Fresno State will award honorary doctorates to three individuals this year — business leaders Joshua Easterly and Jeetander P Sethi, and civic and economic development leader Ashley Swearengin.
Honorary doctorates are awarded on behalf of the California State University system and Fresno State in recognition of excellence and extraordinary achievement in significant areas of human endeavor that embody the CSU system’s objectives and ideals.
Easterly will receive an honorary doctor of laws and will be recognized during the commencement ceremony for the Craig School of Business at 8 a.m. Friday, May 15, at the Save Mart Center.
Sethi will receive an honorary doctor of humane letters and will be recognized during the commencement ceremony for the College of Arts and Humanities at 10 a.m. Saturday, May 16, at the Save Mart Center.
Swearengin will receive an honorary doctor of humane letters and will be recognized during the commencement ceremony for the College of Social Sciences at 10:30 a.m. Friday, May 15, at the Save Mart Center.
Joshua Easterly, Doctor of Laws
Co-founding partner and co-president of Sixth Street global investment firm, Joshua Easterly’s life and work illustrate that where you start doesn’t dictate how far you can go.
Growing up as one of five children, Easterly began his higher education journey at Fresno City College before transferring to Fresno State, where he graduated magna cum laude in 1998 from the Craig School.
After college, Easterly began his financial career at Wells Fargo, taking on roles that moved him from Los Angeles to Dallas and eventually to New York. His rapid ascent continued at Goldman Sachs, where he served as a director, management committee member and co-head of the Goldman Sachs Specialty Lending Group.
In 2011, Easterly co-founded Sixth Street, a leading asset management firm overseeing more than $62 billion in assets, with offices across North America and Europe.
Easterly is committed to expanding educational opportunities. He serves on the board of trustees at Harlem Academy in New York, an institution dedicated to breaking cycles of disadvantage for low-income children. He funds multi-year scholarships for Fresno State business scholars and created the Frank Easterly scholarship for future educators at the Kremen School of Education and Human Development, reinforcing his conviction that strong teachers have a multiplier effect across the Central Valley.
Jeetander P Sethi, Doctor of Humane Letters
Jeetander P Sethi immigrated from India to the United States in 1976 to search for opportunity. Sethi started his first business in convenience stores and built a business portfolio that includes the hospitality industry and real estate while growing his management company over the past 40 years.
Sethi Management has a diversified portfolio of more than 75 businesses that include convenience stores, hotels, restaurants and commercial real estate.
Born and raised in New Delhi, Sethi is recognized for his business acumen, integrity and forward-looking leadership. He is also known for embracing complex challenges and seeking innovative approaches. He founded the American Petroleum and Convenience Store Association, a grassroots, non-profit organization that provides a unified voice for small business owners across the country.
Sethi is also deeply engaged in local philanthropic and civic efforts. He has leadership roles with the Crime Stoppers of Fresno, the Fresno Police Advisory Board, Hindu Temple of Fresno, the Interfaith Alliance of the Central Valley and Shri Mandir of San Diego. He has supported local temples and gurudwaras along with organizations like Fresno State, Community Regional Medical Center, the Central Valley Ghostriderz, the Marjaree Mason Center and Poverello House through personal and family-led philanthropy.
Ashley Swearengin, Doctor of Humane Letters
A two-time Fresno State alumna, Ashley Swearengin holds a bachelor’s degree and a Master of Business Administration. Swearengin is a civic and economic development leader whose career has had a lasting impact on Fresno and the greater Central Valley. Her decades of service demonstrate a commitment to the region’s growth, resilience and inclusion.
Swearengin served as Fresno’s 24th mayor from 2008 to 2016, guiding the city through the fiscal challenges of the Great Recession. She has championed downtown revitalization and helped implement zoning reforms that prioritized infill development and urban renewal, marking a pivotal shift away from sprawl and positioning Fresno for long-term growth.
Following her mayoral tenure, Swearengin became chief executive officer of the Central Valley Community Foundation, leading one of the fastest-growing community foundations in the nation. She spearheaded Fresno DRIVE, a regional initiative that catalyzed significant investment, advanced economic and racial inclusion, and influenced California’s 2021 Jobs First Initiative.
She serves on numerous national and statewide boards, reflecting her enduring commitment to public service and regional prosperity. Her leadership has helped mobilize significant resources to support nonprofits, students and families throughout the Central Valley.
