College of Agricultural Sciences and Technology
Tatjana Sikuljak
M.S., Plant Science
Tatjana Sikuljak completed her M.S. in Plant Science with a 4.0 GPA. She came to California as part of a summer work abroad program while working on her undergraduate degree in crop protection at the University of Belgrade in Serbia. While pursuing her master’s degree, Tatjana worked full time as an agricultural biologist. Her thesis research, done in collaboration with USDA, involved the bacteria that causes diseases in almonds, which has recently emerged as a serious threat to almond production in California. Tatjana's thesis was selected by a committee of emeriti faculty as the university's outstanding thesis for 2006-07.
College of Arts and Humanities
Dawn Marie Dennise McIntosh
M.A., Communication
Dawn Marie McIntosh completed her M.A. in Communication with a 3.9 GPA. An accomplished researcher and ethnographer, Dawn Marie’s interests are in communication in the areas of race/ethnicity, gender and sexuality. She presented two research papers at the National Communication Association and was a student reviewer of other applicants’ submissions for the NCA and the National Women’s Studies Association. She has been accepted to several doctoral programs.
Craig School of Business
Mark Andrew Riley
Master of Business Administration
Mark Andrew Riley completed his Master of Business Administration with a 4.0 GPA. A corporate banker for 15 years, Riley has been chosen by his employer, County Bank, to attend the prestigious Pacific Coast Banking School at the University of Washington. Outside of his career and scholastic achievements, Mark is a member of the board of directors for the Community Food Bank and the vice president of administration for the Craig School of Business Alumni and Friends Board of Directors.
Kremen School of Education and Human Development
Scott Kupferman
M.S., Rehabilitation Counseling
University Graduate Medalist
Scott Kupferman completed his M.S. in Rehabilitation Counseling with a 4.0 GPA. In September 2006, he was selected to receive the Rehabilitation Services Administration Commissioner’s Award for Excellence by the United States Department of Education. His research has been described as ground-breaking: he has developed software for an assistive computer-input device with patent pending. Scott also established the Global Assistive Technology Initiative, a nonprofit organization that focuses on technology for people with disabilities.
College of Engineering
Nell Katerina Papavasiliou
M.S., Electrical Engineering
Nell Papavasiliou completed her M.S. in Electrical Engineering with a 3.85 GPA. After completing her undergraduate degree, Nell worked as an engineer, which was a solid foundation for her graduate studies. While at Fresno State, she developed a specialty in optics that qualified her for employment as a junior optical engineer with Pelco in Clovis. She also was an instructional assistant for two undergraduate classes.
College of Health and Human Services
Tonantzin Eva Soto
Master of Public Health
Tonantzin Soto completed her Master of Public Health with a 4.0 GPA. She has been employed as a research assistant at the Central Valley Health Policy Institute and in 2006 she was awarded a prestigious internship at the Harvard Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, where she examined cancer risk factors among low-income housing residents. Tona was accepted into two medical schools but decided to enter a Ph.D. program at the Harvard School of Public Health.
College of Science and Mathematics
Denise Lynn Guerra-Lopez
M.S., Biology
Denise Guerra-Lopez completed her M.S. in Biology with a 4.0 GPA. She was awarded a highly competitive fellowship by the Environmental Protection Agency. She has presented her research findings orally or in poster format nine times at regional, national and international meetings. A paper that describes her thesis research was accepted by the journal Microbiology. Denise is employed as a public health microbiologist.
College of Social Science
David Cyrus Pyrooz
M.S., Criminology
David Pyrooz completed his M.S. in Criminology with a 3.9 GPA. With a number of papers and presentations to his credit, David excels at criminology research. His master’s research examines the effects of low self-control and learning variables on gang membership. While completing his graduate degree, he was a graduate researcher on several projects and a teaching assistant.
Division of Student Affairs,
Simon F. Haeder
M.A., International Relations
Simon F. Haeder completed his M.A. in International Relations with a 4.0 GPA. Simon, who is from Germany, came to Fresno State in 2004. Among his leadership roles were internship coordinator for the Maddy Institute and speaker pro tempore and senator for Associated Students Inc. He founded Pi Gamma Mu, international honor society for the social sciences, as well as Pi Sigma Alpha, national honor society for political science. He was a Jim Costa Scholar and completed internships in the offices of U.S. Sen. Diane Feinstein and State Sen. Dean Florez. Simon was also chosen as the university's outstanding international student.