Organizational Development

Staff Training And Recognition

Staff Training And Recognition (STAR Day) is a campus tradition centered on celebrating staff for milestone years of service and providing a full day professional development conference. Service award recipients are traditionally honored at a special luncheon in the Save Mart Center with over 1,000 attendees, and numerous workshops are offered throughout the rest of the day to foster learning, growth, community building, and networking across the campus. All Fresno State staff are welcomed and encouraged to attend.

Dear Colleagues,

I am excited to invite you all to attend this year’s STAR Day, complete with opportunities for personal and professional development. STAR Day is held to recognize and celebrate 🌟you🌟 for your great work and dedication.

Fresno State is more than just a university—it is a home where talent is nurtured, achievements are celebrated, and pride runs deep. This year’s theme, "Fresno State All STARs," reflects the powerful connection between our people, our place, and our purpose. From excelling in the classroom and growing research, to competing at the highest level of college athletics, Fresno State gives everyone in the greater Central Valley a reason to be proud.

This year’s STAR day offers you opportunities to grow through professional fulfillment and well-being workshops, network and connect with colleagues, celebrate milestones and to simply have fun! It’s a chance to celebrate our staff and to recognize that, together, we make a winning team.

I am deeply honored to serve our students with you, as we elevate the quality of life of everyone in our region. Thank you for your commitment to supporting our Valley with our talented graduates!

Go ’Dogs!

Saúl Jiménez-Sandoval, Ph.D.
President

Tuesday, May 19

Workshops

8:00 a.m to 8:50 a.m. - Welcome Breakfast

9:00 a.m. to 9:50 a.m. - Session I

10:00 a.m. to 10:50 a.m. -Session II

10:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. -Vendor Fair

11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. - Service Award Luncheon

1:30 p.m. to 2:20 p.m. - Session III

2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. - Closing Session

Welcome

Georgianna Negron-Long, STAR Day Committee Chair

Master of Ceremonies

Faith Sidlow, Chair and Professor, Dept. of Media, Communications and Journalism

Opening Remarks

Dr. Saúl Jiménez-Sandoval, President

Retiree Recognition

Dr. Saúl Jiménez-Sandoval, President

5 Year Award Recipients and Cabinet Remarks

Brady Crook, Vice President for University Advancement

10 Year Award Recipients and Cabinet Remarks

Bao Johri, Vice President for Information Technology and Chief Information Officer

2025 Staff Recognition Awards

Scott Fetterhoff, Interim Associate Vice President for Human Resources

15 Year Award Recipients and Cabinet Remarks

Phong Yang, Vice President for Student Affairs and Enrollment Management

20 and 25 Year Award Recipients and Cabinet Remarks

Dr. Xuanning Fu, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs

Keynote Address

Paul Loeffler - Director of Broadcasting & Play-by-Play Announcer

30 Year Award Recipients and Cabinet Remarks

Matt Hawkins, Vice President for Administration and Chief Financial Officer

35 and 40 Year Award Recipients and Cabinet Remarks

Garrett Klassy, Director of Athletics

Closing Remarks

Faith Sidlow, Chair and Professor, Dept. of Media, Communications and Journalism

Avant, Blake
Box, Jenise D.
Estrada, David N.
Kennett, Alyssa L.

Obbanya, Adeke L.
Ovando, Manuel A.
Plata, Monica
Robles, Selena

Vidrio, Sabrina R.
Weigel, Rachel
Young, Charles

Alvarado, Isamar A.
Amador, Randolph
Andalon, Anna
Barks, Brenna Ariel
Bell, Lisa
Buchholz, Jennifer L.
Burke, Mackenzie Marie
Cao, Jasmine
Carmona, Eva
Castanon, Antoinette
Clayton, Dianna Lizbeth
Diaz, Gabriel
Esqueda, Joshua Reyes
Flores, Lorena
Flores, Michael
Frausto, Carlos David
Freeman, Joshua
Gomez, Robert Clifton
Gonzales, Alexandria Renee
Gross, Russell

Hall, Krista Denise
Handy Jr, Robert
Hartmann, Arlan
Hernandez, Yesenia
Hinojoza, Robert John
Ilic, Ashley
James, Jeremiah
Johnson, Aaron Christopher
Legarretta, Cathy
Lowry, Ryan
Magdaleno, Marcela
Maldonado, Hernan R.
Martinez, Michael A.
Messenger Jr, Charles Leslie
Miramontes, Angelica Desiree
Moate, Lanita Dawn
Navarro, Aide
Owens, Mary Beth
Pacheco-Werner, Tania L.
Pasillas, Alfonzo Cabral

Rodriguez, Robert L.
Sandoval De Macarena, Maria Carmen
Schneider, Terry Lee
Silva, Rueben Martin
Skardoutos, Sara
Stapp, Kimberly
Tellez, Abe
Thomson, Justin
Trujillo Jr, Louie Flores
Vandever, Lanny Lee
Vang, Lian
Visher, Brian J.
Vue, Rosmy
Vue, Tim Yeng
Wan, Dan
Yancy, Towisha

Arends, Julie
ElaGarza, Jose M.
Gaxiola, Ron
Gonzalez, Maria Hilda
Harootunian, Gillisann

Moore, Carrie
Negron-Long, Georgianna F.
Robertson, Jerry
Ruiz, Joseph -Rey
Sarantos, Megan
Scogin, Breanne

Yager, Laura
Woody, Pamela

Ananian,-Eastes Erica
Bergman Iii, Robert
Calhoun, Jessica E.
Chavez, Jeremy J.
DeRoo, Donna Michelle
Evans, Jean D.
Gaeta, Guillermo Salvador
Gjoshe, Renaldo
Hung, John En

Johnson, Jennie
Kinman, Peter W.
Lor, John
Madrigal, Ruben
Martinez, Syreeta Alexandria
Mathew, Virginia Anne
Moua, Kou
Perez, Ruben

Ramirez, Esmeralda
Reyes, Domingo
Rodriguez, Elise K.
Sinor, Elizabeth L.
Smothers, Christine L.
Tehee, Jason M.
Ternate, Kenneth D.
Vang, Pahoua

Austin, Stephen
Brassfield, Kathleen B.
Brown, Trisha R.
Castro, Franky R.
Cha, Sean Xiong
Chapman, Carmen M.
Fowler, Jay
Fu, Xuanning

Jimenez-Sandoval, Saul
Langridge, Angel
Nomura, Wendy
Obata, Traci L.
Perry, Margarita
Rabago, Laura J.
Reyna, Zaida
Rodriguez, Roseann H.

Vongdara, Bounthan V.
Yang, Phong
Yepez, Mariana X.
Zarrinehteram, Mehran

Atwood, Darren E.
Atwood, Rachel Velasquez
Avila, Daniel B.
Brazill, Misty A.
Chavira, Gary A.
Wagenleitner, John

Aparicio, Ruth K.

Alamano, Lori Lynn M.
Aparicio, Ruth
Bach, Son D.
Blake, Jolynne
Chase, Robert L.
Cornell, Charlene Lee
Ellington, Lisa Michele
Facchini, Mark William
Fiorentino, Michael C.

Gaines, David B.
Gong, Lisa Noelani Pacheco
Gorden, Christy Lynn
Hansen, Michael
Hembree, David
Luken, Michael J.
McGinley, Piper
Moore, Lauri

Olvera, Daniel Salvador
Pedraza, Antonia
Ponomarov, Vera
Robinson, Helen
Rothschild, Robert A.
Russell Kelly Dee
Villalobos, Randy
Yang, Xiaoming

President’s Cabinet

Dr. Saúl Jiménez-Sandoval, President
Matt Hawkins, Vice President for Administration & Chief Financial Officer
Brady Crook, Vice President for University Advancement
Dr. Xuanning Fu, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs
Dr. Alam Hasson, Vice Provost
Bao Johri, Vice President for Information Technology and Chief Information Officer
Garrett Klassy, Director of Athletics
Jason Hinson, Executive Director of Government Relations
Lauren Nickerson, Associate Vice President for University Communications
Diana Ralls, Chief of Staff, President's Office
Phong Yang, Vice President for Student Affairs and Enrollment Management

STAR Day Steering Committee

Amanda Angel
Patricia Benavides
Shawna Blair
Rigo Flores
Sarah Hildebrand
Juile Irwin

Julie Lindahl
Claudia Lopez
Felipe Mercado
Georgianna Negron-Long
Melissa Norris
Eva Owens

Veronica Reyes
Samuel Rodriguez
Kimberly Secrist
Eloisa Valdivia
Victoria Walter

Presenters

Additional Thanks

Christina Alvarez
Steve Aoki
Steven Austin
Matt Bacchetti
Kathleen Brassfield
Joel Beery
Bobby Castanon
Ty Cilluffo
Jeff Colvin
Varselles Cummings
Janine Derichsweiler
John Fugatt
Mike Garvey
Juana Gonzalez
Naomi Jackson

Angel Langridge
Andrew Lhouis
Gene Mazza
Sean McElhinney
Jennifer Mericle
Brian Mills
Jordan Mesrobian
Matt Montez
Janell Morillo
Bernadette Muscat
Elyse Pancotti
Jeff Rattana
Ivan Reed
Angelica Reyes

Elise Rodriguez
Save Mart Center Staff
STAR Day Volunteers
Student Recreation Center Fitness Class Instructor
Suzanne Shaw
Kimberly Secrist
Carol Sera
Katelyn Spencer
Max Tsai
Marie Tongson-Fernandez
Eric West
Lerin Winchester
Lindsey Yang
Mehrzad Zarrin