After over 25 years of experience in higher education administration and leadership, Paul Forté, Jr. said this is his full circle return to his home state of California.

Forté is the new Deputy Discrimination, Harassment, and Retaliation Administrator on campus, which deals with “providing everyone equal opportunity without regard to characteristics that make our community unique,” Forté said.

“It seems like many people don’t know what DHR is,” he said. “We have a zero tolerance policy, and my goal is to provide not only safe working environments for employees, but safe learning environments for students as well.”

Born in San Francisco, Forté pursued higher education, earning his undergraduate degree at Langston University, Master of Science degree in communication from Clarion University of Pennsylvania and more than 90-plus semester credit hours of doctoral study in higher education administration and leadership from Nova Southeastern University, the University of Oklahoma, and the University of South Carolina.

Forté was an agency HR consultant and the lead EEO investigator at the North Carolina Department of Transportation before coming to campus, as well as the first affirmative action program manager at Fresno State. His background includes developing and administering equal employment, equal opportunity, affirmative action and diversity programs and plans. Although this isn’t his first time in this line of work, Forté says that it never gets easier.

“Everything we do is on a case-by-case basis. We can never use one as a basis for another.” Forté said. “The truth is, most of the time people do not walk away completely satisfied, but at least they know what’s right. Everyone has a right to be angry, but I think it is best to be productive instead. For me, the most important thing is to do the right thing, even if I am alone.”

Forté said Martin Luther King, Jr., in a Feb. 6, 1968, speech, “A Proper Sense of Priorities,” is the foundation for his courage to do the right thing, even if he's alone. Dr. King said, "On some positions cowardice asks the question, is it safe? Expediency asks the question, is it politic? Vanity asks the question, is it popular? But conscience asks the question, is it right? And there comes a time when one must take a position that is neither safe, nor politic, nor popular but he must take it because conscience tells him it is right."

And although his extensive background of knowledge may be an accomplishment, Forté said, “Learning is continuous. It goes on in our everyday lives. If I didn’t have anything to learn, why would I do what I do? I want to encourage others to lead. I want to take my torch and pass it along to someone who is willing to accept it.”

Though he has been all over the country, his love for learning and helping others transcends into his everyday lifestyle, even in Fresno.

“I love helping others. Especially in Fresno, it breaks my heart seeing so many homeless people on the street. It makes me wonder what I can do to help, but also reminds me how blessed I am for what I have,” Forté said. “Being back in California is great because I get to spend some time with my family here too.”

Forté’s hobbies include fishing, going to sporting events, spending time with his wife and two daughters, but also finding positive quotes. He shared a favorite from President Jimmy Carter that he uses as a model for his everyday life, “I have one life and one chance to make it count for something. My faith demands that I do whatever I can, wherever I am, whenever I can, for as long as I can with whatever I have to try to make a difference.”