Commencement
College of Science and Mathematics Commencement Ceremony
Saturday, May 17, 2025 • 8:00 a.m to 9:30 a.m. • Save Mart Center
Dear Graduates,
Welcome to the College of Science and Mathematics Commencement! We gather on this special day to celebrate your achievements with your family and friends. We appreciate that our undergraduate and graduate students have worked very hard to complete their challenging programs and realize their dreams. Your inspiring growth and transformation have been catalyzed by our faculty and staff who strive to deliver the best educational environment possible. We value the different perspectives, experiences, and backgrounds that we all bring to California State University, Fresno. Diverse teams of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) professionals are essential to solve complex/wicked societal problems in the areas of food, water, energy, health, the environment, and sustainability that are critical to the Central Valley ecosystem and beyond. We are confident that you will be part of “Team Science” that will contribute to the solutions to these grand challenges in the future.
We wish you all great success as you take the next steps in your life into a career in the exciting STEM workforce, professional program, or graduate school. It has been a privilege for us to participate in this important arc of your education and training. We have learned so much from each other. Be bold, kind, and creative. Work hard, have fun, and respect each other - and always be your best. You are always welcome back and we hope you will stay in touch with us so we can continue to celebrate your success and the pursuit of excellence. Excelsior!
Sincerely yours,
Christopher R. Meyer, Ph.D.
Dean, College of Science and Mathematics
Ceremony
Welcome and Introductions
Dr. Christopher Meyer, Dean College of Science and Mathematics
ASI President’s Address
Faith Van Hoven, ASI President
Recognition and Awards
Dr. Christopher Meyer, Dean
Presentation of the Graduating Class
Individual Graduate Recognition by Department
Conferring of Degrees
President, Dr. Saúl Jiménez-Sandoval and Dean, Dr. Christopher Meyer
Dean’s Charge
Dr. Christopher Meyer, Dean
Outstanding graduating students are selected each year for special recognition at commencement.
Dean's Medalists
The college Dean’s medalists have demonstrated academic excellence and have brought honor to the college through their outstanding achievements in their studies and other pursuits. The graduate medalist is eligible for consideration for the University Graduate Medal. The undergraduate medalist is eligible for the President’s Medal.
Graduate Dean’s Medalist
Joseph White
Physics
Joseph White, of Tehachapi, earned his M.S. in physics with a 4.0 GPA. He previously earned a B.S. in physics from Fresno State. His interest in astrophysics led him to study shock formation in fluids as a foundation for future research on bow shocks around fast-moving stars in the interstellar medium. He received an award for his oral presentation on this work at the 2023 Central California Research Symposium. For his graduate thesis, he studied a statistical tool for detecting periodic behavior in astrophysical phenomena. He presented his findings at the 2024 American Physical Society Far West Section meeting and at the university’s Division of Graduate Studies. White served as a Supplemental Instruction leader and mentor since 2019. As part of the Physics Outreach program, he traveled to K-12 schools, community events and science fairs and used hands-on demonstrations of physics to spark interest in science among younger students. He served as a teaching assistant for the Department of Physics, leading lab sessions in both physics and astronomy. In recognition of his contributions, he received the Outstanding Teaching Assistant Award from the American Association of Physics Teachers. White plans to pursue a Ph.D. in geophysics.
Undergraduate Dean’s Medalist
Shaur Herng Chong
Chemistry
Shaur Herng Chong, of Puchong, Malaysia, earned his B.S. in chemistry with a 4.0 GPA. He is a first-generation student from Malaysia who earned an associate’s degree in chemistry from Fullerton College in 2023 before transferring to Fresno State. Chong’s personal experience of losing his grandfather to pancreatic cancer ignited his passion for medicinal chemistry. He contributed to several research projects centered on developing treatments for prostate cancer. In Dr. Qiao-Hong Chen’s medicinal and bioorganic chemistry lab, Chong’s team worked on synthesizing nature-inspired compounds as potential prostate cancer therapies. He presented his work at the 2024 Central California Research Symposium and the California State University systemwide research competition. He served as president of Fresno State’s Chemistry Club and as a member of the San Joaquin Valley ACS Younger Chemist Committee, leading outreach initiatives to inspire underrepresented students to pursue STEM careers. Chong will pursue a Ph.D. in chemistry at UC Santa Barbara this fall.
Outstanding Graduate Project Award
Coming soon
Nominees must have developed an outstanding project that exhibits creativity, originality, makes a significant contribution to the field of study, and is of “publishable quality” within the discipline.
Outstanding Thesis Award
Coming soon
Nominees must have received departmental nomination by attaining the highest standards of scholarly accomplishment and by demonstrating an original contribution to their field. Other considerations, such as potential for being published in the discipline, as well as exhibit creativity and originality in their thesis are also considered.
College Commencement Standard Bearers
The college selects two graduating seniors to carry the college banner during the commencement ceremony. Selection of those students is based on academic achievement and excellence in their field of study.
Coming soon
Honors at Graduation
Student Achievement Awards are selected on the basis of meritorious service, leadership, and achievement related to the fields of endeavor represented by each of the college’s academic departments and graduate programs within the departments. Honors at the time of graduation from the university are awarded to undergraduate students based on the following criteria:
Undergraduate Honors
- Students must have an overall minimum grade point average of 3.5 on all work attempted.
- Students must have a minimum grade point average of 3.5 on all work taken at the university.
- Students must have completed 45 units in residence at California State University, Fresno.
The grade point average earned at California State University, Fresno determines which honors the student receives:
***Summa Cum Laude
3.90 - 4.00 GPA
"With highest praise"
**Magna Cum Laude
3.70 - 3.89 GPA
"With great praise"
3.50 - 3.69 GPA
"With praise"
Graduate Honors
♢ indicates “with distinction” and is awarded to graduate students with grade point averages of 3.90 to 4.0, together with departmental approval for distinguished work.
The full list of graduates will be coming soon.