Fresno State President Joseph I. Castro has announced the appointment of alumnae Gena Strang-Behrens and Zoua Vang to the University Advisory Board, a panel of community members who provide him advice regarding the improvement and development of the university.

Strang-Behrens, a Hanford native, is a sales associate for Ideasplus Promotional Products in Fresno. She graduated from Fresno State in 1988 with a bachelor’s degree in Criminology. She was a student-athlete, playing softball from 1985-88 and was inducted into the Fresno Athletic Hall of Fame.

Her husband, John Behrens, is also an alum who was quarterback of the Bulldogs football team in 1971-72. She has three stepchildren and six step-grandchildren.

Zoua Vang, a Fresno native, heads the Policy and Communications Department for First 5 Fresno County. She previously worked in television news and has been honored for her reporting and documentary films with two Associated Press Awards and a Best of the West award.

She holds a master’s degree in Mass Communication from Fresno State. She lives in Fresno with her husband and three young children.

“I am pleased that these alumnae have agreed to advise me as I begin my presidency,” said Castro. “I look forward to tapping their expertise and wisdom as we work together to serve the university.”

Castro also thanked departing Advisory Board member Roxanne Stephenson for her eight years of service to the board.

The Advisory Board, chaired by Sandy Brown, includes members Jim Anton, Armen Bacon, Katherine Flores, J. Michael McGowan, Michael Patton, James Shekoyan, Julia Tone and Allysunn Walker-Williams.