High School Journalism Day Friday, March 9, to introduce students to opportunities in the field of journalism. The event was held at the Fresno City campus in the Old Administration Building.

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Peach Blossom Festival brings 5,000 youth to Fresno State campus

Elementary school students arrive on campus for the Peach Blossom Festival.

About 5,000 children representing nearly 145 elementary schools from the San Joaquin Valley will participate in the 60th annual Peach Blossom Festival of Oral Interpretation on Thursday and Friday, March 8 and 9, in various locations on the Fresno State campus. The festival, which attracts schools from Livingston to Delano, was created to help young people gain knowledge and appreciation […]

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Fresno State partners with FCC for High School Journalism Day

Fresno State will partner with Fresno City College for High School Journalism Day from 9-1 p.m. Friday, March 9, to present a variety of workshops concerning journalism. The event will be held at Fresno City in the Old Administration Building (the building numbered 2 on the parking map).

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Peach Blossom Diamond Jubilee celebrates festival’s 60 years

Photo by Cary Edmondson: A student performs at the Peach Blossom Festival.

The Peach Blossom Festival has touched the lives of many in Fresno over the past 60 years. The festival, presented by Fresno State’s Department of Communication, helps young people realize the importance of reading literature aloud and teaches them about interpretation, performance and being an audience member. Each year, Fresno State communication students spend months planning […]

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Spanish translation, interpreting courses incorporate service-learning component

From left, Flaviana Pulido, Professor Indira Sultanic and Jennifer Cushing

~ Pictured above, from left: Flaviana Pulido, Professor Indira Sultanic and Jennifer Cushing helped volunteer with Spanish translations at a recent community health fair provided by California Health Sciences University. ~ By Lisa Maria Boyles, communications specialist for the College of Arts and Humanities Even though this is her first semester as an assistant professor […]

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President’s Commission examines future of the Arts and Humanities

Dora Westerlund talks to the President's Commission on the Future of the Arts and Humanities

Earlier this year, Fresno State President Joseph I. Castro announced the formation of a President’s Commission on the Future of Arts and Humanities, during his State of the University address in January. Since then, commission members have been selected and have been meeting since September.

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We thank the community for Day of Giving success!

Thank you to our Day Of Giving donors!

Fresno State and the community rallied together on Nov. 2 to make the University’s first-ever online Day of Giving (D.O.G.) a success as 1,138 unique donors from 29 states and 3 countries participated. When the 24-hour campaign ended at 11:59 p.m., 168 digital ambassadors had helped secure 1,316 gifts totaling $431,395. Final results by college, area and department will be available by the end of the week.

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Coro Solare to perform its fall concert Nov. 5

Coro Solare chorus in concert

~ By Celeste DeMonte, publicity, Fresno Community Chorus The Fresno Community Chorus–sponsored Coro Solare will perform “Choral Classics: Music of Haydn, Martini, and Fauré” at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 5, at the College Community Church Mennonite Brethren. The concert is free and open to the public. Coro Solare will perform Martini’s “Domine, ad adjuvandum me festina,” portions of […]

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‘Unsung Heroes’ exhibition honors African-American veterans

Unsung Heroes photo exhibitions honoring African-American military veterans

Highlighting the voices and contributions of African-American military veterans, the “Unsung Heroes: Do You Know Who I Am?” exhibition will run Nov. 1 through 18 at the M Street Graduate Studios in downtown Fresno.

The mixed-media interactive exhibition also will be open from 5 to 8 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 2, as part of ArtHop, the open house of galleries and studios in downtown Fresno and the Tower District held on the first Thursday of each month. 

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Inspire a child — adopt a school

Promo image for Theatre for Young Audiences - shows poster for this year's play with image in the background of a previous production

Fresno State’s Theatre for Young Audiences has provided quality theatre productions for children throughout the Valley since 1928, while giving college students vital performance and touring experience.

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Center for Creativity and the Arts presents its lineup for fall 2017

Woman weaving a rebozo

The Center for Creativity and the Arts 2017-18 theme will be “Voice and Silence: Expressions of the Human Spirit and Community.”

“’Voice and Silence’ will look at the various ways in which we communicate our ideas, points of views and concerns regarding current events,” said Cindy Urrutia, coordinator of the center.

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‘Constitution Day’ kicks off fall 17 Ethics Lecture Series

The Leon S. Peters Ethics Lecture Series begins its fall semester line-up with “Constitution Day: A Dialogue for Democracy” from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Sept. 16, in North Gym 118. Topics will be free speech, American values, civility and opportunities for civic action.

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Fresno State professor Jes Therkelsen selected as finalist for Lynton Award

Jes Therkelsen selected as a finalist for Ernest A. Lynton Award

Jes Therkelsen, a Fresno State associate professor in Media, Communications and Journalism, was nominated by Fresno State Provost Lynnette Zelezny for the 2016 Ernest A. Lynton Award for the Scholarship of Engagement for Early Career Faculty, otherwise known as the Lynton Award. From a pool of 29 nominees from across the nation, Therkelsen was selected as one of only five national finalists.

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Fresno Community Chorus Master Chorale to hold auditions

Fresno Community Chorus

~ By Celeste DeMonte, publicity, Fresno Community Chorus Fresno Community Chorus Master Chorale and Coro Piccolo announces auditions for next season for singers in all voice parts, with rehearsals starting Aug. 29. Rehearsals for the non-auditioned Coro Solare begin Sept. 5. On Sunday, Nov. 19, the full chorus sings Dan Forrest’s “Requiem for the Living” and […]

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Encountering the Other

Music student Chris Carreon and Professor Benjamin Boone

Music and journalism project focuses on understanding other cultures ~ By Kathleen R. Schock, excerpted from the June issue of the Fresno State Magazine, Photos by Cary Edmondson View Photo Gallery Growing up in Stockton, Chris Carreon watched a lot of movies. Big blockbusters like Star Wars, Jurassic Park and Back to the Future. He […]

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Bird’s-eye view of FOOSA concert

FOOSA at Walt Disney Concert Hall

This fabulous 360-degree panorama video was shot by Daniel Schwartz of Accent Concerts. It gives you a birds-eye view from right in the middle of the Foosa Philharmonic Orchestra as Fresno State music professor Thomas Loewenheim conducts. It was recorded live on June 23 from the group’s performance in Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los […]

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A Canvas for the Arts

Artists painting

Renowned artists flock to the community to teach and to engage ~ Article by Lisa Maria Boyles, Illustrations by Joel Beery, excerpted from Fresno State Magazine Pick an art, any art. There’s a good chance it will be taught, performed or shared during two special programs offered this summer to provide community access to some […]

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