Kremen School of Education and Human Development
Message from the Dean
Today, we celebrate you with immense pride and joy. Earning your degree is a powerful reflection of your dedication, perseverance and intellect. You join an esteemed community of Kremen School graduates who serve as educators, counselors and leaders throughout the Central Valley and beyond. Remember to foster your connection to the network of alumni and our campus, which will continue to support you as you step into the next chapter of your journey.
As we honor your accomplishments, take a moment to acknowledge those who supported you along the way. Whether this is your family, friends, mentors, and teachers, let them know the role they played in helping you succeed. Express your gratitude by providing that guiding light for someone else as they pursue their own dreams.
Your degree symbolizes your achievements, but it also carries the responsibility to apply your learning in the service of others. At the Kremen School, we are committed to cultivating strong and just communities by developing the future leaders we see in each of you. We take pride in knowing that you join the generations of our graduates who influence each academic level and every stage of human development.
Since its founding as Fresno State Normal School in 1911, the university has grown in size and scope. The Kremen School remains rooted in its original mission: to prepare students to serve others and nurture human potential. Be proud of who you are, and move forward with purpose. Remember to strive to grow, to passionately serve and to strengthen the communities you call home.
Best wishes to all of you in your future endeavors!
Dean Sergio La Porta
Message from the Associate Dean
Today, we celebrate not only your academic achievements, but your deep commitment to people — to shaping minds, guiding hearts, and leading with purpose. We honor the quiet strength it took to reach this moment, the way you and your support systems have shown up for one another, and you — the change agent — for the many lives you will touch in your career path.
To our new teachers and educators, you're stepping into learning spaces that are more than places of instruction — they are spaces of opportunity. Great teachers lead with creativity, care, and an unwavering belief in every student’s potential.
To our counselors, your presence will be a lifeline. The most impactful counselors offer more than guidance — they create safety, build trust, and help others feel seen, heard, and understood.
To our leaders, you carry the torch of transformation — not just managing systems, but reimagining them to better serve students across the Central Valley and beyond. True leadership begins with listening, humility, and a commitment to justice.
To our Liberal Studies B.A. graduates and those forging their own paths — your journey is just as powerful. What you’ve learned here will guide you in ways both visible and quietly profound. May you embrace both your failures and successes, so you can offer others the wisdom, grace, humility, and support you once needed.
As the celebrations fade, remember: education doesn’t end with a diploma. Let your life be rooted in courage, curiosity, and compassion.
Congratulations, Class of 2025. We are so proud of you. You carry not only your own dreams, but the dreams of your ancestors — and of those who now see you as a source of inspiration.
Go Bulldogs!
Associate Dean Song Lee
Graduate and Undergraduate Dean's Medalists
Estevan Parra Guerrero Jr.
Graduate Dean's Medalist
Estevan Parra Guerrero Jr., of South Central Los Angeles, earned his Ed.D. in educational leadership with a 4.0 GPA. Estevan'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.
Estevan has served in roles at Fresno State since 2018, including administrative assistant for the Graduate Net Initiative, coordinating LGBTQ+ and gender programs and services, and the Men's Success Initiative through the Cross-Cultural and Gender Center. He would achieve personal growth through involvement with the Los Danzantes de Aztlán folklórico dance program during his undergraduate studies and again 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, Estevan 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.
Vanessa Gallegos
Undergraduate Dean's Medalist
Vanessa Gallegos, of Tulare, earned her B.A. in liberal studies and multiple subject teaching credential through the South Valley Integrated Teacher Education Program (ITEP) with a 4.0 GPA. Vanessa served in a leadership role for an after-school program that provided educational activities for TK through sixth-grade students. While working in this role, she discovered a passion for teaching and earned her A.A. in elementary teacher education from the College of the Sequoias. Between work and school, she enjoys raising and homeschooling her daughter.
After graduation, Vanessa plans to pursue a master’s degree in education and teach kindergarten or first grade. Her goal is to become a leader in the field of education as an administrator.