Hironaka-Juteau new associate dean of Health and Human Services
Dr. Jody Hironaka-Juteau, who chairs the Department of Recreation Administration, has taken on additional duties as associate dean for the College of Health and Human Services. Hironaka-Juteau joined the Fresno State faculty in 1999 and has served as department chair since 2007. At Fresno State, Hironaka-Juteau’s service includes the Academic Senate, President's Committee on Disabilities, University Budget Committee and Gender Equity Task Force. She is recognized for her expertise and experience in the areas of prejudice reduction, diversity training and collaboration. See the full story here.

Alum Brian Turner wins national fellowship
Brian Turner, an award-winning poet and Fresno State alumnus, has won a $50,000 unrestricted 2009 United States Artists Fellowship. Turner, a Visalia native, won acclaim for his poetic memoirs of Army service in Iraq, published as “Here, Bullet” in 2005. He was an infantry team leader in Iraq. He received the Charity Randall Prize for Poetry, the Poet’s Prize and the PEN Center USA Best in the West Literary Award for the book. See the full story here.

Abraham Terian appointed the eighth Henry S. Khanzadian Kazan Visiting Professor
Author and scholar Abraham Terian has been appointed the eighth Henry S. Khanzadian Kazan Visiting Professor in Armenian Studies at Fresno State. He is teaching a three-unit course, “Literature and the Armenian Genocide,” and will also give three public lectures this spring under theme “In the Darkness of the Genocide.” The first lecture, “Armenian Identity and the Genocide” is scheduled at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 17 at the Alice Peters Auditorium. The others are March 11 and April 29. All the lectures are free and open to the public. An acknowledged authority on Hellenistic Judaism, Early Christianity and Armenian studies, Terian has published extensively in these fields, including three books on the writings of the first-century Jewish philosopher Philo of Alexandria. His Magnalia Dei: Biblical History in Epic Verse by Grigor Magistros will appear in the Hebrew University Armenian Studies series.

Semester opens with 18,451 students,
new programs, challenges
The spring 2010 semester started Jan. 21 with 18,451 students registered — down 3,000 from a year ago due to budget-related cutbacks that necessitated a no-new-admissions policy for the semester. The first day went smoothly despite the latest in a winter rainstorm that brought out umbrellas and rain gear as faculty, staff and students coped with the wet and windy conditions. Barstow Avenue between Chestnut and Willow avenues was closed most of that day so power crews could repair two utility poles set askew by wind and rain-saturated soil. Despite the road closure, University Police reported minimal traffic issues as everyone navigated the usual first-of-semester congestion on campus roads and parking lots. One impact of budget cuts to the California State University system is reduced enrollment this semester because Fresno State could not add new students. Fall enrollment last semester was down by about 1,000 students and this fall, another 2,000 fewer students will be admitted. At his spring address to faculty and staff, President John D. Welty commended employees for their perseverance through class cuts, higher fees, furloughs, pay cuts, layoffs and other budget-balancing measures. See the full story here.

CSU Summer Arts 2010 catalog available
The CSU Summer Arts program celebrates its 25th anniversary this coming June and July with 15 courses taught by talented professionals in dance, theater, creative writing, visual arts, music, and more. The courses are divided into three sessions with the first session in drawing and painting being held in Florence, Italy from June 13 to July 3. The following two sessions divide the remaining 14 courses and are held on campus. CSU Summer Arts includes not only a diverse array of courses in the arts but also brings to the community an Arts Festival featuring the outstanding talents of the artists who are on campus to teach. These 27 public events will include dance, music, theatre, readings, lectures, and exhibitions. In addition each of the 14 courses at Fresno State will culminate in student presentations that are open to the public at no charge. All course intensives are taught by master teachers and guest artists who are held in high esteem within their artistic genre. CSU Summer Arts is open to all high school graduates, professionals, and serious amateurs in the arts. Catalogs are available by calling 241-6090 or online at www.csusummerarts.org.

New assignments in Office of Research and Sponsored Programs
Dr. Thomas McClanahan, associate vice president for Research, announced several temporary management reassignments in the ORSP effective in January. The new assignments follow the retirement of Grants Administrator Bill Hunt in December as well as Nancy Sims’ retirement earlier this year as Director of Sponsored Programs. Ms. Sims continues to work half-time assigned to the College of Science and Mathematics. The new assignments are as follows:

• Daniel Griffin 278-0839
  Kremen School of Education and Human Development, Student Services, Jordan College of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, Extended Education and Graduate Division
• Doug Carey 278-0964
  Colleges of Arts and Humanities, Social Sciences, Health and Human Services, Craig School of Business and the Madden Library
  
• Nancy Sims (half-time) 278-0836
  College of Science and Mathematics
  
• Tom McClanahan 278-0840
  Lyles College of Engineering
  

If you have any questions regarding these new assignments, please contact the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs at 278-0840.

OASIS offers services
The non-profit organization Valley Caregiver Resource Center’s OASIS Adult Day Dementia Care Program, operated by Gerontology part-time faculty, offers services designed to help families and communities master the challenges of caring for adults with brain impairing conditions. Regardless of someone's diagnosis, VCRC also offers services for adults age 60 and older in Fresno, Kern, Kings, Madera, Merced, Stanislaus and Tulare Counties. Caregiver services include, but are not limited to specialized information, respite care, legal/financial consultation, short-term counseling, family consultation and care planning, support groups, adult day care and education. The OASIS Adult Day Dementia Care Program and Early Stage Dementia PALS Program have been serving our community since 1983. VCRC also provides health insurance counseling for Medicare recipients (HICAP Program) and advocacy services for long-term residents (Fresno Madera Ombudsman Program). VCRC has been a host site for many Fresno State marketing, social work, and gerontology students in various capacities of internships, class projects and community service.  Please feel free to contact Jill Schneider, program director, or her assistant Susana Rodriguez at 221-0396 if you are in need any help or resources. See also www.valleycrc.org

José Elgorriaga, emeritus professor, dies
José Elgorriaga, professor emeritus of Spanish language and literature, died Dec. 16 at age 82. He served the university for 31 years, teaching and mentoring many generations of Fresno State students. Dr. Elgorriaga retired in 1992. He was chair of the Department of Foreign Languages for multiple terms and was instrumental in the establishment and subsequent development of the men's soccer team which he coached for 11 years. Dr. Elgorriaga inspired many of his students to pursue a life of scholarship and teaching in the humanities and received numerous awards for excellence in teaching.