For Yolanda Randles, serving the residents of southwest Fresno is a way to give back to the community she grew up in, but also a simple way to make a tangible difference in the lives of others. As the executive director of the West Fresno Family Resource Center, she hopes to inspire this model of service with Fresno State students, whom she regularly offers internship opportunities to.

A trailblazer in the social work profession and within her culture, Xong Moua is dedicated to ensuring youth have access to behavioral and mental health resources in her role as a school social worker. Not only is she committed to the younger generation, but also the next generation of social workers in her dual role as a longtime social work lecturer at Fresno State.

These are just some of the inspiring stories that will be shared at the College of Health and Human Services’ 14th annual Health and Human Services Hero Awards, which will be held virtually at 6 p.m. Thursday via Zoom.

The Hero Awards celebrate eight professionals — all Fresno State alumni — who have made a difference in the fields of health and human services through their work, service and advocacy on behalf of individuals in the Central Valley. Each honoree was nominated by an academic department, school, center or institute within the college.

“Each year, our college produces fantastic alumni who go on to serve our region and world as helpers, changemakers and humanitarians,” said Dr. Kara Zografos, dean of the College of Health and Human Services at Fresno State. “Perhaps one of the most special attributes about each of our heroes this year is their continued commitment to Fresno State and our students, both as alumni and professionals. Honoring them as a College of Health and Human Services Hero is one way to express our gratitude and pride for their lifelong contributions to the university and community as a whole.”

Other Honorees

The 2024 Health and Human Services Heroes also include:

Brig Beatie: Teaching a course on the history of the Olympics, while also experiencing the games firsthand, is what makes Beatie stand apart as a longtime lecturer in the Department of Kinesiology at Fresno State. As one of 13 professionals worldwide chosen to referee beach volleyball at the Tokyo and Paris Summer Olympic Games, he is able to bring his unique perspective to the classroom, while also inspiring lifelong learning in both himself and his students.

Laurel Friesen: A passion for nursing education is what fueled the life and legacy of Friesen. Her 40-year nursing career included teaching at the UCSF School of Nursing and serving as the first director of Kaiser Education Services, where she played a vital role in the development of patient care education provisions, placement of clinical rotations for thousands of students, and incorporating nursing simulation into the nursing education curriculum.

Lynne Jarman: Seeing how patients overcome life-threatening injuries is what motivates Jarman in her role as director of rehabilitation services at Community Regional Medical Center, where she oversees multiple rehabilitation sites in the region. With over 20 years of experience in the physical therapy field, Jarman gives back her time by mentoring students in the health and human services fields and offering much-needed clinical rotations.

Nayamin Martinez: As the executive director of the Central California Environmental Justice Network, Martinez has worked at the state and federal level to ensure public health is prioritized in decision-making on environmental matters. Her dedication to equity in the San Joaquin Valley has resulted in installation of air filters in underserved areas and air quality monitors throughout the Valley.

Becky Whited: With a career in parks and recreation that spanned three decades, Whited was responsible for many contributions that positively impacted the lives of children and families in the Central Valley. This included making school playgrounds and sports fields more accessible to whole communities and building a top-rate swim program that currently serves as a model for neighboring cities of Sanger.

Christine Villareal (formerly Maul): She credits her son, Adam, a young man with autism spectrum disorder, for inspiring her professional career in speech-language pathology and teaching at Fresno State, which she did for 27 years. Now semi-retired from teaching, Villareal is continuing her work as an impassioned advocate for children and adults with disabilities.

The Health and Human Services Hero Awards is a free, online event and is open to the public via Zoom. Since the very first Hero Awards were held in 2011, 133 individuals have been honored for their leadership and commitment to their respective professions.