Manuel Pérez, a trailblazer successful advocating for underrepresented students and a long-time fixture astatine Fresno State, passed distant connected March 24 astatine the property of 95. Pérez, who retired arsenic subordinate dean of the Division of Student Affairs and was an aboriginal manager of the Educational Opportunity Program, made lasting contributions to guarantee greater entree to higher acquisition for students from divers backgrounds.
Pérez’s bequest astatine Fresno State was commemorated astatine the university’s César E. Chávez Commemoration connected March 27, wherever a infinitesimal of soundlessness was held successful his honor. The lawsuit was co-sponsored by the College Assistance for Migrants Program (CAMP), which Pérez played an instrumental relation successful helping establish.
Frances Peña-Olgín, a long-time workfellow and friend, reflected connected Pérez’s enduring influence: “He was a distinguished educator, an exemplary administrator, and a dedicated household man. Manuel’s enactment paved the mode for countless students, providing enactment and mentorship that empowered them to scope their afloat potential.”
Pérez played a captious relation successful the instauration of galore programs astatine Fresno State that person since helped thousands of students from low-income and number backgrounds prosecute higher education.
He was a staunch advocator for pupil rights, elector registration, and adjacent employment opportunities for underrepresented groups, and helium was a cardinal fig successful the maturation of the university’s pupil enrollment to implicit 24,000 students during his tenure.
Among his galore accomplishments, Pérez was awarded the Fresno State Bold Visionary Award successful 2017, and successful 1990, helium and his woman were named Chicano Alumni of the Year.
Born connected December 24, 1929, successful Fresno, Pérez served successful the United States Army during the Korean War and aboriginal earned a grade successful criminology and a master’s grade successful societal enactment from Fresno State. He went connected to go a salient fig successful the section community, advocating for adjacent rights and serving connected assorted boards and commissions, including the Fresno Grand Jury and the Civil Service Commission.
Pérez is survived by his children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and his sister Linda Reyes. Fresno State volition alert its flags astatine half-staff connected the time of his funeral, April 3.
(Story by Tom Uribes. Photo Caption: At the 50th day of Fresno State’s Chicano Youth Conference connected Jan. 28, 2023, from near to right: Martina Granados, interim subordinate vice president for strategical enrollment management; Frances Peña-Olgín, retired manager of University Outreach Services and erstwhile CYC adviser; the precocious Manuel Pérez, retired subordinate dean of pupil affairs; Hon. Rosendo Peña, subordinate justness with the California Court of Appeal, 5th District; Tom Uribes, retired nationalist affairs specializer astatine Fresno State; and Manuel Olgín, president of the Fresno State Chicano Alumni Club.)
