Graduating senior becomes Fresno State’s first Presser Scholar Award recipient
Shakira Delgado, a graduating senior clarinetist at California State University, Fresno, has been named an Undergraduate Presser Foundation Music Scholar.
Read MoreTag: Student Success
Jazz Orchestra earns ‘outstanding performance’ from DownBeat Magazine
The Fresno State Jazz Orchestra was recognized in DownBeat Magazine for its “Undergraduate College Outstanding Performance” in its 48th annual Student Music Awards.
Read MoreIntegrated design grad earns degree after fleeing war in Yemen
She was one year away from graduating, when war broke out and forced her university to close.
Read More2024 Commencement celebrates students’ creative and intellectual excellence
The College of Arts and Humanities congratulates all of this year’s graduates!
Read MoreStudent of Distinction: Jessica Bonstein – Department of Communication
Jessica Bonstein is a graduate student receiving her M.A. in communication and is the graduate Dean’s Medal nominee from the Department of Communication.
Read MoreKudos to Fresno Writers — Fall 2023
Kudos to #FresnoWriters is an ongoing series on the Fresno State MFA blog, celebrating the professional accomplishments of students, alumni, and faculty in Fresno State’s Department of English and Creative Writing Program.
Read More15 college success tips from faculty and staff with a little help from ChatGPT
Welcome, Students! It’s your first week of the 2023-24 year at the College of Arts and Humanities at Fresno State, where your academic journey is our utmost priority. In an effort to enhance your college experience, we asked our esteemed faculty and staff members two questions: We then took their responses and fed them into […]
Read MoreSoprano Aunika Bull places second in regional opera competition
Competing against singers from across Central California, Aunika Bull won second place in the 19-22 years old division.
Read MoreFresno State Creative Writing students perform at 2023 Rogue Festival
Creative writing and literature students from Fresno State’s Department of English will headline the “Fresno Writers Live” performances at the 2023 Rogue Festival, scheduled for March 3 through 11 in Fresno’s Tower District.
Read MoreCommunication grad student Hannah Ellsworth receives Welty Award for community service
Fresno State graduate student Hannah Ellsworth was selected to receive the 2022 John D. Welty Award for Excellence in Community Service.
Read MoreJinjin Huang receives ANDYZ Student Award for health center design
“Receiving the award at the Las Vegas World Market was one of the greatest moments of my life.”
Read MoreGraphic Design students win 6 gold and 33 silver regional ADDYs
Many of these works will be on display at the “Revival BFA Portfolio Exhibition 2022” May 6-13 at the Phebe Conley Art Gallery. You can meet the graphic design students and discuss their work at the opening reception at 5 p.m. Friday, May 6.
Read MoreInterior Design program transforms into an award-winning powerhouse
“My mission as an interior designer is to create sustainable environments that balance aesthetics with functionality and enhance the wellbeing of the community.” ~ Alex Tsung
Read MoreTheatre students win national acting awards
The winners of all eight regional festivals typically travel to Washington, D.C. to compete at the National Festival at the Kennedy Center. However, due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the festival had to be postponed.
Read MoreInspired for life: Recent Arts and Humanities grads see early success
We celebrate and congratulate those recent alums who have found their path forward.
Read MoreArts and Humanities Students celebrate at in-person commencement
The breeze rejuvenated as it passed through the masked students in the warm May evening while graduates congregated outside Bulldog Stadium ahead of commencement. For many, this was among the first gatherings in the 14 months since the quarantine lockdown
Read MoreSix student designs win gold in regional ADDY Awards
Five Fresno State graphic design students have won six gold awards in the American Advertising Federation Regional ADDY Awards
Read MoreCombining art and ethnic studies: 7 questions with Erik Escovedo
Erik’s graduate exhibition, “Decolonizing Place and Time,” will be on display at the Graduate Art Studios Gallery at the M Street Arts Complex in downtown Fresno beginning May 14 and running through the summer.
Read MoreStandard Bearer: John Spankowski
“No childhood experience left a more positive impression on me than my time in primary and secondary music classes. Music touches people in ways that no other subject does. It exercises our aesthetic being and explores inexpressible human emotions.” ~ John Spankowski
Read MoreStudent of Distinction: Raquel Romero
“As a graduate student I realized that I wanted to explore how immigration is represented in Mexican literature and for my thesis project I presented an analysis that focuses on the relationship between migration and identity.” ~ Raquel Romero
Read MoreStudent of Distinction: Jeanette Yeboah-Amoako
“After just one day of volunteering in a dual language classroom at [an] elementary school, an interest in teaching that up until then had been latent, suddenly woke up and exclaimed, ‘rise and shine!'” ~ Jeanette Yeboah-Amoako
Read MoreStudent of Distinction: Claudia Amador
“I’ve made a future goal to inspire and encourage each of my students to engage, learn, and enjoy the education that they will be receiving in my classroom.” ~ Claudia Amador
Read MoreStudent of Distinction: Sadie Gleason
“[S]torytelling is so wonderful because it takes us on a journey with characters and places that are completely made up, yet by the end leaves us with a better understanding of the world and ourselves.” ~ Sadie Gleason
Read MorePublic Relations student receives community service scholarship
After two lifesaving surgeries at Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford, Lorenzi was eager to find a way to give back to the hospital.
Read MoreInterior Design students named IDEC finalist in Pacific West region
A team of four interior design students Omar Aldulijan, Jinjin Huang, Lesya Kuchkovskaya, and Lorena Seijas de Alvarez, have been selected as Pacific West Regional Finalists for the Interior Design Educators Council (IDEC) competition.
Read MoreCreative Writing students earn ‘Desert Nights, Rising Stars’ scholarships
Six Fresno State graduate students in the Master of Fine Arts Program have been awarded scholarships to attend the 2021 Desert Nights, Rising Stars virtual conference at Arizona State University.
Read MoreFamily, friends, educators and hard work; Tony Salazar chases his dream
A caring uncle, self-determination, and a network of friends and family elevate one student from a life in shambles to one of MCJ’s top students.
Read MoreInterior design student wins regional ANDYZ competition
Interior design major Marisol Coria received the “Best Student Design” for her Capstone project at the annual ANDZY Awards, president by the Central California and Nevada chapter of the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID).
Read MoreMCJ student creates Spanish language podcast on COVID-19
As businesses closed and schools began operating remotely due to COVID-19, Olegario Tapia became concerned as he watched his mother leave to work in the fields around Dinuba. “An abundance of the information my family consumed about the new virus came from unreliable social media outlets, and a lot of the time, it was misinformation […]
Read MoreBiology, philosophy, music student accepted into medical school despite the odds
While most children at 9-years old were playing with their toys, Anindita Rajasekaren and her family gathered around the computer to check their green card status. Year after year, they were disappointed…
Read MoreVoice student advances to semi-finals in second national competition
Fresno State Music Department graduate student, Christopher Rodriguez, has advanced to the semi-final round in the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) “2020 National Student Auditions.”
Read MoreLaura Hendricksen wins CAH Outstanding Thesis Award for work on Hidatsa language
Hendricksen won the 2020 College of Arts and Humanities Outstanding Thesis Award for “Demonstratives and Determiner-phrase Structure in Hidatsa Narrative Discourse: A Morphological, Syntactic, and Semantic Analysis.”
Read More2020 Grad Tribute
We want to be the first to congratulate you on your achievements. The College’s faculty and staff join us in applauding you.
Read MoreGraduate vocal performance student moves into 2nd round of national competition
“Christopher Rodriguez made a lovely gift for his mom on Mother’s Day,” said Dr. Maria Briggs – Okunev, assistant professor of voice. “He advanced to a second round of the National Classical Singer Competition.”
Read MoreMusic student wins international ‘Volterra Project Composer Award’
Music composition student Christian Cruz, who will graduate with a master’s degree in music composition, has won the “Volterra Project Composer Award.”
Read MoreKudos to Fresno Writers – February/March 2020
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.
Read MoreGraduate Dean’s Medalist | Anthony Cody, Department of English, MFA Creative Writing Program
“I am an anomaly. And because I am an anomaly, I will continue to create forward, give to poetry, make poems, explore the experimental, nurture spaces for communities on the margins, and foster the truths and anomalies in others through mentoring, workshops, and universities.”
Read MoreUndergraduate Dean’s Medalist | Greyson Canterbury, Modern and Classical Languages and Literatures
“I learned that diversity is something to be celebrated and that a large part of my identity is the path that I choose. I am Chinese and White, and I have chosen to embrace Spanish.”
Read MoreStandard Bearer | Daisy Underhill, Department of Philosophy
“Each discipline tried to get human behavior someway. [With] biology, I though genes would give me the answer; [with] philosophy: ideology.”
Read MoreStandard Bearer | Liliana Perez Rodriguez, Department of English
“I felt situated between two worlds, two worlds that I could not entirely identify with; yet, two worlds that I considered home. Over time, I started to see this double consciousness as an advantage rather than a setback, as my bilingual and bicultural experiences have granted me a critical lens through which to look at the world.”
Read MoreHaley Collins, Department of Linguistics, M.A. Student of Distinction
“Haley Collins is one of those shining stars who not only shines academically but also in terms of selfless service to her peers and to her community.” – Dr. Brian Agbayani
Read MoreHunter Sansom, Department of Communication Student of Distinction
“I feel as though my academic career has been defined by the perseverance and dedication to passion that my family instilled in me.”
Read MoreMarc McGhee, Department of Music, M.A. Student of Distinction
“Music is a large part of my life, and I hope to pass the love of music and art to others, no matter their age or experiences.”
Read MoreMaría Madrigal Piceno, Modern and Classical Languages and Literatures, M.A. Student of Distinction
“When I first arrived in this country, I faced the challenge of learning a new language and a new culture, but this has only increased my desire to continue learning.”
Read MoreMary Johnson, Department of Linguistics Student of Distinction
“She approaches everything with real drive, and nothing stands up to her fierce intellect.” – Dr. Chris Golston
Read MoreMelissa Hernandez, Department of Art and Design Student of Distinction
“I want to grow and learn to love myself as who I am and help others achieve the same thing.”
Read MoreRiley Thomas, Department of English, M.A. Student of Distinction
“Riley is an exceptional mixture of talent, creativity, life experience, and management ability. ” – Dr. Ashley Foster
Read More2019 MA Student of Distinction Trevor Driscoll heads to MIT
he applied to the University of Massachusetts Amherst and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). He was accepted to both programs — two of the top schools for Linguistics in the world according to Top Universities.
Read MoreMusic students and faculty shine at winter conferences
During the winter break, music students Marina Malcolm and Christopher Rodriguez presented at national conferences. Dr. Maria S. Briggs-Okunev was also with them and presented.
Read MoreStudents’ article on Hmong language to be published in conference proceedings
The article titled “Hidden Melodies of the Hmong Language: The Rhythmers” will be published in the conference proceedings, which will be the first time for the students.
Read MoreMCJ’s 2019 Hall of Fame funds future students, recognizes honorees and inductees
More than 150 alumni, scholarship recipients, students, faculty, parents and ten honored MCJ alumni and friends attended the 2019 Hall of Fame Induction and Scholarship Reception.
Read MoreBarking Bulldogs Debate Team shines in San Diego
Last weekend, Oct 5 and 6, the Barking Bulldogs traveled to San Diego to participate in the Aztec Invitational Forensics Tournament hosted by San Diego State University. A total of 22 teams participated in the tournament and Fresno State Barking Bulldogs shined amongst them.
Read MoreBarking Bulldogs see early success at Sun Devil Invitational Debate Tournament
Recently, the Barking Bulldogs traveled to Tempe, Arizona to participate in the Sun Devil Invitational Debate Tournament hosted by Arizona State University. Here’s how they did…
Read MoreCreative Writing student lands coveted publishing internship
Fresno State English major Rodolfo Avelar never imagined himself sitting on a balcony overlooking downtown Minneapolis for his work, reading poetry manuscripts and thinking about graphic design.
Read More20-year-old advertising student earns bachelor’s degree in three years
For most students, getting a bachelor’s degree in four years is a challenge that requires careful planning. When Kylie Bell started at Fresno State, she set a goal of graduating in three and a half years. However, even that wasn’t fast enough.
Read MoreBravely enduring
Facing fatherhood, homelessness and injuries: One veteran’s journey to success
Read MoreGraduate’s Air National Guard service helped her pay for school
As a youngster, Fernandez loved reading and writing. Her mother always encouraged her to write down her feelings and eventually Fernandez used this as an outlet.
Read MoreLorie Hanoian, Student of Distinction
As a child visiting the Los Angles art museums, Lorie Hanoian fell in love with art. That love led her to attend an apparel design program at Diablo Valley College in Pleasant Hill before getting her Bachelor of Arts in Theatre and later a B.A. in Studio Art at Fresno State. Hanoian is currently working to complete her Master of Arts in Art History.
Read MoreBlanca Y. Davila D., Student of Distinction
When Blanca Y. Davila D. was just three years old, her family moved from Mexico to the United States in pursuit of the American Dream. With field work being a part of her family’s daily life, her parents pushed her, and she pushed herself, to succeed in her educational pursuits. “Blanca sees herself as a […]
Read MoreVictoria Cisneros, Student of Distinction
A graduate of Selma High School, Victoria Cisneros says she found her home and a place of belonging in the Communication Department. During her time at Fresno State, she has utilized her writing skills as a political reporter for the Collegian and a Communication Assitant for the Alumni Association.
Read MoreMegan Evans, Student of Distinction
Megan Evans, who will complete her M.A. in English with an emphasis in Rhetoric and Writing studies has engaged in advanced scholarship through coining the term “rogue feminism” as a way of naming a rhetorical phenomenon she observed in social media platforms.
Read MoreNolan Trupp, Student of Distinction
With a childhood ambition of becoming a teacher, Nolan Trupp knew he wanted to change people’s lives, but didn’t quite know what he wanted to teach until he took an American Sign Language class at Fresno State. He fell in love with the language and the culture knew he had found his way to change the world.
Read MoreTessa Barretto, Student of Distinction
Tessa Barretto finds elegance and peace in the French language. For her, everything sounds beautiful — even the ugliest of words.
Read MoreFour years straight; Fresno State Contemporary Dance Ensemble achieves gala status
“So many striking meaningful images filled the stage, images that will stay with me for a while”
Read MoreGraphic Design students decorated in gold at the 2019 regional American Advertising Awards
Seven graphic design students received gold at the American Advertising Awards (ADDYs) for 2019 in the First Level Tier District 13 which recognizes artists as the best of the best within their markets.
Read MoreFresno State Theatre Arts students bring home top honors from regional theatre festival
In her first attempt writing as a theatre critic, Theatre Arts student Lia Dewey found herself at the top of the region and among four finalists who will compete at the national level at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C.
Read MoreCreative Writing MFA student Mariah Bosch to perform experimental spoken word at Rogue Festival
First-year MFA student Mariah Bosch and composer EJ Hinojosa’s Rogue show, “Triptych,” brings music and spoken word together in “an experimental collaboration characterized by risk and heartfelt contemplation.” The poetry explores themes of past, present, and future, while the music synthesizes jazz, rock, and baroque styles inspired by the poetry.
Read MoreStudents collaborate to publish a children’s book which teaches environmental responsibility
College of Arts and Humanities undergrads Kelsi Stieler, Kaylee Gutierrez, and Kristin Bonillas have utilized their talents and collaborated to write, illustrate and publish a children’s book. “The Tree Tales” book, which is available on Amazon, centers around the importance of environmental conservation and teaches kids what they can do to help. “A large part […]
Read MoreCommunication students organize TEDxFresnoState event
Five speakers and one musician took to the TEDx stage in the Wahlberg Recital Hall on Wednesday, Nov. 14 for an afternoon designed to discover new ideas and spark conversations within our community. The event was curated by Dr. Marnel Niles Goins, Professor and Graduate Coordinator in the Department of Communication, and organized by her […]
Read MoreUndergrad Linguistics student Julia Whelan presents at the 2018 NordMetrik conference in Stockholm, Sweden
The College of Arts and Humanities takes pride in supporting the wide range of creative and academic endeavors of students and faculty — endeavors made possible through generous gifts made to the Dean’s Council Annual Fund. DONATE NOW! In September, Dean’s Council funds helped yet another Arts and Humanities student experience a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Thanks […]
Read MoreArt and Design alum Fidel Mendoza dazzles as Bronco Wine Co’s new Lead Graphic Designer
Department of Art and Design alum Fidel Mendoza’s success in the graphic design industry has culminated into a recent promotion to Lead Graphic Designer for Bronco Wine Co. which boasts a highly varied selection of wine that they produce from vineyard to table. Bronco Wine Co. is the largest vineyard owner in the U.S. and the […]
Read MoreU.S. News ranks Fresno State nation’s top public university in graduation rate performance
~ Reprinted from FresnoStateNews.com September 13, 2016 – California State University, Fresno, was singled out as the nation’s best public university in graduation rate performance in U.S. News and World Report’s 2017 Best College rankings issued today. The graduation rate performance category uses the university’s actual performance as compared to predicted performance based on student […]
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The College of Arts and Humanities at Fresno State 