Deborah Adishian-Astone has been named executive director of Auxiliary Services at California State University, Fresno, President John D. Welty announced today (March 19).
Adishian-Astone has served the past three years as the assistant to the vice president for administration and Save Mart Center coordinator. She was responsible for the management of the development process for the $103-million Save Mart Center project.
Adishian-Astone’s work at Fresno State spans more than 14 years. She joined the staff in 1988 as an assistant facilities planner. She advanced to facilities planner, interim director of facilities planning and ultimately was named director of facilities planning at the 19,000-student university.
As executive director of Auxiliary Services, Adishian-Astone will oversee more than $22 million in campus-related operations, including the bookstore, the University’s food service, the University Student Union and University Courtyard, and provide management and financial services to University auxiliary organizations. She also will oversee the operation of the new Save Mart Center at Fresno State and the University’s recently acquired power plant in Dinuba.
The executive director reports to the Board of Directors of the California State University, Fresno Association, Inc. and works with numerous auxiliary boards and the university’s academic affairs, student affairs and university advancement divisions. The executive director also works in conjunction with the university’s Chief Financial Officer to oversee the fiscal management of the California State University, Fresno Association; the California State University, Fresno Foundation; Fresno State Programs for Children; and the Agricultural Foundation.
“Debbie is an outstanding member of the administrative team at Fresno State, and we are fortunate that she will bring those skills to bear on the increasingly important auxiliary operations of the University,” said Benjamin Quillian, Chair of the Association Board of Directors, Vice President for Administration, and Chief Financial Officer. “She has an incredible commitment to Fresno State, and her leadership has been an obvious part of the success of the Save Mart Center as well as the ongoing construction and renovation of the campus.”
Adishian-Astone said, “I am excited about the opportunity and look forward to helping shape the future of our auxiliary corporations which play a vital role in supporting the University’s mission….In addition to the recent acquisition of a power plant and the construction of the Save Mart Center, there will be many new and exciting opportunities ahead.”
Adishian-Astone completed the Management Development Program at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. She earned her Master’s Degree in Business Administration at Fresno State and a bachelors degree in business administration with an emphasis on marketing and management.
She is a member of the Society of College and University Planners and the Urban Land Institute. She, and her husband Mark and son Andrew live in Fresno.
