EDUCATION

Fresno City College Vice President of Administrative Services Cheryl Sullivan has been named interim president of Fresno City College beginning May 21. Sullivan will serve as interim president until a permanent selection is made to replace Dr. Cynthia Azari, who served as interim president for the last year. Azari was appointed as president of Oxnard College beginning May 21.

---

Fresno State President Joseph I. Castro was presented with Mexico’s Ohtli Award, the highest honor for a non-Mexico citizen. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, through the Institute for Mexicans Abroad bestows this prestigious award to leaders internationally who have made a notable impact on the Mexican, Mexican-American and Hispanic community abroad. Castro, who is the first Latino to serve as president of Fresno State, has helped increase admission and graduation rates at the University, supported the successful launches of the Dream Outreach Center and the DISCOVERe Tablet Program and led efforts to work with the consulate in academic and cultural exchanges.
California Community College Trustees has recognized West Hills Community College District Trustee Jeff Levinson for his 30 years of service as a community college trustee. Levinson and five other trustees from across the state were honored at a ceremony on April 30 at the CCCT annual conference. Levinson—who represents Trustee Area 7— has served the WHCCD since 1985 and is currently in his eighth, four-year term.

HEALTH CARE

Family practice physician Raul Perez, MD, has returned to Visalia Medical Clinic. Dr. Perez was with VMC for a total of 19 years, prior to moving his practice recently to Sonora, where he served as a family physician with Greenley Primary Care. His medical education began with an undergraduate degree in biology from Fordham University, New York. He earned his doctor of medicine degree from Hahnemann University School of Medicine in Philadelphia, PA; and served his family practice residency at Temple University. Dr. Perez, who is fluent in Spanish, is certified by the American Board of Family Medicine and is a Fellow with the American Academy of Family Practice. He also earned medical school honors in nephrology, hematology and oncology.
 
LEGAL

Russ Hurley, a Visalia attorney with Dowling Aaron, received a Distinguished Service Award from the Tulare County Bar Association at its Barrister’s Banquet this week. Hurley has practiced in the Central Valley since 1975, and has also been a public servant as a member and leader of many nonprofit groups.

BANKING & FINANCE

Fresno-based Communities First Financial Corporation, the parent company of Fresno First Bank, announced that Steve Miller, president and CEO, and Steve Canfield, CFO, are scheduled to participate at the 18th Annual D.A. Davidson Financial Institutions Conference in Denver May 9-11.