Fresno State names Mitsubishi exec 2016 Top Dog
James E. Brumm, retired executive vice president and general counsel of the international car company, Mitsubishi, is Fresno State’s Top Dog this year.
Brumm will receive the Distinguished Alumnus Award – Fresno State’s highest alumni honor – at the Top Dog Alumni Awards Gala in October. He is being recognized for his success in international law and business as well as his “leadership in corporate responsibility, human rights and the environment,” according to a university release on Friday.
Brumm, of New York, graduated magna cum laude from Fresno State in 1965 with a bachelor’s degree in political science, and later received a law degree at Columbia University.
He served as an executive vice president and general counsel of Mitsubishi International Corp. in the U.S., where he worked for 35 years. Currently, he serves as president of Glastonbury Commons, a consulting firm, and is an adviser to Mitsubishi in New York and Japan.
He also is involved in Nature Serve, the New York City Bar Association, the International Crane Foundation, the Red-Crowned Crane Conservancy in Japan, First Peoples Worldwide, the International Fund for Animal Welfare, Forest Trends and the American Bird Conservancy.
Service to the university and community will be recognized with the Arthur Safstrom Service Award, presented this year to Valerie A. Vuicich, administrator of the Career Technical Education/Fresno Regional Occupation Program for the Fresno County Office of Education.
Each year, one alumnus from each of the university’s eight academic schools and colleges as well as the Department of Athletics, the Henry Madden Library, the Division of Student Affairs and the Division of Graduate Studies are chosen to be honored with the Outstanding Alumni Award.
The Top Dog event is Oct. 15 at the Save Mart Center. Tickets are $135 per person. For more information, call 559-278-ALUM (2586) or visit www.fresnostatealumni.com.
Mackenzie Mays: 559-441-6412, @MackenzieMays
Outstanding alumni for 2016
Jordan College of Agricultural Sciences and Technology: Earl E. Hall (1964), founder of agricultural personnel management company Hall Management
College of Arts and Humanities: Janice M. Emerzian (1969, 1973), State Center Community College District director for the Disabled Students Programs and Services
Department of Athletics: Dennis DeLiddo (1969), retired coach of Fresno State’s wrestling program
Craig School of Business: Dora Celia Westerlund (1996), founder and CEO of the Fresno Area Hispanic Foundation
Kremen School of Education and Human Development: Berta Gonzalez (1970), retired associate dean and founder of the Division of Continuing and Global Education at Fresno State
Lyles College of Engineering: Raj Beasla (1989), senior director of service planning and design for Pacific Gas and Electric
Division of Research and Graduate Studies: Anthony J. Rubino (1988, 2010), range squadron director for the 412th Test Wing at Edwards Air Force Base
College of Health and Human Services: Debbie Poochigian (1974), member of the Fresno County Board of Supervisors
Henry Madden Library: Lois Huter Tarkanian (1955, 1965), member of the Las Vegas City Council and former educator
College of Science and Mathematics: Dr. Richard Whitten Jr. (Alumnus), ophthalmologist and chief medical officer of Vision Health International
College of Social Sciences: Dante R. Simi (1963), co-founder and CEO of educational nonprofit Learn4Life
Division of Student Affairs: Paul DeRuosi (1972, 1985), retired director of development and educational advocate
This story was originally published August 26, 2016 at 2:26 PM with the headline "Fresno State names Mitsubishi exec 2016 Top Dog."