Class notes

‘Thy Sons and Daughters Hail Thee Great, Our Alma Mater, Fresno State’

1960s

Angelo L. Mazzei (1966), founder of Mazzei Injector Co., known for designing and manufacturing fluid mixing and contacting technologies, was honored for his contributions to Bakersfield and Kern County as this year’s winner of the John Brock Community Service Award.

Gary Smith (1960) earned the 2025 Certified Angus Beef Industry Achievement Award for his indelible mark on the meat science and beef community.

1970s

Norah Au (1973), a medical technician and specialist in blood banking, was honored for 50 years of service with Community Regional Medical Center.

Robert “R.B.” Bookwalter (1979) is the interim provost and senior vice president for academic affairs at Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia.

John Christy (1973) helped develop a U.S. Department of Energy report evaluating the impact of greenhouse gasses on U.S. climate.

Dan McAllister (1974), San Diego County’s treasurer-tax collector, retired after 23 years in the post.

Joe Scordino (1974) has been selected as Edmonds Citizen of the Year by the Edmonds Kiwanis Club, a group dedicated to serving the Edmonds, Washington community with a focus on supporting young children and adolescent programs.

Jim Shaw (1975), managing director of the Buck Owens Private Foundation, was the piano player for Buck Owens’ Buckaroos, performing with Owens from 1970 through 2006. He was recently featured in news stories discussing the closure of Buck Owens’ Crystal Palace in Bakersfield.

John Sierra (1972, ’74), co-founder of Arte Americas, was featured in Community Alliance for his lifelong contributions to Chicano art, education and community activism in the Central Valley.

Richard Sloan (1972, ‘74) was featured in a FresnoLand article for his lifelong work cleaning the San Joaquin River.

1980s

Marga K. Cooley (1987) is the executive editor of Santa Maria California News Media.

Jay Gill (1988) is vice chairman of United Security Bank.

Tom Hallinan (1984) was appointed by Governor Gavin Newsom to the California Board of Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors and Geologists.

Jill Twisselman Heely (1982) was named the 2025 Cattleman of the Year by The San Luis Obispo County Cattlemen’s Association.

Marsha Ingrao (1987, ’88) promoted her new poetry anthology, “Embracing the Power to Live,” in a guest post on the blog “Robbie’s Inspiration.”

Connie Moreno-Peraza (1983, ’87) is director of the Santa Cruz County Health Services Agency.

Kelly Rodrigues (1989), CEO of Forge Global Holdings Inc., rang the closing bell of the New York Stock Exchange on June 26 to celebrate the launch of its Next Generation Marketplace.

1990s

Alexan Belekian (1999), a longtime TV and radio news anchor, was featured in a Business Journal executive profile for his consulting business, AGB Valley Enterprises.

Dustin Chambers (1997), an economics professor at Salisbury University’s Franklin P. Perdue School of Business, was appointed to the U.S. Council of Economic Advisers.

Marc Forth (1994) was named CEO of Jeune Aesthetics, Inc., a biotechnology company that addresses and reverses the biology of aging or photo-damaged skin.

Cándida F. Jáquez (1990) spoke at a roundtable discussion at Portland University about mariachi ensembles in higher education.

Matt Markarian (1997), executive director of the Fresno Police and Fire Chaplaincy, was featured in an executive profile for The Business Journal.

Tricia Protzman (1991, ’92, ’04) is now Madera County Superintendent of Schools.

Tim Rios (1993) is now executive director of strategic relationships and specialized programs at Wells Fargo.

Peter Robertson (1992, ’95, ’22) was selected as the keynote speaker for the Lavender Celebration Recognition Ceremony at Merced College.

Tanya Russell (1998), who has worked for the Kings County library system for 30 years, was appointed as library director.

Antonio Sajor (1997) is retiring after nearly three decades with the Stockton Police Department, most recently as deputy chief.

Steve Skibbie (1993), a photographer and production specialist with the Fresno County Superintendent of Schools, was interviewed by The Fresno Bee about how his move to Fresno to study photojournalism in 1987 led to a lasting connection with the community and a decades-long career.

William Soto (1998), is now a biology professor at Chadron State College.

Steve Wolfenberger (1993) joined California-based Alliant Insurance Services as vice president within its Employee Benefits Group.

2000s

Stephen Barile (2004) published the poem “When Primo Came Home from the Viet Nam War (1966)” in the Decolonial Passage, a literary magazine.

Leisa Biggers (2007), previously the director of human resources at Los Angeles Community College District, was appointed to California’s Commission on Judicial Performance.

Jorge Carillo (2002), a market reporter with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, was a presenter in the Northern Plains Forage Association’s forage webinar.

Soreath Hok (2006) is now the host of the afternoon news program “All Things Considered” on KVPR, Central California’s NPR station.

Rafael Iniguez (2008, ’22), superintendent of Parlier Unified School District, was named Superintendent of the Year (Region 3) by the California Association of Latino Superintendents and Administrators.

Ryan Jacobsen (2002, ’04) was awarded the California Image Award by The Native Daughters of the Golden West.

Deitra Lewis-Metcalfe (2009), manager of people and culture at TELUS Digital, was included in Marquis Who’s Who for Excellence in Human Resources.

Earl Mercado (2005) is now director of sales at West Coast Insulated Glass Products in Cerritos.

Stephanie Mercado (2003) wrote and published a poetry book “Crate of Dreams: Adrift in Sorrows.”

Robin Miller (2008), is now president of the American Association of Heart Failure Nurses for the 2025-26 term.

Cindy Pena (2009), is now principal of James Monroe Elementary School in Madera.

Mike Snell (2004), CEO of the California Teaching Fellows Foundation, was featured in an executive profile in The Business Journal.

Stephen Trembley (2008) is now the associate athletics director for external relations at Saint Mary’s College in Moraga.

2010s

Sean Akin (2012), vice president of branch operations at Pridestaff, was featured in an executive profile for The Business Journal.

Joseph Bohigian (2015), participated in a dual exhibition, providing the sound installation “From the Fields of Fresno,” at the Armenian Museum of Fresno.

Sarah Bugayong (2011), a fourth-grade teacher at Fancher Creek Elementary, was featured as Educator of the Week by YourCentralValley.com.

Derek Carr (2013), former Fresno State quarterback and NFL star with the Raiders and New Orleans Saints, is retiring from the NFL after 11 seasons. He ranks 22nd all-time in the NFL with 41,245 passing yards and 23rd all time with 257 passing touchdowns.

Eriq Davila (2019), an enologist who works at Cru Winery in Madera, was featured in an article for Edible Monterey Bay.

Danielle Deprima (2012), president of Willow Gardens Nursery, was featured in an executive profile in The Business Journal.

Nico Herron (2011), a former Fresno State football linebacker, is now a teacher for the new barber academy associated with Stein High School in Tracy.

Alyssa A. Jarrett (2012) wrote and published a new romance novel titled “Love and Paklava.”

Nick John Jarrett (2015) is the cover artist of the book “Love and Paklava.”

Tyler Johnson (2014), a former Fresno State basketball standout and eight-year NBA veteran with the Miami Heat, Phoenix Suns, Brooklyn Nets and San Antonio Spurs, returned to serve as an assistant coach for the Bulldogs.

Dao Lor (2017), program manager at The Fresno Center, has been named a fellow of the 2025 Fresno Workforce Leadership Academy.

Jonathon Porter (2018) has been appointed to the 24th District Agricultural Association Tulare County Fair Board.

Darren Rigg (2012), field buyer for Minturn Nut Co., was interviewed about his journey in the almond industry and the growth of emerging almond markets.

Eliana Saucedo (2010), debuted her new paintings titled “The Fruit of Life” at the Fresno Art Museum, celebrating the rich agricultural traditions of the San Joaquin Valley and her own family and culture.

Eric Santos (2011) opened Neat & Noir, a craft cocktail bar highlighting espresso-based drinks in downtown Fresno.

Corey Torres (2015), district manager with the Tehachapi Valley Recreation and Park District, was recognized for 10 years of service.

2020s

Eric Antrim (2021, ’23), a crop and soil specialist, is part of a tri-county ag team formed by the Cornell Cooperative Extension to reflect the needs of Jefferson, Lewis and St. Lawrence county agricultural producers in Canton, NY.

Rachel Axt (2024), previously Miss Clovis 2025, was crowned Miss California 2025.

Emma Brandstad (2022) is a commercial banking officer with Oak Valley Community Bank.

Crystal Navarro (2023, ’25), a regional coordinator with the Rising Scholars Network, was featured in a profile for the Success Center for California Community Colleges.

Dawn Parker (2025), co-executive editor for the San Joaquin Review Journal, published a poem titled “Late Bloomer.”

Erik Rodriguez (2023) joined the University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources as the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act technical assistance community educator for small farms in Fresno and Madera counties.

Rhett Rodriguez (2022) is a weekend weather anchor and reporter at KSEE24 and CBS47.

Christian Segura (2025) is a viola instructor at the Porterville Summer Strings Camp, which serves middle and high school students.

Ruth Soderlund (2023), artist, supports emerging creatives by connecting them with mentors, free of charge, through a new community initiative called The Artist Mentorship Project of Fresno.

Jose Soria (2022), artist, was interviewed in a Fresno Bee article about growing up in a traditional Catholic Mexican household, navigating queerness in the church and how those early experiences fuel his symbolic artwork.

Gloria Valdovinos (2022) is the executive director of the Downtown Merced Property Owners Association.

Diego Vargas (2024) is now the education equity reporter for Fresnoland.

40 under 40

Each year, BusinessLeaders.TV recognizes 40 outstanding business professionals under age 40 in Central California who have demonstrated strong work ethic, and are leaders in their fields.

Here are the Fresno State alumni who were part of the 2025 class: