Student Organizations

Founded in 1991 by writers Andrés Montoya and Daniel Chacón, the Chicanx Writers and Artists Association is a collective of students that seeks to diversify and politicize the creative community of Fresno State and the Central Valley through literary events and projects.

The annual publication of CWAA is the Flies, Cockroaches and Poets journal, which highlights the work of Fresno State students. The journal has also been published under the name Pachuco Children Hurl Stones.

Interested in joining CWAA or submitting to their journal? Email cwaasubmissions@gmail.com to reach the club's leadership.

2024-25 Leadership: Angelina Leaños (president), Miguel Ángeles (vice president), Taylor Seals (treasurer), Chloe Abella, Aura Peredia, Stephanie Gutierrez

Adviser:  Dr. René M. Rodríguez-Astacio

Club email: cwaasubmissions@gmail.com

Hmong American Ink and Stories (HAIS) creates a space to reaffirm, encourage, and professionalize Hmong writers and other marginalized voices, particularly hoping to empower Asian Pacific voices. 

Utilizing the medium of writing, we encourage writers to become active participants in documenting themselves and their stories in a system that has historically left them behind. We seek to foster community and creativity, and be a welcoming space for members to write, share, and receive feedback for their works. Writings are not limited to the literary kind and can also be of the academic and professional nature. Members will also learn resources about publications and be exposed to current and emerging Asian Pacific voices in the literary world. By the end of each academic year, we seek to publish a literary journal that will be open to Fresno State students, the larger community of Central Valley, and beyond.

Interested in joining HAIS or submitting to their journal? Email haisfresnostate@gmail.com to reach the club's leadership.

2024-25 Leadership:  Phoua Lee (president), Eduardo Espinoza-Gonzalez (vice president), Brandon Xiong (treasurer), Isabella De La Torre (secretary), Hope Vang (social media manager)

Adviser:  Prof. Mai Der Vang

Club email:  haisfresnostate@gmail.com

Founded in 2004, the San Joaquin Literary Association is a student organization at Fresno State that promotes literary events throughout the community and brings authors to Fresno for readings and workshops both on and off campus. Most members are graduate students in the Master of Fine Arts Program in Creative Writing.

The SJLA's big annual spring event is WordFest, which features readings and craft talks with nationally renowned authors.

Interested in joining SJLA? Email fresnostatesjla@gmail.com to reach the club's leadership.

2024-25 Leadership:  Taylor Seals (president), Soreath Hok (vice president), Sharon K. McClain (treasurer), Vivian Aguirre, Raúl Rivera-García

Adviser:  Prof. Venita Blackburn

Club email:  fresnostatesjla@gmail.com

The Fresno State chapter of Sigma Tau Delta aims to confer distinction for high achievement in English language and literature in undergraduate, graduate, and professional studies; we exist to provide cultural stimulation on college campuses and promote interest in literature and the English language in surrounding communities. In short, we want to bring the English loving community together to reach new academic heights and to be more social. Join today and join a talented group of like-minded individuals. We recruit in the fall and spring. Join us!

Undergraduate Membership: Candidates must have completed a minimum of two college courses in English language or literature beyond the usual requirements in freshman English. The candidate must have a minimum of a B or equivalent average in English and in general scholarship, must rank at least in the highest thirty-five percent of his/her class, and must have completed at least three semesters or five quarters of college course work. Candidates for undergraduate membership need not be majoring or minoring in the discipline of English.

Graduate Membership: Candidates who did not hold undergraduate membership must be enrolled in a graduate program in English or one of its specializations, have completed six semester hours of graduate work or the equivalent, and have a minimum grade point average of 3.3 on a 4.0 scale.

2024-25 Leadership:  vacant

Adviser:  Dr. Sean A. Gordon

The Students of English Studies Association (SESA) is an organization dedicated to building a graduate community within the English department while also mentoring undergraduates interested in pursuing post-graduate education.

SESA acts as a space where English students can band together to navigate through the trials of graduate school. Our goal is to build community with like-minded students of English Studies, providing support for one another in pursuing Ph.D. programs, and bettering the English and Creative Writing programs at Fresno State with camaraderie.

The organization aims to bring a graduate-level English conference to Fresno State every fall that is student run and centered on the writings of grad students in all disciplines of English Studies. The purpose of having a graduate-level conference is to provide career experience for those of us who wish to go on and continue in our education. We also coordinate a series of faculty-led workshops to prepare students for doctoral programs and their future academic careers.

2024-25 Leadership:  Joseph LeForge (co-president); Madison Johansson (co-president); Jasmine Kaur (co-treasurer); Callie Weiler (co-treasurer); Ace Xiong (co-treasurer); Kendra Barton (communications and social media); Joshua Sagouspe (communications and social media)

Adviser:  Dr. William Arce

Club email: sesa.fresno@gmail.com