Campus News spent some time getting to know Benjamin Kirk, a new communications specialist for the College of Arts and Humanities. Benjamin graduated from Fresno Pacific University, receiving his bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with an emphasis in Marketing and Management. This will be Benjamin’s first semester on campus following his work in the broadcast industry.

Where are you from?
I was born in the Bay Area and moved to a tiny town called Sierra Village in Tuolumne County where I did most of my formative years. I first came to Fresno to attend Fresno Pacific University, class of 1997, then permanently moved here in 1999 when I accepted a job as a Marketing Assistant at, what is now, iHeart Radio. My previous position was at ABC30 where I worked as the Website Manager for ten years.

What will be some of your roles/responsibilities in your new position?
In essence, my job is to tell your stories. That is the stories of the students, alumni, faculty, and staff of the Fresno State College of Arts and Humanities.

What types of work have you previously done?
I have mostly worked in the broadcast industry. For the last 11 years that work has exclusively been managing news websites and social media. This role has forced me to become a writer, reporter, designer, photographer for both still and video and live video producer.

Tell us about your family.
I’m married with five kids. My wife is an African American Studies and Women Studies professor at Fresno City College. My oldest daughter is 23 years old and is an EMT for American Ambulance. My other four children all attend various levels of school at Central Unified. A fun fact about my family is that I had my last three children in under one year. My daughter Kaya followed by twins Kaycee and Benson. For three weeks in March, they are all the same age.

What are some of your hobbies?
I enjoy hiking, camping, skiing, and really anything outdoors. A couple of years ago I made my pair of downhill skis at Fresno Ideaworks makerspace – and they worked! However, until this global warming thing is solved, I’ll have to skip ski making as a career option (but still hopeful).

Are there any things that you are currently interested in? A specific book, television show…?
There are a couple of shows that got me on Netflix. One is called Departures. It’s a travel show with two Canadian friends who go out to see the world. It’s different than most travel shows, and they visit some unique places – such as Easter Island and North Korea. Another show is Grand Designs. I love architecture, and this show shows what people go through to build their dream homes. It’s a British show that is entirely different than most of the home shows out there.

What brought you to Fresno State and what are you looking forward to about working on campus?
I had been looking for a change, and after interviewing for the position, Fresno State seemed like a very nice fit. I’m looking forward to everything! After working for the last 11 years in a newsroom, which can sometimes be a little negative, I’m looking forward to working in a positive environment and hopefully making a difference for the students, alumni, the college and the university.