Emmy-winning production designer Roy Christopher leaves lasting impact in theatre arts

February 25, 2021.Reading time 6 minutes.

Roy Christopher, a Fresno State alumnus and 10-time Emmy-winning production designer and art director, died of natural causes on Feb. 2 at his home in West Hollywood. He was 85. His credits include decades of work on Oscar, Tony, Emmy and Grammy award broadcasts.

Fresno State alumnus Anthony Cody finishes as finalist for National Book Award for Poetry, shares influential books

November 19, 2020.Reading time 14 minutes.

Anthony Cody - National Book Award finalist

Dressed up in black, with a bowtie, burgundy jacket and matching burgundy Pumas, author and Fresno State alumnus Anthony Cody waited with anticipation in the virtual green room for the 71st National Book Awards to be announced.

Broadcast journalism alumna wakes up the Northwest

September 2, 2020.Reading time 1 minute.

Brittney Steele sits in a television studio set.

While her community sleeps, Brittney Steele works to find, write, and update stories for the morning news program “Wake Up Northwest” at NBC Right Now in Kennewick, Washington.

Alumnus Miguel Alvarez grows the next generation of artists

April 14, 2020.Reading time 8 minutes.

He spent his summers in the fields, picking fruits and vegetables in the scorching Central Valley heat. His winter breaks, pruning grapevines. The whole family’s effort was required to have the bare essentials to survive. He knew the best way to help his family was to break the cycle.

Featured Supporter: Miguel A. Gastelum

February 11, 2020.Reading time 5 minutes.

Miguel A. Gastelum is a Graduates of the Last Decade (G.O.L.D.) Dean’s Council member, a program that enables recent alumni to support the college through membership for as little as $10 per month. He’s always been passionate about Fresno State and, as a G.O.L.D. level donor, he believes in providing students with opportunities to enrich their education and time spent at the university.

Kudos to Fresno writers: October/November 2019

December 10, 2019.Reading time 11 minutes.

Kudos to #FresnoWriters is a regular series on the Fresno State MFA blog, celebrating the professional accomplishments of students, alumni, and faculty in the Creative Writing Program and the Department of English at Fresno State.

Local community colleges hire English and creative writing grads

October 25, 2019.Reading time 29 minutes.

Emily Froese (MA English) at College of the Sequoias; Cody Hoover (MA English) at Clovis Community College; Kristen Norton (MFA Creative Writing) at Fresno City College; and Monique Quintana (MFA Creative Writing) at Fresno City College.

These educators are dedicated teachers with a range of classroom experiences — from graduate teaching associate positions at Fresno State, to area high schools and community colleges — and they represent the latest standouts among our English and Creative Writing graduate program alumni who’ve decided to keep their higher-ed teaching work at home in the Central Valley.

Full circle: A conversation with alumna, creative director, graphic design lecturer Jessie Irwin

October 25, 2019.Reading time 10 minutes.

This fall semester, graphic design alumna Jessie Irwin returns to Fresno State as a lecturer to teach “History of Graphic Design” while also working as the Creative Director at Jeffrey Scott Agency (JSA) in downtown Fresno.

Featured Supporter: James Cardella

October 24, 2019.Reading time 6 minutes.

It was 1952 when an eight-year-old Jim Cardella, accompanied by his parents, left his home in Firebaugh to board the “California Zephyr” train in Oakland and begin an epic journey that took him nearly halfway around the world.

Featured supporter: Michael Giovannetti

September 24, 2019.Reading time 9 minutes.

“I cannot imagine my life without the presence, friendship, and the unconditional support of teachers, administrators, colleagues, and friends from Fresno State.”