Balladolid "Dolly" Lopez, electronic resources librarian, Collection Management, won the California Library Association Technology Professional Award. The award acknowledges superior achievement by an individual who has made significant contributions in technical areas of librarianship that have been challenged by the need for innovation and adaptation due to rapid changes.

Lopez works tirelessly to ensure that the Library's electronic resources work seamlessly and remain up to date. She is proud to be living and working in the Central Valley of California and she is passionate about connecting local residents to libraries.

Dr. Margaret Ellis, associate professor, plant science department, published a research article in the October issue of the Phytopathology Journal entitled, "Molecular characterization of Fusarium isolates from Upland cotton roots in Uzbekistan and whole-genome comparison with isolates from the USA."

The research aims to aid in the development of future cotton varieties that are resistant to a significant pathogen (Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. Vasinfectum, FOV) that causes vascular wilt, browning of the vascular tissues, and plant death in the most severe cases.

The global disease has caused sizable crop losses for years, and this article shared her results with other researchers that analyzed and compared genetic profiles from FOV4 and new Fusarium isolate samples from the Republic of Uzbekistan and the United States.

Michele Falk, administrative support coordinator, Department of Recreation Administration, won 13 awards at the The Big Fresno Fair in the crafts and baked goods/candies categories, including three for best of show. She also recently received an award from the Central California Blood Bank for donating 10 gallons of blood.

Dr. Marie Gilbert, director, Central California Center for Excellence in Nursing, published “The intersections between competency-based education and simulation-based education: Integration in nursing education” in the Journal of Professional Nursing: Official Journal of the American Association of College of Nursing.

Tony Losongco, tutoring coordinator, Learning Center, has been appointed president of the California Chapter of the College Reading & Learning Association. The association is the learning assistance professional organization that certifies the Learning Center's tutor training program.

Karen Markland, lecturer, Department of Recreation Administration, along with the student sorority she advises, Sigma Alpha Zeta, won first place and best of show in the decorated tree category for their tree, which was dedicated to raising awareness of domestic violence.

Dr. Miguel Perez, interim associate dean, College of Health and Human Services, published “Encouraging Difficult Conversations in Mitigating Nursing Faculty Shortages” in the Horizonte Sanitario (Health Horizon).

Dr. Janice Smith-Warshaw, associate professor, Department of Communicative Sciences and Deaf Studies, was featured on Your Central Valley for her involvement in the pickleball community. She is president of the National Deaf Pickleball Association and will compete at the National Deaf Pickleball Association Tournament from Nov. 8 to 10 in Austin, Texas.