Orlando Leon, chief information officer for Fresno State, has been named a finalist in the corporate category for the Bay Area CIO of the Year ORBIE Awards.

Over 130 nominations were received this year for the nation’s premier technology executive recognition program presented by the Bay Area CIO Leadership Association.

The ORBIE honors chief information officers, and those in equivalent roles, who have demonstrated excellence in technology leadership. Winners are selected by an independent peer review process led by prior ORBIE recipients based on:

• Leadership and management effectiveness
• Business value created by technology innovation
• The size and scope of responsibilities
• Engagement in industry and community endeavors

Leon will be honored at the CIO Awards breakfast on Sept. 27.

Dr. Honora Chapman, interim dean of the College of Arts and Humanities, was named to the second cohort of the MSI Aspiring Leaders Forum hosted by The Center for Minority Serving Institutions.

The program will also feature President Joseph I. Castro as one of the MSI presidential mentors.

MSI Aspiring Leaders is a three-day forum and two-year mentoring program that connects prominent Minority Serving Institutions' leaders with mid-career aspiring leaders from the education, non-profit and business sectors in an effort to prepare the next generation of MSI presidents.

The forum will be held Nov. 1 to 3 in Philadelphia.