Conley Art Gallery goes green

By Travis Ball
The Collegian

If commitment to the university is the sign of a true Fresno State Bulldog, then Deborah Adishian-Astone is best in show.

As Associate Vice President for Fresno State’s Auxiliary Corporations she is helping the university grow one building at a time, and she has been doing it since she was a student.

“I do love the projects because I love to be able to see something from start to finish,” Adishian-Astone said. Along with serving the students, she enjoys seeing the campus grow and develop with new facilities.

In her 18-year career with the university, Adishian-Astone has headed and had the opportunity to be part of some projects that have helped Fresno State become what it is today.

In 1983 when the Satellite Student Union was completed Adishian-Astone began working as a student assistant at the facilities planning office, and started full-time there in 1988 when she completed her undergraduate business degree from Fresno State.

“I started as student assistant and ultimately became the director of that department,” Adishian-Astone said.

In 1994 she received her master’s in business administration from Fresno State, and was assigned to coordinate the Save Mart Center project full-time in 1998.

“When I started working on the Save Mart Center I got a real opportunity to learn more about what the Auxiliaries did,” Adishian-Astone said. “I thought at some point that might be an interesting area.”

In June 2001 Adishian-Astone made the transition to the Auxiliary Corporations.

In one of her latest projects Adishian-Astone represents the Auxiliary and the university in negotiations on the Campus Pointe Project.

“Being a graduate, it’s nice to see all the positive changes that have happened, and how the campus is so much different now and better from when I was a student,” Adishian-Astone said. “There’s a lot of reward with that.”

Hidden behind the smell and smoke of barbecued tri-tip that is Doghouse Grill, the Auxiliary Corporations office sits quiet, but the environment and results are loud.

According to Adishian-Astone every California State University has auxiliary corporations.

“We’re part of the university, but we’re actually a separate non-profit corporation,” Adishian-Astone said.

Kennel Bookstore, the Save Mart Center, University Student Union, Food Services and University Courtyard are some of the services Auxiliary Corporations helps maintain.

When the university and Auxiliary Corporations need answers, Adishian-Astone is the one expected to have them.

“I’m responsible for making sure everything works,” Adishian-Astone said. Whether it’s accounting, service related or just making sure that campus services are being provided Adishian-Astone is responsible.

“She’s fantastic,” said Cynthia Teniente-Matson, Vice President of Administration and Chief Financial Officer at Fresno State who also chairs the board of directors at Auxiliary Corporations. “She is absolutely a high energy high performer.”

When she first started working for the university Adishian-Astone thought it would be temporary, but it turned into a rare career opportunity.

“I tell people that when I started at the university I thought, ‘oh, this will be a great job out of college and I’ll go get my master’s and figure out what I want to do,’” Adishian-Astone said. “But I feel very fortunate to be where I am today, and hopefully I’m giving back.”

Bob Boyd, the Associate Vice President for Facilities Management at Fresno State, who also started working for the university as a student assistant, has worked with Adishian-Astone for years.

“She puts in the hours,” Boyd said of Adishian-Astone. “I think we both feel that Fresno State is home.”
Some students may be seeing advantages in working at their alma mater after graduation.

“My sense is there’s kind of a renewed interest in careers at the university after graduation, and what better way to keep our own graduates here on campus,” Adishian-Astone said.

She believes there is no reason why Fresno State shouldn’t be competing with private employers for its graduates. “They know the campus, they know a lot of individuals and they’ve got a lot of excitement and experience and expertise they can bring to some of the positions we need at the university.”

If Fresno State is home for Adishian-Astone then those she works with could be considered family.

“When you work with somebody 10 hours a day and you’ve been here this long you develop a lot of great relationships,” Adishian-Astone said. “I’ve made my career at the university, I guess they’re going to have to kick me out one day.”

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