Author Randa Jarrar, a Fresno State associate professor of English, won The Story Prize Spotlight Award for the best short story collection published in 2016. Jarrar’s latest book, “Him, Me, Muhammad Ali,” was published in 2016 by Sarabande Books. The award, which honors works that demonstrate “an unusual perspective on the writer’s craft,” includes a $1,000 prize. The Story Prize judges praised Jarrar’s collection for its outsider characters, saying: “Her storytelling skills and empathy for her characters – who are often Arab Americans – shine through.” Jarrar teaches in the Master of Fine Arts Program in Creative Writing at Fresno State. INFO: Jefferson Beavers, jbeavers@csufresno.edu or 559.278.1569.