Dr. Larry King, lecturer, Department of Management was reappointed to the Fresno Philharmonic Board of Directors for a new three-year term. He previously served seven years on the board. King was also asked to develop and deliver a full-day workshop on project management for the Fresno County Behavioral Science Department for over 60 participants.

Dr. Nupur Hajela, associate professor of physical therapy, led an interdisciplinary initiative that highlights the university’s commitment to community engagement and hands-on student learning. The outreach also raised awareness about Parkinson’s disease and emphasized the importance of fall prevention for older adults.

Dr. Nupur Hajela pictured second from left.

Under her mentorship, Doctor of Physical Therapy students collaborated with nursing students and faculty, including Dr. Lynn Jakobs, as well as undergraduate volunteers from the biology BOND program and kinesiology programs. Together, they provided health and balance screenings in the community using the Fresno State Mobile Health Unit, part of the College of Health and Human Services.

This cross-disciplinary effort, supported by the CSU-STEM-NET 2025 Early-Concept Grant and co-led by Dr. Ellen Woo, exemplifies how academic collaboration can extend beyond the classroom. By bridging academic disciplines in a real-world setting, the project serves as a model for innovative, community-driven healthcare education.

Dr. Reuben Addo, associate professor in the Department of Social Work Education, is a contributing author in the first edition of "Social Work Education for and Beyond Sustainable Development," which takes a look at social work education and its role in achieving Sustainable Development Goals across the globe.

Dr. Monique Bell, professor, Department of Marketing and Logistics earned "Highly Commended" recognition in an annual global wine writing competition hosted by Jancis Robinson, a Master of Wine, who was voted the world's most influential wine critic. Bell's poem about the Scuppernong grape was first shortlisted to the top 25 entries of more than 300 from around the world. Bell will receive a complimentary copy of "On Tuscany" from the Académie du Vin Library as well as a year's subscription to jancisrobinson.com.

Dr. Ahran Koo, associate professor of art education, was awarded the prestigious Ruth Jansen Distinguished Art Educator Award by the California Art Education Association. This esteemed recognition is bestowed upon individuals who have demonstrated exceptional achievement and excellence in art education, as evaluated through a rigorous peer-review process.

The award will be presented at the CAEA annual conference on Nov. 15 in Cambria. This honor acknowledges Koo's outstanding contributions to the field of art education and her commitment to advancing the profession.

Additionally, Koo recently published an article titled "Exploring privacy, data painting, and hidden biases: Lessons from contemporary artists for AI use in art education" in the Journal of Art Education, which is the official journal of the National Art Education Association.

Dr. Amanda Mortimer, professor, Department of Psychology will present "Forgetting Backwards, Caring Forwards: Loving Someone with Alzheimer's Disease" at Calvin Hall in Ashland, Ore., on Nov. 9 as part of Ashland's Community Mental Health Speaker Series.

Dr. Peter Robertson was recently featured in two social media posts by the Friends of the Fresno County Library for Banned Books Week, where he highlighted "This Book is Gay" by Juno Dawson as one of his favorite banned books.

After reading it, he donated his copy to the TLC Pride Room at Fresno State’s Cross Cultural and Gender Center.