Congratulations to Dr. Randy Perry, chair of the Animal Sciences and Agricultural Education department, who was recently inducted into The Big Fresno Fair Hall of Fame.

In his 29 years at Fresno State, Perry and his students have dedicated countless hours to helping put on the livestock auctions for California FFA and California 4-H youth shows at the fairgrounds, the Buyer's BBQ and the Champions Club. He is a pivotal figure in the lives of many area youth and is well-respected nationally for his work with the campus beef unit, cattle genetics industry, the campus and state California Young Cattlemens Committee and Fresno-Kings Counties Cattlemen's Board.

Congrats to the following English faculty in the Creative Writing Program and the Department of English for their many accomplishments this fall.

William Arcé was elected to the Modern Language Association’s delegate assembly, serving on the Chicana and Chicano Literature Forum as one of only five members on the national committee.

Venita Blackburn published the story “Biology Class” in Apogee journal. She published the story “Smoothies” in Split Lip magazine and published the essay/list “A Year in Reading” for The Millions.

Joseph Cassara published the essay/list “A Year in Reading” for The Millions.

Steven Church was invited to present a workshop for Idea Farm, an art and writing series for teens organized by the poet Lee Herrick for the Fresno Arts Council.

J. Ashley Foster and Melanie Hernandez were accepted to New Storytellers: The Research Institute Digital Ethnic Studies summer institute at the University of Nebraska, Lincoln, funded by a grant from the American Council of Learned Societies. Hernandez also presented the keynote address “Race, Ephemera, and the Archive” on campus at Fresno State’s Students of English Studies fall symposium.

Randa Jarrar was awarded a $100,000 grant from the 2020 Creative Capital Awards to support her latest novel in progress and career development.

Melanie Kachadoorian published the essay “Breadcrumb #549” for Breadcrumbs Magazine.

Brynn Saito was awarded a summer 2020 residency at Hedgebrook on Whidbey Island, Washington. She was also invited to present a workshop for Idea Farm, an art and writing series for teens organized by the poet Lee Herrick for the Fresno Arts Council.

Brenda Venezia published the essay “Photographs of Your Tías” in The Boiler journal.