Professor Thomas-Whit Ellis Thomas-Whit Ellis. is a professor of Theatre Arts at California State University, Fresno and most recently served as department chair of Africana Studies. Professor Ellis has directed dozens of plays for the University Theatre program including Native Son, Colored Girls and Carmen Jones. He also directed numerous productions throughout the region including God’s Trombones at the Central California Women’s Facility, Chowchilla. He was appointed Fulbright Scholar at the National Taiwan University where he directed the university’s first main stage production, David Henry Hwang’s Golden Child, (performed in English and Mandarin).
The first black professor of theatre at the University of Georgia and Theatre Arts at California State University, Fresno. The first black professor to present at an American college/university production at the National Theater of Nigeria and at the Van Troi Theater, Santiago de Cuba, Cuba. The first Black Professor to direct a major production for the Theatre Arts Department at the National Taiwan University and the first Fulbright Scholar to be assigned to the National Taiwan University. Thomas is the only professor of Theatre to direct an all African American Musical at California State University, Fresno. The first professor of Theatre to direct a major all Latino production at California State University, Fresno. The first and only professor of Theatre to direct a major all Asian American production at California State University, Fresno. He currently serves on the boards of The Fresno Arts Council, Valley Public TV Community Advisory, Arte Americas, the William James Association, Santa Cruz. Professor also served two stints on the African American Museum board of directors and served as board chair for 4 years. Professor Ellis completed his bachelor of arts degree at California State University, Sacramento and his master of Fine Arts degree from Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI.
JESSE MCDONALD JR. AWARD
Rodney Murphy
Rodney Murphy is a Fresno native from the golden Westside of the city. Mr. Murphy is employed as a full-time Equal Opportunity Programs & Services (EOPS) counselor at Fresno City College and is also an adjunct professor at Fresno State. Additionally, he is registered as a Licensed Practicing Clinical Counselor Associate (LPCCA) in the State of California.
He is currently the President of “A Little Love”, a nonprofit organization in Fresno. He has served on several other boards and committees, most noticeably the Take a Stand Committee and Fresno City College’s African American Faculty and Staff Association. From 2018-2020 he was an active member of Mayor Lee Brand’s Community Policing Safety Advisory Board where he advocated for police reform in West Fresno. Mr. Murphy’s personal experiences, attributes, and educational journey have provided him with the critical thinking skills needed to impact any individual or organization in a positive manner. To this end, he is on a mission to serve his purpose as determined by God with honor and integrity. He has vowed to always give his entire unsurpassed best effort in hope of making the community he loves a better place for all residents to live and prosper. Mr. Murphy holds an associates degree in Business and African Studies from Fresno City College. A bachelor of Arts degree in African Studies, a bachelor of Science degree in Organizational Leadership from the prestigious Craig School of Business, and a master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health and Rehabilitation Counseling all from California State University, Fresno. He is currently pursuing a doctoral degree in Psychology at Grand Canyon University.