Congratulations to the staff and faculty earning degrees this year.

Name: Lindsey Yang
Department: Office of the President
Current job title: Administrative Analyst
New degree earned this year: Master of Arts in Higher Education Administration and Leadership (HEAL)

Lindsey is thrilled to share that she has earned her master's degree and she is grateful for all the support and patience she has received over the past two years from her family and friends. Throughout her educational journey, she has learned so much from her professors and cohort and plans to apply what she has learned to future endeavors. This experience has prepared her for the next chapter in her life. Lindsey will continue to grow and strive to make a meaningful impact in the field of higher education.

Name: Jason A.H. Abhyankar
Department: Project Rebound, College of Social Sciences
Current title: Housing Coordinator
New degree earned this year: M.A. Negotiation, Conflict Resolution and Peacebuilding from CSU, Dominguez Hills

Jason shares that this degree is deeply personal and grounded in his own journey. It helps immensely in his work with Fresno State Project Rebound students, and serves as an example to the students in the program that they too can achieve higher education goals at any age. Jason also holds an M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction from Boston College and, now, a second master’s degree in Negotiation, Conflict Resolution, and Peacebuilding from CSU, Dominguez Hills.

In addition to his work at Fresno State, Jason serves as program coordinator for Prison of Peace, a nonprofit organization that teaches mediation, conflict resolution, and effective communication inside the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.

In these roles, his work focuses on empowering individuals to transform their environments from within by learning tools for peaceful conflict resolution and restorative community-building.

"Education has not only transformed my life — it has equipped me to be an agent of change in the lives of others."