College of Arts and Humanities
Arts and Humanities Dean's Medalists
Congratulations to the 2022 Dean's Medalists and President's Medalist!
The most prestigious award given to a graduating student in the College of Arts and Humanities is the Dean’s Medal and the most prestigious award for California State University is the President's Medal. In 2022, for the first time ever, both of the College of Arts and Humanities Dean's Medalist went on to recieve the President's Medal.
The Undergraduate and Graduate Dean’s Medalists are recognized for their outstanding academic and/or artistic achievements and accomplishments and contributions to the campus and community. Nominees for the Dean’s Medal are the most accomplished and promising students in the College.
Department nominees and Dean’s Medalists are recognized during the College's annual Arts in Motion event sponsored by the College of Arts and Humanities Advisory Board. Arts in Motion celebrates student excellence by spotlighting Dean’s Medalists, department nominees, student publication and student performances and exhibits.
The College’s Dean’s Medalists becomes a contender for the President’s Medal that is awarded at Commencement. The President's Medal is the highest honor the University bestows on a graduate.
Graduate Dean's Medalist and President's Medalist Audia Dixon
Department of Art, Design and Art History
Audia Dixon is the graduate Dean’s Medalist from the Department of Art, Design, and Art History. With her master’s degree, Dixon wants to continue to paint and keep working as an artist and strive to teach art.
“Without Art, I don’t know how my life would turn out. For it gives me purpose, discipline and constant self-discovery. Your words of encouragement, advice and critique have shaped me to become what I am today, and I am very grateful.” ~ Audia Dixon
- Dean's Medalist runners-up, who serve as Standard Bearers in the University Commencement, are Germán Cervantes Ledesma, M.A. in Spanish Literature and Sho Akamine, M.A. in Linguistics.
Undergraduate Dean's Medalist and President's Medalist Steven Hensley
Department of Philosophy
Steven Hensley is the undergraduate Dean’s Medalist for the College of Arts and Humanities. He studied in the Department of Philosophy and earned a B.A. in philosophy, pre-law option and a B.A. in political science.
““Very few people have survived prison and worked their way into a position to apply to law school. Knowing that grim reality, I choose to serve as a voice for a severely underrepresented population in the law school community.” ~ Steven Hensley
- Dean's Medalist Honorable Mentions: Andrea Ramirez Arana, B.A. in Spanish and Tony Salazar, B.A. in Mass Communication and Journalism with an emphasis in journalism and a minor in criminology.
Congratulations to the 2021 Dean's Medalists!
The most prestigious award given to a graduating student in the College of Arts and Humanities is the Dean’s Medal.
The Undergraduate and Graduate Dean’s Medalists are recognized for their outstanding academic and/or artistic achievements and accomplishments and contributions to the campus and community. Nominees for the Dean’s Medal are the most accomplished and promising students in the College.
Department nominees and Dean’s Medalists are recognized during the College's annual Arts in Motion event sponsored by the College of Arts and Humanities Advisory Board. Arts in Motion celebrates student excellence by spotlighting Dean’s Medalists, department nominees, student publication and student performances and exhibits.
The College’s Undergraduate Dean’s Medalist becomes a contender for the President’s Medal that is awarded at Commencement. The President's Medal is the highest honor the University bestows on a graduate.
The College's Graduate Dean's Medalist becomes a contender for the University Graduate Medal, the highest honor the university bestows on a graduate student at Commencement.
Graduate Dean's Medalist Harrison J. Martin
English Literature, M.A.
Harrison J. Martin is graduating with a Master of Arts degree in Spring 2021, with a 3.96 GPA. After graduating, Harrison plans to pursue his lifelong goal of showing the joys of interconnected humanities to young minds through teaching.
“[I]t’s my lifelong goal to continue showing the joys of interconnected humanities to more future young minds in Fresno.” ~ Harrison Martin
- Honorable Mentions: Victoria A. Cisneros, the Department of Communication and Jer Xiong, MFA Creative Writing.
Undergraduate Dean's Medalist Caleb Charles
Department of Philosophy, B.A.
Caleb Charles is graduating in Spring 2021, with a 4.0 GPA. Caleb plans to attend UC Berkeley School of Law after graduation to become a Civil Rights Attorney for the NAACP.
“From a young age, I have recognized the injustices found in society towards people of color, and this has provided the fuel for my ambition.” ~ Caleb Charles
- Runners-up, who serve as Standard Bearers in the University Commencement, are Teya L. Juarez, Theatre and Dance with a minor in philosophy and John H. Spankowski, Music, instrumental education option.
Congratulations to the 2020 Dean's Medalists!
The most prestigious award given to a graduating student in the College of Arts and Humanities is the Dean’s Medal.
The Undergraduate and Graduate Dean’s Medalists are recognized for their outstanding academic and/or artistic achievements and accomplishments and contributions to the campus and community. Nominees for the Dean’s Medal are the most accomplished and promising students in the College.
Department nominees and Dean’s Medalists are recognized during the College's annual Arts in Motion event, which was virtual for 2020, sponsored by the College of Arts and Humanities Advisory Board. Arts in Motion celebrates student excellence by spotlighting Dean’s Medalists, department nominees, student publication and student performances and exhibits.
The College’s Undergraduate Dean’s Medalist becomes a contender for the 2020 President’s Medal that is awarded at Commencement. The President's Medal is the highest honor the University bestows on a graduate.
The College's Graduate Dean's Medalist becomes a contender for the University Graduate Medal, the highest honor the university bestows on a graduate student at Commencement.
Graduate Dean's Medalist Douglas Anthony Cody
Department of English, MFA Creative Writing
Students in the MFA Creative Writing Program are expected to write a book-length thesis throughout the three-year degree program. In that time, Anthony Cody has written two manuscripts–one of which, Borderland Apocrypha, won the prestigious Omnidawn Open Book Award in 2018 and was published in March 2020.
“Not only has Anthony demonstrated academic and creative excellence; his work is being recognized as creating new possibilities within the field of contemporary U.S. poetry,” said Brynn Saito, assistant professor.
- Honorable Mention: Anabella Monzon Wilson, the Department of Art and Design
Undergraduate Dean's Medalist Greyson Donald Canterbury
Department of Modern and Classical Languages and Literatures
With a major in Spanish and a minor in music, Greyson Canterbury is a Smittcamp Scholar, received numerous academic honors and awards, and has engaged the community through his leadership and service.
“Greyson embodies the true spirit of the College of Arts and Humanities, as he embraces his passion for language, literature, and critical thinking with the transformative power of music,” said María Dolores Morillo, assistant professor.
- Runners-up, who served as Standard Bearers at University Commencement: Daisy Underhill, from Philosophy, and Liliana Perez Rodriguez, from English.
Congratulations to the 2019 Dean's Medalists!
The most prestigious award given to a graduating student in the College of Arts and Humanities is the Dean’s Medal.
The Undergraduate and Graduate Dean’s Medalists are recognized for their outstanding academic and/or artistic achievements and accomplishments and contributions to the campus and community. Nominees for the Dean’s Medal are the most accomplished and promising students in the College.
Department nominees and Dean’s Medalists are recognized during the College's annual Arts in Motion banquet sponsored by the College of Arts and Humanities Advisory Board. The Arts in Motion banquet celebrates student excellence by spotlighting Dean’s Medalists, department nominees, student publication and student performances and exhibits.
The College’s Undergraduate Dean’s Medalist becomes a contender for the 2019 President’s Medal that is awarded at Commencement. The President's Medal is the highest honor the University bestows on a graduate.
The College's Graduate Dean's Medalist becomes a contender for the University Graduate Medal, the highest honor the university bestows on a graduate student at Commencement.
Graduate Dean's Medalist Mason M. Lamb
Department of Music
When asked what accomplishment he is most proud of, Mason Lamb didn’t look his many music premieres — including his orchestral concert overture which was played by FOOSA at the Walt Disney Concert Hall — instead, he looked to his daughter.
“I’m proud of the example I’ve set for my Daughter,” Lamb said. “I have this little six-year-old girl seeing her dad, even at this point in his life, getting his master’s degree and she is falling in love with learning.”
- Honorable Mentions: Alyssa Espinola , from communication, and Lorie Hanoian from Art and Design.
Undergraduate Dean's Medalist and President's Medalist Primavera Leal Martinez
Department of English
Primavera’s accomplishments in the realm of university and community service are staggering in both scope and consistency. Her impressive four-page, tightly bulleted resume does not include them all. A very brief list of her student leadership roles and university service includes ASI Vice President of External Affairs, student voting member on the Academic Senate, student representative on the Student Success Summit Planning Committee, and College Ambassador for the College of Arts and Humanities. Some highlights of her community service include counselor for Camp Kesem, debate coach for children in underrepresented neighborhoods, and Lead Volunteer at Artes Americas.
- Runners-up, who will be the Standard Bearers at this year's University Commencement, on May 18: George Garnica, from MCJ, and Theresa Lopes, from Music.