Duane Ruth-Heffelbower, M.Div., J.D., associate professor of peacemaking and conflict studies/business, was presented with the 2012 Presidential Award by Association for Conflict Resolution President Perri Mayes in New Orleans at the conclusion of the 12th annual conference in September 2012.

Chris Janzen, MFA, is an assistant professor of art who keeps a busy schedule of art shows and jazz performances in the Fresno area

Publications:
May 2012, Fig Tree Gallery 50th Anniversary monograph, published by the Fig Tree Gallery, Fresno

Randy White, D. Min., associate professor of community transformation, presented “What it Takes to Transform Your City” at the Urbana 12 Student Missions Conference sponsored by InterVarsity Christian Fellowship December 27-31, 2012, in St Louis.

The School of Education celebrated the contributions of Dave Derby and Donald McHatten December 5 in BC Lounge.

Both men were retiring from FPU. McHatten, assistant professor of special education, started his full-time faculty appointment in 2005, and Derby, assistant professor of education, in 2009. Both were program directors, with McHatten heading the special education program at the Visalia Center and the moderate-severe credential program. Derby directed the administrative services program.

Fay Nielsen, Ph.D., associate dean of retention; Shirley Warkentin, M.A., policy analyst and director of operations for degree completion; and Melissa Kent, M.A., student success coordinator; attended the National Symposium on Student Retention October 29-31 in New Orleans. Warkentin won the Director’s Award for her paper "Approaches to Serving Under-Resourced, Undergraduate Adult Student Populations." Nielsen participated as a poster session judge. The symposium was sponsored bythe Consortium for Student Retention Data Exchange (CSRDE).

FPU added faculty throughout the university during the fall semester. Here is a list of new and promoted faculty as of November 1, 2012.

Michael Allen, MBA, M.Div., is director of institutional research. He has a master’s in business administration from Keller Graduate School of Management, a master’s in divinity from Mennonite Brethren Biblical Seminary and a bachelor of arts from California State University, Fresno.

Ron Claassen, D. Min. (BA ‘67), professor of peacemaking and conflict studies/leadership studies, received the Ester Soriano Award for Excellence in Community Mediation from the California Dispute Resolution Council (CDRC). The award was presented by Doug Noll (MA ‘02), president of CDRC board, at the group’s 18th Annual Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Policy Conference November 3 at Golden Gate University Law School.

Fresno’s Leading Young Professionals announced its 2012 award winners—and an FPU staff member was on the list: Jill Coppler, regional center communications specialist, is FLYP’er of the Year.