In Touch With Alumni, Fall 2024

General Announcements

Savannah Dias (BA ’24) and Alyssa Robles (BA ’24) presented a research poster May 18, 2024, during the Central California Behavioral Health Conference at Alliant International University’s Fresno Campus. “Thriving?: A Study of First-Generation Freshmen at Fresno Pacific University,” culminated a year-long project managed by Elizabeth Lake, Ph.D., associate professor of psychology. Lake’s research group also included four other psychology graduates and Sarah Micu (BA ’15), assistant director of the FPU Academic Success Center. The conference was open to all undergraduate and graduate students in psychology (or a related field) presenting on behavioral health.

Briana Parra (BA ’24) was appointed Clovis (CA) city clerk June 3, 2024. Her career has included positions in the Fresno City Clerk’s Office, including interim city clerk.

Darrin Person, Jr. (MA ’23, BA ’21), former Sunbird basketball player, appeared June 27, 2024, on Your Central Valley’s Sports Central to talk about playing professionally in Germany and his summer basketball camp at Immanuel High School in Reedley, CA.

Ana Duarte (BA ’21) is a fourth-grade teacher at Aspen Valley Prep Academy in Fresno. She earned her M.A. from Alliant International University in 2023.

Luke Fredette (BA ’21) won a Graduate Student Teaching Award from Idaho State University in May 2024. He received the prize in the Master of Arts category for his thesis, “Examining the ‘India’ in ‘India’s Tolkien’: Amish Tripathi’s Postcolonial Mythopoeia.” Luke completed an M.A. in English at Idaho State and in the fall of 2024 and joined the faculty of the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma. He also has an M.A. from Edinburgh Napier University in Scotland.

Brenda Quispe (BA ’21) is a teacher in the Fresno Unified School District.

Tracy McDonell (BA ’20) joined Fresno County as a child welfare social worker in family reunification in December 2023.

Brittany Nielsen (BA ’20) graduated with an M.S. in Cardiovascular Sciences from Midwestern University in May 2023. The next month she was hired at Swedish Hospital Cherry Hill Campus in Seattle, WA, and in October 2023 passed her boards to become a Certified Clinical Perfusionist (CCP).

Francesco Parisi (BA ’20) published his first young adult action novel, Alex McKellan: Mind vs. Matter. He worked on earlier drafts of the novel during his time in FPU’s English program. The book is available on Amazon. For more information, visit parisiwrites.com.

Sara Grulé (BA ’19) published “Complex grief of climate change” May 16, 2024, in the Learn, Pray, Join: Climate Justice: Seeking Shalom blog sponsored by Mennonite Church USA.

Kyland Hall (BA ’19) is a multimedia journalist for WSBT (CBS 22) in South Bend, IN.

Denise Michelle McKendell (BA ’18) published her first work of poetry titled, “Pieces of Me.”

Krystle Evans (MA ’17) was named assistant coach of the Indiana State University Women’s Basketball Team June 6, 2024. Over the last 15 years, she has held numerous coaching positions at UC Santa Barbara, the Academy of Arts University, Cal State Dominguez Hills, UC Irvine and LA Southwest College.

Jennifer Vences (BS ’17) is office manager at Kids2Dentist in Porterville, CA.

Rodolfo Venegas (BA ’16) and Elsa Asrat (BA ’14) were featured in the Christian Leader online magazine in summer 2024. They, along with their two young children, are missionaries in Ethiopia serving HIV+ women and children. They finished a ministry home there and have also partnered with a blind school to support their work.

Sarah Bonnar (BA ’13) is assurance manager at Moss Adams, LLP, in Sacramento, CA.

Geoffery Taylor (MA ’15, BA ’12) is director of business development at Rancho Tree Service in Bakersfield, CA.

Stephanie Bowers-Buckridge (BA ’11) was named Dinuba’s 2024 Woman of the Year in April during the Dinuba Annual Business Awards Banquet hosted by the Dinuba (CA) Chamber of Commerce. The event recognized the work of community leaders in business and nonprofit organizations as well as individual residents. Stephanie serves as a librarian for the Tulare County Library.

Former Sunbird pitcher Jesse Darrah (FS ’11, current student) returned as head baseball coach to Minarets High School, O’Neals, CA, in May 2024.

Doug Kulungu (BA ’10) was profiled July 29, 2024, in The Business Journal for his relief work and political career in his native Democratic Republic of Congo.

Matt Mendonca (BA ’08) was promoted to head football coach at College of the Sequoias July 9, 2024.

Linda Montemayor (TC ’06, BA ’04) was selected as the Educational Leader Award recipient by the Cutler-Orosi (CA) Lions Club in May 2024. Linda is the administrator of mental health services for Cutler-Orosi Joint Unified School District and serves on the FPU Board of Trustees.

Stephanie Cortez (BA ’05) was interviewed on her life and work as a professor and division chair at Porterville (CA) College June 11, 2024, by The Porterville Recorder.

Linda Calandra (BA ’04) was appointed to the Fresno City Planning Commission in May 2024. Previous positions include executive director of the Foundation for Fresno County Public Library, director of annual giving and donor relations at FPU and member of the Fresno City Council.

Helen Milliorn-Feller (MA ’02), Ed.D., was appointed principal of University Preparatory High School, Visalia, CA, in May 2024. She has worked at the school since it opened in 2009 as teacher, department head and interim principal.

Caty (Massey, BA ’99) Perez is the senior philanthropy officer at the Central Valley Community Foundation in Fresno.

Johnny Baltierra (MA ’97) was honored as Educator of the Year at the Association of Mexican American Educators Fresno Chapter 42nd Dia Del Maestro Awards Banquet May 10, 2024. He was awarded for his charisma, ability to influence, passion and positive attitude.

Births

Christina (Maule, BA ’06) Baltazar and husband Frank announce the birth of their sixth child, Isaac, January 14, 2024. Christina founded the Central Valley Belly to Baby Expo, a local trade show for all things pregnancy, birth and baby related for families in the Central Valley. Visit belly2babyexpo.com for more information.

Gianna Ruffino was born to Noel Ruffino (BA ’19) and Karla Moreno (BA ’19) February 2, 2024. Noel and Karla met while completing their degrees at FPU’s North Fresno Campus. Gianna joins brothers Samuel and Ethan.

Sarah (King, BA ’14) and Zach (BA ’18) Bartley welcomed third son Baylor Mikaele February 1, 2024. He weighed 8 pounds, 4 ounces and was 20.5 inches long.

Deaths

Former Track & Field All American student-athlete Josiah Ford (BA ’15) died May 5, 2024, after going for a run and suffering a fatal cardiac arrest. Josiah was an officer with the Clovis (CA) Police Department but in the process of medically retiring. Survivors include wife Alyssa and daughters Presley and Penelope.

Raymond Eugene Organ Jr. (MA ’12), 53, of Bakersfield, CA, died April 9, 2024, after an 18-month battle with glioblastoma. Born June 1, 1970, he was a special education teacher for the Kern High School District for almost 30 years, also coaching football and golf. He was a lifelong member of Valley Baptist Church. Survivors include wife Leah, daughter Baleigh, parents Ray Sr. and Glynda, sister Tiffany Bowles and stepchildren Lexi and Cole McRoberts.

Janelle Marie Mendoza (BA ’96), 73, died May 19, 2024, at home in Lawton, OK. A Fresno native, she served in a variety of positions in the State Center Community College system, starting as a secretary and ultimately becoming a vice president of finance. Survivors include her sons and her siblings.

Mark Richard Walter (FS ’74), 71, died December 7, 2023, of cancer. Born in Redwood City, CA, he grew up in Santa Rosa and Kentfield before returning to Santa Rosa in his mid-twenties. He participated in Marin Covenant Church and New Vintage Church. Survivors include sister Sharon Elmore, brothers Dave and Gary Walter and stepmother Wende Walter.

Alvin “Al” Witzke (BA ’58), 87, of Crete, NB, died January 18, 2024. He was born March 19, 1936, in Shafter, CA, to Alvin and Helena Witzke and married Joanne Klassen in Inman, KS, June 4, 1959. Survivors include his wife, son Doug, daughters Jan Sorensen and Kris Sayler, brother Ed and six grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

Zoe Ann Smith (PBI ’57), 85, died February 3, 2024, a lifelong resident of Shafter, CA. She studied music and performed as a pianist and singer in community productions. She married Jack Groves in 1958 and they raised two sons. She married Bob Smith in 1982. A member of Shafter Mennonite Brethren Church, she was a pharmacy tech at Stringham’s Shafter Drug and Junior Miss volunteer. Survivors include sons Kevin and Jeff Groves, stepchildren Bryan Smith and Nita Crist, three grandchildren and one great-granddaughter.

Albert N. Pauls (PBI ’53), 95, died May 31, 2024. A native of Medora, KS, his family moved to Reedley, CA, when Albert was in the fifth grade, where he became a member of the Reedley Mennonite Brethren Church. He and wife Laverna (PBI ’51) met at PBI and married in 1954. He worked at Sears in Fresno, then earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees and a teacher credential at Fresno State and taught for more than 30 years, mostly at Fresno City College. Survivors include daughter Gail, six grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren and two brothers. Laverna and daughter Connie preceded him in death.

Esther (Peters, PBI ’47) Berg, 99, died March 16, 2024. She was born September 8, 1924, in Dinuba, CA, to Henry and Elizabeth Peters. She was known for her love of music—playing the clarinet, piano, organ and accordion— and cooking and baking pies, zwiebach, cinnamon rolls and chocolate chip cookies. She married John Berg (PBI ’47) December 12, 1946, and they attended PBI for one year. They raised daughters, Marilyn Berg Nachtigall (FS ’68) (husband Donald Nachtigall, BA ’67), Carolyn Berg Jost (FS ’69) and Kathy Berg Nachtigall (BA ’73) (husband Kelly Nachtigall, BA ’75) and son John D. Berg (BA ’80) (wife Valerie Wiens Berg (FS ’78). She also has eight grandchildren and 21 great-grandchildren.