At the end of every academic year, Fresno State professors and faculty are nominated and selected for a variety of awards. Of the 12 faculty members who were recognized this year, four of them were awarded for benefiting the lives of students in the field of art, entertainment and culture.

EXCELLENCE IN TEACHING AWARD:

Dr. Benjamin Boone

Boone, who has taught at Fresno State since 2000, recently brought one of the world’s greatest string quartets, Germany’s Verdi Quartet, to campus to aid music composition students. His musical compositions have earned him 18 national and international honors and awards.

FACULTY SERVICE AWARD:

Dr. Victor Torres

Torres became a faculty member at Fresno State in 1996. He has displayed leadership and commitment to service through his work with the Latino/a Faculty and Staff Association. Torres has directed the highly acclaimed Mexican dance troupe, Los Danzantes de Aztlán, and led them to earn many awards. His dedication to the university shows through his service in the Academic Senate and as chair of the Chicano and Latin American Studies Department.

RESEARCH, SCHOLARSHIP OR CREATIVE ACCOMPLISHMENT AWARD:

Dr. Cristina Herrera

While serving her students in the classroom, Herrera has also been published in reputable journals and books in the fields of Latina/o studies, literature and women’s studies. Her book, “Contemporary Chicana Literature: (Re) Writing the Maternal Script,”  was a groundbreaking depiction of motherhood in Chicana/Latina literary studies.

PROMISING NEW FACULTY AWARD:

Dr. Alison Mandaville

Mandaville joined Fresno State in 2013 and has contributed to teacher education, graphic novels and Azerbaijani literature. Her research on the poetry of Azerbaijani women has made much of the poetry accessible to English readers. Mandaville received the California State Classroom Teaching Excellence Award for 2016.