"I had just graduated high school and took Lynnette Zelezny’s Psychology 42 Statistics course during the summer," Zhanna said. "She was tough, but fair, and incredibly organized. She required that we place sticky notes to mark important areas of the book, and I still have that book, all marked up with sticky notes to this very day."

Dr. Zelezny also sat on Zhanna's thesis committee for her master's degree. As a member of her thesis committee, Dr. Zelezny reviewed her work at various stages, provided feedback, and asked tough questions along the way to strengthen the study design.

Zhanna started at Fresno State as a “Step-to-College” student in spring of 2001, while a junior in Hoover High School, through a special program for high-performing students who were allowed to take one to two college classes while still in high school.

"I took one class every semester I was allowed, including two classes during the summer session directly following high school graduation," she said. "That’s when I had Lynnette Zelezny for Psychology 42."

Zhanna completed her B.A. in Psychology in May of 2005 and her M.A. in Psychology in December of 2007.

"I spent the following 1.5 years (until summer 2009) working as a lecturer in the Psychology Department," she said. "After that, I went off to work on my Ph.D. in Industrial and Organizational (I/O) Psychology at the University of Oklahoma for five years. I returned to Fresno State in fall of 2014 as an assistant professor of Management and have been here since."

So, with the year and a half she was here as a high school student as part of the special enrollment program, she has been at Fresno State 11.5 years this August.

But it all may never have happened if not for Lynnette Zelezny.

"I was working under her leadership for the Research Infrastructure in Minority Institutions grant as a program coordinator and one day she took me out for coffee to Starbucks across from campus," she said. "She then encouraged me to revive my original plan of going for a doctorate."

Dr. Zelezny inquired about Zhanna's application progress and also gave her names of other I/O psychologists on campus to talk to about the field so she was connected.

"I honestly don’t know if I would have found the field I love so much now without her help," Zhanna said.

Zhanna enjoys working with students.

"I love teaching, always have," she said. "I like the ability being a professor provides of actually making a direct impact on students’ lives and careers. So many people guided me during my journey; I love that my position allows me to give back and help do the same for students."

Currently, she teaches various courses in Human Resource Management, conducts research on topics within her area of expertise/interest, and serves the university through committee work. She also mentors honors and master’s student projects/theses and is co-advisor for the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) student chapter.

"I think staying current on teaching practices and the ever-changing laws/regulations in the HR field are probably my most important responsibilities," she said, "but also staying current regarding knowledge within my area of research."

Zhanna is the chair of the Service-Learning and Strategic Planning committees. This academic year, she also worked on a Creativity And Innovation For Excellence (CAIFE) project. She also does peer review of manuscripts for various journals and attends conferences to present her work and learn new things.

In her off-hours, she enjoys reading and physical fitness. She takes aerobics and step group-training classes.

"My husband and I also love to get out of town as much as possible," she said. "We tend to make weekend trips to Morro Bay to get some fresh seafood and walk near water."

She and her husband Richard have a daughter, Elaina (or Elly for short), who's now 21 months old.

"She’s walking, talking, and getting into EVERYTHING!" Zhanna said.