Employee Graduates

Estevan Parra Guerrero Jr., Ed.D. Educational Leadership

Estevan Parra Guerrero Jr., of South Central Los Angeles, earned his doctoral degree with a 4.0 GPA and received this year’s Graduate Dean’s Medal from the Kremen School of Education and Human Development.

Parra Guerrero’s family relocated to Porterville during his high school years, where he witnessed gaps in the resources offered to navigate the education system during the crucial period of preparing for college. After earning a business degree from Fresno State, Parra Guerrero left a career at a Fortune 500 company to pursue his passion — supporting students. Since 2018, he has served as administrative assistant for the Graduate Net Initiative and coordinated LGBTQ+ and gender programs and services and the Men’s Success Initiative through the Cross Cultural and Gender Center. He achieved personal growth through involvement with Los Danzantes de Aztlán folklórico dance program during his undergraduate studies and while pursuing his master’s degree. Parra Guerrero now reaches low-income, first-generation, college-bound high school students as the director of the university’s Upward Bound programs. After graduation, he plans to expand his research to uplift Latina/o/x student affairs leaders nationwide and pursue publication and presentation opportunities related to his research. He aspires to serve as a dean or associate vice president for student success and teach courses that emphasize leadership at the university.

Etisha Wilbon, Ph.D. Industrial and Organizational Psychology

Dr. Etisha Wilbon, director of Counseling and Psychological Services at the Student Health and Counseling Center, passed her defense of her dissertation. Her degree will be officially conferred this fall. Dr. Wilbon said: This Ph.D. journey in industrial and organizational psychology challenged me in ways I never expected. I found my voice in places I once felt tiny and discovered purpose in the data, passion in the process, and strength in the growth.

Luis Jesus Alvarez Ordaz, M.S. Counseling – Student Affairs and College Counseling

Earning this degree has been a positive transformative journey. Balancing full-time work with graduate studies was challenging, but my passion for supporting students kept me motivated. I’ve grown both personally and professionally through this program, and I’m proud to now use what I’ve learned to empower first-generation and low-income students in achieving their academic goals.

Juan Figueroa, Jr., Master of Public Administration – Organizational Leadership

Juan Figueroa, Jr., serves as director of Fresno State’s Educational Talent Search – Porterville program, where he supports high school students annually across South Tulare County. A proud product of TRIO programs and a UC Berkeley graduate, Juan earned his Master of Public Administration in Organizational Leadership and is currently pursuing certification as a Change Management Professional. He plans to pursue a doctorate in education or leadership as soon as possible, with aspirations of serving in a senior leadership role within higher education.

In addition to his work at Fresno State, Juan has spent 12 years in elected service on two local school boards, helping shape policy and champion student-centered approaches in his community. At Fresno State, he contributes to the Division of Student Affairs and Enrollment Management Leadership Council and serves as an Equal Employment Opportunity Designee. Juan is passionate about removing systemic barriers to college and creating inclusive pathways that support students to not simply survive, but rather, thrive.

Samantha McNeil, M.A. Higher Education Administration and Leadership

Samantha McNeil serves as an administrative support coordinator for the Dean of Students and Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities. After completing her undergraduate degree at CSU Long Beach in 2017, she moved back to Fresno and took a six-year hiatus from academia while stepping into a new role — motherhood. During that time, she often wondered if there was still space for her in higher education. Eventually, she found HEAL — or maybe HEAL found her — and everything began to shift. Now, as she finishes her master’s degree, she does so with clarity, confidence, and a deep commitment to making higher ed more accessible for students who carry multiple roles, just like she does.

Sonia Sanchez, M.S. Counseling – Student Affairs and College Counseling

Sonia Sanchez currently serves as the administrative support coordinator in the Learning Center. She said: During my grad school at Fresno State, I’ve dedicated myself to supporting students drawing from my own experiences as a first-generation woman of color, student parent, and wife.

I come from an immigrant family in a small rural community in Monterey County, which came with academic challenges. My education journey, like so many students at Fresno State, had many broken paths that led to me being on academic probation. Still, I persisted and earned an associate degree followed by a bachelor’s degree in Sociology. Fresno State fueled my passion to pursue a master’s degree in Student Affairs and College Counseling. My graduate experience has deepened my empathy and commitment to fostering student success. I’m grateful for the support of my family, friends, students, mentors, my cohort, and the Fresno State community for this transformative experience. I hope to continue my path in higher education and support those students who are traveling those broken paths I once did.

Froy Zavala, M.A. Higher Education Administration and Leadership

Froy Zavala is a first-generation college graduate and a combat-disabled U.S. Army veteran who’s earned his M.A. in Higher Education Administration and Leadership (HEAL) from Fresno State. He currently serves as an administrative support coordinator at Fresno State’s Veterans Resource Center, where he supports military-affiliated students.

Motivated by a desire to grow as a transformative leader, Froy chose the HEAL program to deepen his ability to advocate for underserved student communities. He remains committed to helping veterans and their families navigate the complexities of higher education and connect with essential campus and community resources. Through the HEAL program, Froy has further solidified his dedication to student success and to fostering leadership that is student-centered and service-driven.

by MARISA MATA

May 6, 2025

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