Fresno State media, communications and journalism professor Jes Therkelsen was selected for the university’s 2024 Provost’s Award for Excellence in Teaching, announced Dr. Xuanning Fu, Fresno State’s provost and vice president for Academic Affairs.
The Provost’s Awards also honored the following faculty:
- Dr. Mariya Yukhymenko, Department of Curriculum and Instruction, and Dr. Hovannes Kulhandjian, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering — Distinguished Achievement in Research, Scholarship and Creative Accomplishment Award.
- Dr. Fernando Parra, Department of Accountancy — Faculty Service Award.
- Howie Hua, Department of Mathematics — Outstanding Lecturer Award.
Three faculty members were selected for the Promising New Faculty category of the Provost’s Awards in recognition of their exemplary achievements in teaching, research, creative activities and/or service among non-tenured, tenure-track faculty. The honorees are:
- Dr. Chris Miller, Department of Psychology.
- Hanaya Oya, Department of Media, Communications and Journalism.
- Dr. Soumyasanta Laha, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering.
And for the first time, the Provost’s Awards includes a category for Outstanding Staff in recognition of a well-established career as evidenced by unparalleled performance in service to the department or program and the university.
- Jayne Ramirez, Office of the Dean of Undergraduate Studies.
The Provost’s Awards were established in 1993 to recognize the outstanding teaching, research and service that is central to the mission of Fresno State. Honorees provide students with a stimulating environment that fosters learning and affirms the university as an intellectual and cultural leader in the Central Valley.
The awardees will be celebrated during an event at 3 p.m. Thursday, May 9, at the Residence Dining Hall (East Banquet Room).
Excellence in Teaching
Jes Therkelsen (media, communications and journalism) teaches students to create authentic stories across communities that build strong citizenry and give voice to their own narrative and identity. He tries to inspire curiosity, deepen civic and media literacy, develop problem-solving and critical thinking skills, and embolden students to step outside of their comfort zones and to pay attention to the world around them. Therkelsen joined Fresno State in 2012 and has publicly exhibited more than 20 independent films, some involving students, in regional, national and international venues. He developed unique courses at Fresno State and works to refine and foster deep learning, to generate engagement and enthusiasm, and to keep subjects current so students can participate in the highest-quality learning environments possible. He is inspired by his many fellowships, residencies, workshops and other developmental programs on and off campus. Some of his proudest moments come from former students who have found success in their careers and lives due to his teaching and mentoring.
Research, Scholarship and Creative Accomplishment Award
Dr. Mariya Yukhymenko (curriculum and instruction) has three areas of research. One: she explores the role of positive constructs, such as gratitude, passion, flourishing and sense of purpose, in fostering achievement and wellbeing among students and adults. During the pandemic, she looked at the dynamics of academic burnout and engagement. Two: she looks at student-athletes who excel academically while effectively managing their dual demands, which offers insights to support other students. Three: she provides support to fellow academics in research design and analytical methodologies. To date, she has collaborated and co-authored with 91 scholars from around the world and authored 86 publications. Yukhymenko came to Fresno State in 2015 as an assistant professor before earning associate professor in 2020. Her undergraduate degree was in physical education. She went on to earn two master’s degrees in educational psychology and kinesiology, sport psychology from Fresno State. Her doctoral degree is in educational psychology.
Dr. Hovannes Kulhandjian (electrical and computer engineering) has a strong record of sustained research, scholarship and grant activities since joining Fresno State in 2015. He recently received a patent for a new invention, had eight peer-reviewed journal publications, 32 peer-reviewed conference papers, three extended abstracts, five refereed technical reports and 28 national and international conference and workshop presentations. Kulhandjian received several grants and research awards, including a $378,000 award from the Department of Defense. His goal is to challenge his students with real-world research problems, providing invaluable hands-on experience and fostering a culture of publication. He collaborated with two undergraduate student research teams in the Air Force Research Laboratory Beyond 5G University Challenge. He has also actively participated in the Farm Robotics Challenge with a team of 12 students, including two high school students, dedicated to exploring the latest advancements in agricultural technology.
Faculty Service Award
Dr. Fernando Parra (accountancy) believes in empowering students and equipping them with the proper ethical compass and the necessary knowledge and skills to participate in the vibrant economy. His courses have shifted away from a traditional curriculum to ones with interaction and applied learning that challenge students. Parra incorporated service-learning into his classes in fall 2022. Since then, more than 200 students have enrolled in his course and used their skills to provide more than 4,000 hours of applied accounting service and support for more than 15 nonprofit and small businesses each semester. Parra serves as director of the Institute for Family Business at Fresno State, is a member of the Strategic Planning Taskforce and has served on the Committee on Resources and Research since joining the university in 2017. He was awarded the Craig School of Business Faculty Award for Excellence in service during the 2022-23 school year.
Outstanding Lecturer Award
Howie Hua (mathematics) builds a community where students feel safe, where they can collaborate and where they can see that math is fun, understandable and belongs to everyone. On the first day of school, Hua has students take pictures with a large frame that says “I am a math person.” One of the last assignments of the semester is to look back at that picture and reflect on their growth. He incorporates a growth mindset into his courses, which looks at what there is yet to learn, not on current limitations. Hua has gained a reputation for being an inspirational mathematician from social media, where he shares educational math videos and teaching tips. He feels a sense of pride in fulfilling his life’s purpose of teaching some 300 future elementary school teachers every year. Hua is a first-generation college graduate, a Fresno State alumnus having earned two math degrees and a single-subject teaching credential. He started teaching at Fresno State in 2016.
Promising New Faculty
Dr. Chris Miller (psychology) came to Fresno State in 2018 after completing his doctoral degree from Stanford University School of Medicine. Miller strives to build a program of teaching, research and service that provides students with a world-class education in neuroscience and opportunities for research experience. Through his Neuroscience of Mood and Anxiety-Related Disorders Lab, he uses functional neuroimaging and computational methods to understand the neural basis of mental disorders in ways that will provide better diagnoses and treatments for people with these disorders. He has provided research training to more than 53 students. He also believes in service and extending the benefits of a university to the greater community. Miller co-founded several programs with colleagues and students such as the Brains and Bridges Program, the Black Excellence in Science and Technology Program and Growing up In Science Club.
Hanaya Oya (media, communications and journalism) has demonstrated a deep commitment to students, the department and the university on since starting at Fresno State in 2023. She has published 23 significant works, ranging from documentary series episodes to a book, an investigative story and newspaper columns. Among these was the Netflix documentary series “Turning Point: The Bomb and The Cold War,” a collaboration with Dr. Lori Clune from Fresno State’s Department of History. She has received grants totaling more than $169,000 from the U.S. Department of State, the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo, the Government of Japan, and the Fresno State President’s Circle to support various projects. Her university service includes serving on the Assessment Committee for the Media, Communications and Journalism Department as committee chair, the Master of Fine Arts Program Committee, the Graduate Program Committee and the Committee for Inter-Department Communication and Collaboration in the College of Arts and Humanities. Oya is pursuing a doctoral degree in communication.
Dr. Soumyasanta Laha (electrical and computer engineering) is instrumental in the design and development of a new bachelor’s degree in biomedical engineering at Fresno State, which is awaiting final review. His work in wireless technology, biomedical instrumentation and smart agriculture technology has garnered attention and allowed him to secure grants from the CSU Program for Education and Research in Biotechnology, the Fresno/Merced Future of Food Initiative and the National Science Foundation, which awarded him almost $200,000 for a rare single principal investigator grant for research in the area of semiconductor and integrated circuit design. He has served on many university committees, was elected senator in his department and is chair of the research and scholarly activities committee for the Lyles College. He received an award of appreciation from Sanger High School for his service to high school students for engineering design projects. He is a regular reviewer for CSU Program for Education and Research in Biotechnology research proposals and has also contributed as a reviewer for the NSF.
Outstanding Staff Award
Jayne Ramirez (undergraduate studies) is an administrative analyst specialist for the Office of Undergraduate Studies where she is the main contact for faculty and staff who need help with curriculum proposals. She works with stakeholders from across campus to make sure proposals are accurate and in compliance for accreditation purposes. She also serves as the campus catalog editor responsible for maintaining and updating all courses and graduation requirements. Ramirez also works with students who need to complete various forms, to enroll in a class or need guidance because they have exasperated all other efforts. She is an excellent communicator and pays attention to detail, two key essentials for her work. Ramirez keeps up to date with curriculum-related policies and seeks opportunity to learn. She has participated in two Fresno State Administrative Academies and is a member of the Fresno State chapter of the National Coalition Building Institute. Ramirez came to Fresno State in 2007 and has worked in several offices across campus.
