Campus recognized at American Humanics institute

Dr. Matthew Jendian, left, and students Lionel Lopez Jr. and Matilde Gonzalez accept the “Outstanding Student Recruitment Award” on behalf of Fresno State. 

The American Humanics Program at Fresno State stood out at the 33 rd Annual American Humanics Management Institute (AHMI) held in Atlanta, Jan. 5-8. 

Fifteen AH students from Fresno State were among the 750 participants from 75 colleges and universities attending AHMI 2005, participating in workshops, a National Collegiate Dialogue with the American Assembly, a simulation case study exercise, and a career fair. The theme for this year’s Institute was “Connecting Communities: Learning, Technology, & Service.”

The Institute, a three-day intensive conference on the nonprofit sector, is the “capstone” experience of the AH Certificate Program in Nonprofit Management and Leadership.

Dr. Matthew Jendian, assistant professor of Sociology and director of the AH Program at Fresno State, served as a facilitator for the simulation/case study at the institute.

Jendian , Fresno State President Welty, who is chair of the Board of Directors for AH, Inc., and Dr. Robin Tricoli, co-presented a workshop about Fresno State being a “Making Place Matter” Demonstration Site. The three discussed how our community (i.e., the university, governmental offices, for-profit corporations and nonprofit organizations) is coming together to discuss steward leadership and create a civic engagement culture among faculty, students, administrators, residents and the other institutions and stakeholders in our region.

Roberto Vaca ( graduate student in Counseling) was recognized for his significant contributions as one of six students selected nationwide as a member of the AHMI 2005 planning team. As part of this national American Humanics annual conference, Roberto arranged for Francine Oputa (Women’s Resource Center) and Dr. Jody Hironaka-Juteau (RLS Program) from Fresno State to co-facilitate a two-hour diversity workshop with the more than 600 AH students who gathered in Atlanta.

Jendian and Oputa also co-facilitated two workshops on the topic of "Responding to Privilege and Incorporating Diversity," an interactive session which explored how nonprofit organizations and managers can meet the challenges of the diversity in the 21st century.

During the course of the Institute, six AH Student Association (AHSA) awards were presented by the AH National Office.  Fresno State’s student association, having recruited 26 students to the AH Program in the fall semester, received the “ Outstanding Student Recruitment Award.” Lionel Lopez Jr. (AHSA president) and Matilde Gonzalez (AHMI student representative) accepted the award on behalf of Fresno State. 

In addition to the group service projects and individual volunteer community service, during 2003-04, 22 AH students interned with 31 different nonprofit agencies and contributed 4,525 hours to the community (206 hours per student). 

The students were provided the opportunity to learn the management principles and leadership skills to build and improve a nonprofit agency so that it can more effectively meet the needs of the individuals and communities served.