Chris Fiorentino’s passion for serving the community and teaching the value of helping others motivates his work on campus.

Fiorentino is the director of the Jan and Bud Richter Center for Community Engagement and Service-Learning. The Richter Center works with campus programs and community partners to teach students the importance of community involvement, and the personal, professional and academic benefits involved in providing service to others.

Fiorentino and the six other Richter Center staff members work hard to ensure that students receive hands-on service experience such as mentoring and tutoring children, helping at youth recreation and support programs, volunteering with local community benefit organizations and more.

During the 2017-18 academic year, the Richter Center worked to engage 18,135 students, faculty and staff members who provided 1.4 million hours of service to the community setting a new campus record for engagement and service-learning.

The team’s drive to help support the Fresno community and provide positive learning experiences for students is what “makes the Richter Center successful in its mission,” Fiorentino said.

In his work, Fiorentino connects students, faculty and staff with community organizations.

“I believe the community is lucky to have Fresno State, and campus is extremely lucky to be a large part of the community,” he said.

Fiorentino was born and raised in Fresno and received a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a master’s in education counseling as a Fresno State Bulldog. He raised his family in Fresno and his daughter, Alexis, 23, and son, Devin, 21, now attend the University.

Alexis Fiorentino received the 2018 John D. Welty Award of Excellence in Community Service after completing over 200 community service hours in the summer and 165 hours for her church. Her nomination was submitted by Jenelle Higton, former executive director of the Art of Life Cancer Foundation. Along with other nominations, and with the students’ identities kept anonymous, Alexis was chosen because of her dedication to community service — a value instilled by her parents.

Chris Fiorentino’s proudest accomplishment is helping to elevate the importance of community service and service-learning on campus.

When not working, Chris Fiorentino likes to exercise, sail, surf and travel. He is married to Heidi and they have three children: Alexis; Devin; and Ryan, 16.

Chris Fiorentino said he is inspired by students and others he works with all the time, because “people do incredible things.” He is thankful that his time on campus has allowed him to meet extraordinary people, work alongside talented individuals and see students gain a love and appreciation for helping others.