California State University, Fresno faculty named 2017 Pillar of the Profession

Award honors Vice President for Student Affairs and Enrollment Management,
Frank R. Lamas

WASHINGTON, D.C. —The NASPA Foundation is pleased to recognize outstanding members
of the student affairs and higher education community through the Pillars of the Profession.
Dr. Frank Lamas, Vice President for Student Affairs and Enrollment Management at the
California State University Fresno, has been named a 2017 Pillar of the Profession. NASPA –
Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education is the leading association for student affairs
professionals.

“It is unquestionably clear that Frank has impacted so many students, institutions,
professionals and the profession itself over the course of his career,” says Dr. Laura A. Wankel,
Senior Advisor for Strategic Initiatives to the Senior Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education
& Experiential Learning, Northeastern University.“ Frank has been a critically important
advocate, mentor and role model for students and young professionals, many who might have
otherwise felt invisible or marginalized on our campuses.”

Dr. Frank R. Lamas currently serves as the Vice President for the Division of Student Affairs and
Enrollment Management at California State University, Fresno. He serves on the President’s
cabinet and is responsible for organizing, directing, and managing the resources of the Division
to meet the needs of the students, university and surrounding community. Dr. Lamas provides
overall leadership and direction to a comprehensive set of departments and units. Prior to coming
to California State University, Fresno, Dr. Lamas was the Vice President for Student Affairs and
Dean of Students at The University of Texas at Arlington for ten years.

“He has proven these skills in every institution in which he has worked, Ithaca, Western
Maryland, RIT, UTA – Arlington and now Fresno State. His ability to reach across the
institution to Academic and Business Affairs has led to many cooperative programs with them,”
says Richard Correnti, Retired Vice President & Senior Lecturer, Florida International
University. “He is a visionary and has a history of assessing campus and student environments
and building programs and facilities to meet student’s needs, often anticipating problems before
they happen and preventing them.”

The Pillars award is designed to honor individuals who have served as teachers, leaders,
and scholars in the field who:

• Sustained professional distinction in the higher education field, as defined by donors and
supporters;
• Served in leadership roles in NASPA, either regionally or nationally;
• Are recognized or remembered by colleagues, friends, students, or student organizations
for extraordinary service; and
• Have made significant lifetime contributions to the higher education field.
The class of Pillars will be honored at the 2017 NASPA Annual Conference in San
Antonio, TX. As part of the Pillars program, the NASPA Foundation accepts gifts in the name of
each honoree. These gifts come back to the student affairs profession as scholarships, research
grants and awards.
Please help us celebrate the 2017 Pillars with a donation in his or her honor to the
NASPA Foundation. Your gifts ensure the advancement, health, and sustainability of the student
affairs profession and help answer the challenges we face as educators. You may donate online
and learn more about the Foundation’s Pillar class online.

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NASPA is the leading association for the advancement, health, and sustainability of the student
affairs profession. Our work provides high-quality professional development, advocacy, and
research for 15,000 members in all 50 states, 25 countries, and 8 U.S. territories.