Fresno State humanics professor Dr. Matthew Jendian was selected for the university’s 2026 Provost’s Award for Excellence in Teaching, announced Dr. Xuanning Fu, Fresno State’s provost and vice president for Academic Affairs.
The Provost’s Awards also honored the following faculty:
- Dr. Veena Howard, Department of Philosophy — Distinguished Achievement in Research, Scholarship and Creative Accomplishment Award.
- Dr. Dermot Donnelly-Hermosillo, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry — Faculty Service Award.
- Melanie Kachadoorian, Department of English — Outstanding Lecturer Award.
Three faculty members were selected for the Promising New Faculty category of the Provost’s Awards in recognition of their exemplary achievements in teaching, research, creative activities and/or service among full-time, tenure-track faculty. The honorees are:
- Dr. Manideep Tummalapudi, Department of Construction Management.
- Dr. Yaomingxin Lu, Department of Mathematics.
- Dr. He Wei, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry.
- Dr. Ángel de Jesus González, Department of Educational Leadership.
The Provost’s Awards include a category for Outstanding Staff in recognition of a well-established career as evidenced by unparalleled performance in service to the department or program and the university. The honorees are:
- Tiffany Jennings, administrative analyst specialist, Department of Educational Leadership.
- Dolly Bautista De Huitron, administrative operations coordinator and Instructionally Related Activities liaison, Academic Resources.
The Provost’s Awards were established in 1993 to recognize the outstanding teaching, research and service that is central to the mission of Fresno State. Honorees provide students with a stimulating environment that fosters learning and affirms the university as an intellectual and cultural leader in the Central Valley.
Excellence in Teaching
Dr. Matthew Jendian (sociology) fosters student engagement through service-learning and study abroad, helping students expand their understanding of themselves and their communities. Early in his career, he embedded service-learning into his courses, blending research, theory and effective pedagogy to enrich learning and support career pathways. He builds strong student relationships grounded in respect and care. A Fresno State alumnus, he began teaching at the university in 1995, focusing on social issues, policy, advocacy and community organizing. As founding director of the nationally recognized Humanics Program, he has published widely and earned multiple honors, including the 2012 President’s Award of Excellence. His work has positively impacted thousands of students and communities.
Distinguished Achievement in Research, Scholarship and Creative Accomplishment Award
Dr. Veena Howard (philosophy) is an internationally recognized scholar of Gandhian philosophy and South Asian religious traditions with research spanning gender studies, animal ethics and interfaith relations. She earned her Ph.D. from Lancaster University and has been published by leading academic presses and in flagship journals. She received the prestigious Fulbright–Nehru Academic and Professional Excellence Fellowship in 2025 and a regional Fulbright fellowship supporting research in Sri Lanka on women advancing Gandhian nonviolence and social reform. Her scholarship informs institutional initiatives and attracts major philanthropic investment, advancing interdisciplinary study and expanding the academic impact of religious studies at Fresno State and beyond.
Faculty Service Award
Dr. Dermot Donnelly-Hermosillo (chemistry) joined Fresno State in 2015 and has contributed to many activities that support the university and STEM education. He served on search committees, chaired the University General Education Committee and shared his expertise in educational technology on the AI Service and Technology Innovation Committee. He also regularly volunteers for smaller tasks like peer-reviews, reading applications, preparing program review documents and mentoring faculty. He supports students as Chemistry Club adviser, a Dog Days adviser and has led community and school events promoting science education. He was the chemistry lead for the USAID-funded STEM Teacher Education and School Strengthening Activity project from 2019 to 2024 and committed many hours to conducting workshops.
Outstanding Lecturer Award
Melanie Kachadoorian (English) applies innovative methods to teach composition and literature while fostering an inclusive, equitable classroom. She stays current in her field by attending webinars and workshops where she learns about language diversity in writing, building choice into teaching and community building through small group collaboration in class. As part of the 2018 DISCOVERe cohort, Kachadoorian learned to use the Substitution, Augmentation, Modification and Redefinition framework to help students visualize complex concepts and integrate technology into the classroom. She also earned her Distance Education Certificate in 2019 for online teaching and completed the CSU training in Artificial Intelligence Tools for Teaching and Learning.
Promising New Faculty
Dr. Manideep Tummalapudi (construction management) launched Artificial Intelligence in Architecture, Engineering and Construction in fall 2025, one of the first courses of its kind to prepare students for AI-enabled project environments. He also redesigned core courses to incorporate industry case simulations, data-driven project controls and real-world financial benchmarking to help graduates enter the workforce. Tummalapudi secured more than $600,000 in research funding, including a $260,000 National Science Foundation award in his first three years as faculty. He is committed to service and student success, mentoring students and supporting job placements while also helping to reduce financial barriers for students through certification funding, exam reimbursements and donations.
Dr. Yaomingxin Lu (mathematics) builds a community of learners through active learning techniques like problem solving, discussions, presentations and technology. She developed a new course for applied math and math education graduate students, integrating technology like Apporto and Statistical Software. Since joining Fresno State in 2021, she has published six peer-reviewed research articles and three national conference proceedings. She supervised 10 graduate master’s projects, served on two thesis committees and mentored independent student research projects. She contributes to STEM education by participating on campus committees, the San Joaquin Valley Mathematics Project and the Fresno State Math Circle. Lu received the 2024 College of Science and Mathematics Exceptional Levels of Service Award.
Dr. He Wei (chemistry and biochemistry) uses the latest technology and research to help students develop new ideas and communicate with confidence. Wei redesigned and relaunched key chemistry courses, including CHEM 106 (Analytical Measurements Lab) as a Course-Based Undergraduate Research Experience. A postdoctoral researcher and doctoral graduate of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Wei includes cutting-edge topics in his courses such as magnetic nanoparticles, quantum dots and biomedical sensing and environmental monitoring. Wei secured $150,000 in USDA support and $75,000 from LaunchTN and has collaborated with MIT, Brown and the University of Michigan.
Dr. Ángel de Jesus González (educational leadership) is an assistant professor and program coordinator of the Higher Education Administration and Leadership Program and faculty in the Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership program. Gonzalez’s research focuses on the people, places, and processes that shape educational pathways for Queer and Trans People of Color. Gonzalez has a strong and holistic commitment to teaching, research, creative activity and service. He presents at major national conferences, has published in academic journals, served on university committees, including the Gender-Affirming Care Committee, the Kremen Equity Committee, and the Committee for the Protection of Human Subjects, while mentoring future student affairs professionals.
Outstanding Staff Award
Tiffany Jennings (educational leadership) started as an accounts payable technician in the Division of Administration and Finance in 2008. In 2013, she became an administrative analyst specialist for the Department of Educational Leadership. Jennings works alongside K-12 education leaders, mentors and trains new staff members and fills in where needed. One of the highlights of her career at Fresno State is co-chairing the Kremen School of Education and Human Development commencement ceremony from 2016 to 2022. She is currently collaborating with Dr. Susana Hernández on research presented at the NASPA Western Regional Conference and co-authoring a book chapter for a new volume on CSU Ed.D. Programs.
Dolly Bautista De Huitron (academic resources) joined Fresno State in 2016 as the administrative assistant to the associate vice president for enrollment management, when she built a strong foundation in state budget operations, fiscal accountability and compliance. She later moved to the Department of Criminology where she managed course scheduling, assisted with the retention, tenure and promotion processes, supported faculty and provided student advising support. In March 2023, Huitron began serving in academic resources, managing Instructionally Related Activities funds. With more than a decade of experience in higher education, Huitron demonstrates a commitment to service.
