Annual Scholar’s Event and Reception
Our Annual Scholar’s Event and Reception is a celebration of academic excellence and a tribute to our outstanding scholarship recipients. This event honors the hard work, dedication, and achievements of our talented students and their families.
Event Speakers
Saúl Jiménez-Sandoval
Saúl Jiménez-Sandoval has roots in Fowler, a city 15 minutes south of Fresno, and his commitment to the region and higher education form the foundation of his drive to promote the region’s economic and cultural ascendency. Dr. Jiménez-Sandoval is an immigrant to the San Joaquin Valley, having arrived in the region from Mexico at 10 years old. He worked on his father’s small farm and grew to appreciate the many cultures, languages, and communities of the Valley.
After serving over two decades on campus, Dr. Jiménez-Sandoval was named Fresno State’s ninth president in 2021. Prior to his administrative appointments as the Dean of Arts and Humanities and Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs, Dr. Jiménez-Sandoval taught on campus for nearly 15 years. His expertise is in Spanish and Portuguese poetry, and he has published on authors from Cuba, Mexico, Spain, and Portugal. Dr. Jiménez-Sandoval is most inspired by Fresno State’s power to transform the individual in ways that promote their unique skills and talents and encourage their dynamic contributions to the greater good. He is proud of Fresno State’s status as a national leader in recruiting, supporting, and graduating students from diverse backgrounds.
With his deep love of the Valley and a strong connection to agriculture and the arts, Dr. Jiménez-Sandoval is committed to his community, where he and his wife, Dr. Mariana Anagnostopoulos, and their two sons, Leo and Arion, call home.
Rafael Iniguez
My name is Rafael Iniguez and I am the new superintendent of Parlier Unified School District. As the child of migrant farm workers, growing up in the rural town of Parlier, I knew that education was key to changing my life and the lives of those around me. In 2002, I graduated as valedictorian of Parlier High School and at the age of 17, I made the decision of a lifetime—to accept a full-ride scholarship and move across the country to become part of the 250th graduating class of the University of Pennsylvania.
The summer after I graduated from high school, I packed a single suitcase and moved into a campus dorm room in Philadelphia to be a part of a summer bridge program called the “Pre Freshman Program” that would introduce me to university life, campus services, mentorship programs, academic counseling, college coursework, and to other first-generation students who eventually became my lifelong friends.
In 2006, I graduated with honors from the University of Pennsylvania and flew home to begin the next chapter of my academic journey. I eventually went on to earn a master’s degree in counseling and in May of 2022, I became the first in my family to earn a doctorate degree; I earned a doctorate degree from the Educational Leadership program at Fresno State University.
In my opinion, being a first-generation college graduate means that through my educational struggles and accomplishments, I am to serve as a source of inspiration to the most vulnerable members of our society in order to empower them to also pursue a post-secondary education and career technical education training. I fully embrace this new chapter in my life as superintendent of Parlier Unified School District. I am here to serve our school board, students, parents, guardians, teachers, employees, and administrators within our wonderful district. Together, we will expand opportunities and accomplish great things! Together, we will take things to the next level!
Event Speakers
Saúl Jiménez-Sandoval
Saúl Jiménez-Sandoval has roots in Fowler, a city 15 minutes south of Fresno, and his commitment to the region and higher education form the foundation of his drive to promote the region’s economic and cultural ascendency. Dr. Jiménez-Sandoval is an immigrant to the San Joaquin Valley, having arrived in the region from Mexico at 10 years old. He worked on his father’s small farm and grew to appreciate the many cultures, languages, and communities of the Valley.
After serving over two decades on campus, Dr. Jiménez-Sandoval was named Fresno State’s ninth president in 2021. Prior to his administrative appointments as the Dean of Arts and Humanities and Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs, Dr. Jiménez-Sandoval taught on campus for nearly 15 years. His expertise is in Spanish and Portuguese poetry, and he has published on authors from Cuba, Mexico, Spain, and Portugal. Dr. Jiménez-Sandoval is most inspired by Fresno State’s power to transform the individual in ways that promote their unique skills and talents and encourage their dynamic contributions to the greater good. He is proud of Fresno State’s status as a national leader in recruiting, supporting, and graduating students from diverse backgrounds.
With his deep love of the Valley and a strong connection to agriculture and the arts, Dr. Jiménez-Sandoval is committed to his community, where he and his wife, Dr. Mariana Anagnostopoulos, and their two sons, Leo and Arion, call home.
Rafael Iniguez
My name is Rafael Iniguez and I am the new superintendent of Parlier Unified School District. As the child of migrant farm workers, growing up in the rural town of Parlier, I knew that education was key to changing my life and the lives of those around me. In 2002, I graduated as valedictorian of Parlier High School and at the age of 17, I made the decision of a lifetime—to accept a full-ride scholarship and move across the country to become part of the 250th graduating class of the University of Pennsylvania.
The summer after I graduated from high school, I packed a single suitcase and moved into a campus dorm room in Philadelphia to be a part of a summer bridge program called the “Pre Freshman Program” that would introduce me to university life, campus services, mentorship programs, academic counseling, college coursework, and to other first-generation students who eventually became my lifelong friends.
In 2006, I graduated with honors from the University of Pennsylvania and flew home to begin the next chapter of my academic journey. I eventually went on to earn a master’s degree in counseling and in May of 2022, I became the first in my family to earn a doctorate degree; I earned a doctorate degree from the Educational Leadership program at Fresno State University.
In my opinion, being a first-generation college graduate means that through my educational struggles and accomplishments, I am to serve as a source of inspiration to the most vulnerable members of our society in order to empower them to also pursue a post-secondary education and career technical education training. I fully embrace this new chapter in my life as superintendent of Parlier Unified School District. I am here to serve our school board, students, parents, guardians, teachers, employees, and administrators within our wonderful district. Together, we will expand opportunities and accomplish great things! Together, we will take things to the next level!