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Name: Cynthia Villalobos
Title: Assistant Coordinator
Department: Cross Cultural and Gender Center
Academic Degree(s):

• B.A. in Mass Communications and Journalism with an emphasis in Public Relations, Fresno State
• M.A. in Higher Education, Administration, and Leadership, Fresno State

How long have you worked at Fresno State?
I have worked as professional staff in the Cross Cultural and Gender Center for a year, but was a graduate assistant and student assistant in the Student Involvement Office for two years.

Are you a Valley native?
I was born and raised in Fresno and always had the goal of graduating as a Bulldog since I was a small child. My parents would take me on walks through campus and talk about how great it would be if I went to school here and become a first-generation graduate.

Are you a Bulldog family with generations of Bulldog graduates or current students?
My brother, Frank Villalobos, and I graduated together in 2017. We decided to walk in the Chinaco/Latino Commencement Celebration because we were in different colleges and felt like it was easier for the family to see us at one ceremony. It was such a great moment to walk the stage with my brother and have our entire family in the crowd cheering for us.

Tell us about your department and what people may not know about it.
The Cross Cultural and Gender Center is currently working towards bringing more of the Fresno community to campus and getting our students out into the city as well. Yes, this campus is their home, but so is Fresno and the many communities that are here. We currently have a part of the center dedicated to posting what is going on in Fresno. It has community events, farmers market locations, and other items we think students would benefit from attending.

What is your most notable accomplishment in your field, and why was it important?
Before I started my master's program, I thought it would be really cool if I somehow got published. As a first-generation student, I had no idea what the process looked like, how to conduct research, or even what student population I wanted to research. I just knew I wanted my name to be out in the academic community.

Two years after completing my project for the Higher Education, Administration, and Leadership program, my advisor, Dr. Walsh, informed me that we were getting published. I was over the moon about this accomplishment and knew I had to put my siblings and parents' names in my dedication, for all of us to live in academia forever.

What are you most passionate about in your field and why?
I enjoy watching students make connections during my programs and events. They come in by themselves and create friendships that last beyond the hour or two of programming I host, from book clubs, movie nights, educational workshops, and other events. Nurturing a sense of belonging for students is the best part of my career.

What is your favorite quote or saying?
"Never let the fear of striking out keep you from playing the game." - Babe Ruth.

As a baseball and "A Cinderella Story" fan, this quote has carried me through all my hardships from middle school to adulthood. Failure will always be a part of life, but never giving yourself the chance to grow, learn, and hit a grand slam because you’re afraid of striking out is foolish. Swing with all your might at every opportunity you have.

What is the most interesting or unusual job you've ever had?
In undergrad, I used to be a waitress for weddings. I worked a lot of Fresno weddings but also traveled throughout the Valley (Selma, Madera, Merced and Sanger) to support catering businesses that didn’t have enough wait staff of their own. It fit me so well because I adore weddings. I got to see different themes, gowns, cakes, venues and food options. Even after working all of those weddings, I probably still wouldn’t know what my own would look like or what the menu would have.

What do you like to do for fun in your spare time?
I like to go on hikes that lead to large bodies of water. Whether it's a beach or lake and bonus points if there’s a waterfall. Even though I typically fall into the water, it’s still one of my favorite things to do. The longest hike I have been on was 15 miles and it took roughly seven hours to get back to the car.

Cynthia Villalobos at Pinnacles National Park

I also got back into photography and bringing my camera with me on road trips (MLB games, beach days and other spontaneous adventures). It’s been great jumping back into the hobby and capturing moments of time with friends and family that I love.

Cynthia Villalobos at Moonstone Beach

What is something interesting about you that most people don’t know?
I collect bobbleheads from MLB teams. I wait for the promotional schedules of all California teams to be released and plan my summers accordingly. Next year I hope to get one from an out-of-state team, but I guess that depends on what players will be getting a bobblehead and if I think it’ll be a good one for my collection. A few were gifts from other baseball fans who knew I would love them, but most are from traveling up and down the state to enjoy a game and snag the promo for my collection.