College of Arts and Humanities at Fresno State

We're excited to see MCJ alum and award-winning climate reporter for KQED News, Ezra David Romero, deliver the commencement address for the Rachel Carson College at UC Santa Cruz, which offers academic programs exploring the connection between the environment and society.

"And many of the stories I read in the news at that time didn't center the people who were the most affected by climate change. My neighbors, my friends, people who look like me, people who don't, the people who grow our food, people who speak two or more languages. And I heard a little voice that day that I've been following for a while now, asking me to center the voices in my reporting, and I listened," Romero shared about his own journey to environmental journalism in the Bay Area.

Watch his empowering message to the class of 2026!

Rachel Carson College 2026 Commencement Ceremony | Live at UC Santa Cruz UC Santa Cruz 2026 Commencement Ceremony of Rachel Carson College o...

Beating the heat through the power of design 🌡️ 🌞 🎨

Students and faculty from Fresno State’s Intelligent Design Visualization Lab, housed in the School of Art, Design and Art History, proposed fifty sites and throughtful designs for new, small-scale bus stops focusing on underserved communities, environmental considerations, including rising temperatures, and future transit development.

Four student-designed bus stop concepts were created for the FAX bus system, which were finalized and copyrighted. The project is supported by the mayor’s office and designs were approved by the Fresno City Council.

Read the full story on Fresno State Today at https://bit.ly/4ts7rRx!

For Flag Day, we wanted to highlight Bulldog Marching Band alum Brian Archuleta's work through Taps for Veterans to address the need for buglers to perform "Taps" at veterans' funerals at no charge. 🇺🇸

“There’s a lot of emotion going into it. ‘Taps’ is not meant to be played musically and perfectly. ‘Taps’ is meant to have a soul, a feeling, you know, real breath behind it,” Archuleta explained.

Read the full story on Fresno State Today: https://bit.ly/4uj8pR4.

Elevating voices and sharing news through CSU Voices 🗣️

Gain access to timely updates on policies that affect our students, alerts when your voice can help influence legislation, and stories that highlight CSU’s real-world impact in communities across California by joining CSU Voices!

For more information, visit:
🔗 calstate.edu/csuvoices | Link in bio!

The university marks the beginning of Pride Month with the Progress Pride Flag Raising Ceremony, hosted by the Fresno State Student Success and Belonging Center, from 10 to 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, June 3, at the flagpoles on Maple Mall. 🏳️‍🌈

The Fresno State Band Alumni Club will be walking in the 36th annual Rainbow Pride Parade, and President Jiménez-Sandoval will serve as one of the grand marshals this Saturday, June 6, starting at 10 a.m. in the Tower District.

For more information, read the story on Fresno State Today: https://bit.ly/4eidMdy.

Discover the beauty and power of Chinese dance through a contemporary lens 💃

DANCE 168 | Contemporary Chinese Dance
📆 Tuesday and Thursday • 5 to 6:15 p.m.
📍 Music 124

Register for the course and explore movement, culture and expression in a supportive, engaging environment for all students, including classical and folk dance foundations, breath work, footwork and jumps, and a cultural and historical context.

For information, contact the instructor, Prof. Kathy Luo: [email protected]

Resilience, justice, imagination and the enduring power of human connection comprise the 2026-27 University Theatre mainstage season lineup. 🎭

“Is This a Room”
Oct. 2-10

“The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane”
Nov. 13-21

Contemporary Dance Ensemble
Feb. 12-20

“Yo Te Esperaba: An Abolition Story”
March 11-14

“The Shawshank Redemption”
April 30-May 8

University Theatre Mainstage Season subscriptions go on sale Monday, July 13. Individual performance tickets go on sale Sept. 1. Full story and updates on Fresno State Today: bit.ly/4vnuiiv!

Words from Dean Chapman to the graduating class of 2026:

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Congratulations on reaching this milestone! The arts and humanities have been the heart and soul of your educational journey leading to [the College of Arts and Humanities] Commencement, yet as the name of this ceremony denotes, you are only at the beginning of a lifetime of discovery. The knowledge that you have gained here at Fresno State from your professors and peers will light your path as you continue to reimagine our world in new and wonderful ways.

Please look closely at the University seal and motto in Latin on the cover of this program, as it expresses our shared purpose: Lucem accipe ut reddas (Receive the light so that you may give back). As graduates, you are now ambassadors heading out with the gifts of the arts and humanities. May your next steps thoughtfully and creatively engage the world in ways that inspire others and help light the way to a more peaceful future. You have so much to offer, and we are excited to see what you choose to do.

On behalf of the faculty and staff of the College of Arts and Humanities, I wish you continued success and happiness. Please stay in touch with your alma mater, Fresno State!

Sincerely,
Honora H. Chapman, Ph.D.
Dean, College of Arts and Humanities

• • • • •

Visit the digital Commencement program for more information: bit.ly/4uqXRzk.

Bringing theatre to life for children across the Valley 🎭

Senior Kaylee Myers breathed life into her designs for the sets of Lemonade Stand, a show written by Lojo Simon and directed by assistant professor Nicola Olsen.

Blending cultural representations of Armenian, Hmong, and Oaxacan characters accurately and respectfully into the production involved tapping into experts, and then creating the colorful, functional set pieces that supported and enhanced the play's plot and performances.

The hands-on learning experience involved working in tandem with the cast, crew and director to plan, create, paint and demonstrate the moving parts of backdrops, the lemonade stands and other parts of the set in order to create a seamless show.

The cast took the play to schools all around the Valley throughout the semester. Near the end of its run, Kaylee got to see her set in action at a free community performance during Fresno State Vintage Days.

• • • • •

Lemonade Stand is a production of Fresno State's Theatre for Young Audiences, a touring theatre by students that has visited over 40 schools and reached thousands of students every year across the San Joaquin Valley for over 50 years.

Full story and photo gallery on Fresno State Today: bit.ly/4nFPRbk.

Graduate Hope Vang expresses the power of cultivating community | 🎓

"My friends and professors in the English department have been my biggest cheerleaders. They encouraged me to research what I love, get involved with student organizations, and strengthen my academic and professional skills to prepare me for a PhD program. I share all my success to everyone who has reminded me that I am fully capable of achieving my dreams."