Dr. Estevan Parra Guerrero, director, Upward Bound programs, was selected to be the guest speaker for the Porterville College pride flag raising ceremony on Oct. 1 in honor of LGBTQ2+ History Month.

Dr. Michelle Calvarese, professor and chair of the Department of Geography and City and Regional Planning, participated in GeoCamp Iceland during summer 2025.

This field-based professional development program, co-sponsored by the National Council for Geographic Education, brought together 20 geographers from across the country. In Iceland, the group explored volcanic landscapes, glaciers, and geothermal features, while engaging with local communities to better understand cultural and environmental challenges.

While in Iceland, Calvarese also conducted research on health and wellness practices, examining how local traditions and environments shape community well-being. These experiences have allowed her to integrate real-world examples into the classroom and explore new approaches to understanding global patterns of wellness, health and culture.

Dr. Thomas Holyoke, professor of political science and assistant director of the California Water Institute, is teaching a water politics and policy class at the Central California Women’s Facility this fall semester. It’s part of Fresno State’s Degrees of Change program, which provides a path for incarcerated individuals to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree in social science.

In his class, Holyoke covers the history of water policy in California and the American southwest, advancing the California Water Institute's mission to inform the public about California’s most pressing water issues through community outreach and education.

Dr. Rafael Lemus, associate professor, Department of Modern and Classical Languages and Literatures, received a research grant from Mexico’s Secretaría de Cultura (Ministry of Culture) to work on a Mexican literature project over the next three years.