NEWSMAKERS

Ashley Swearengin (Office of Community and Economic Development) has taken on additional responsibilities as chief operating officer of the Regional Jobs Institute, which seeks to create 30,000 jobs during the next five years. She is also chief executive officer of Fresno Area Collaborative Regional Initiative, a joint venture of Fresno State and the Fresno Business Council.

Joan Krejcar Sharma's (Art and Design) oil painting, "Transition" was awarded an Honorable Mention in the Topanga Canyon Gallery, 2004 Juried National Open Show. The juror, Michael Zakian is director of The Weisman Art Museum at Pepperdine University . Sharma's paintings will be exhibited in the President's Gallery in the Thomas Administration Building in March. Her work will also be exhibited at the Absolute Gallery in San Marino and Gallery 25 in Fresno this summer.

Steve Yarbrough (English) had his third novel, "Prisoners of War," published by Alfred A. Knopf. He will sign copies at 7 p.m. on Feb. 18 at Barnes & Noble, 7849 N. Blackstone Ave. in Fresno . The novel has drawn strong reviews from Publisher's Weekly, Library Journal and Kirkus Reviews, which calls it "philosophically troubling, artistically thrilling, and thoroughly impressive."

Philip J. Lane (Mass Communication and Journalism) published the article "Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar" in the Encyclopedia of Radio (The Museum of Broadcast Communication), Vol. 3, Dec. 2003, New York : Routledge.

Brian Tsukimura (Biology) has been awarded a Sea Grant for invasive species.  The grant is to study the life history of the Chinese mitten crab, Eriocheir sinensis , that has invaded California . The study has two facets: 1) San Francisco Bay temperature effects on larval survival and the eventual effect on adult population strength; and 2) the effect of day length and temperature on the induction of reproduction.  Both factors are thought to effect the population strength of adults several years in the future.

President Welty and Matthew Jendian (Sociology) joined 14 Fresno State students in attending the 32nd annual American Humanics Management Institute held in Kansas City , Mo. , in January. Dr. Welty is chair of the Board of Directors for the national American Humanics alliance. Jendian served as a facilitator for a simulation/case study. Fresno State 's American Humanics Student Association received the "Outstanding Community Service Award" for the second consecutive year. Two Fresno State students won awards at the institute.