Project Title: “The genetic basis of spinal deformities” (faculty mentor: Dr. Kristen Gorman)
NAME: Berenice Arguello
MAJOR/AREA OF STUDY: B Biological Sciences/cellular & molecular
WHY DID YOU APPLY TO ADELANTE RESEARCH PROGRAM? I applied to the Adelante Research Program looking forward to make progress on my lab project, but also network with other fellow Chico State research students with my background.
WHAT DO YOU HOPE TO GAIN FROM THIS PROGRAM? I hope to network with other students/faculty and further explore entering a Graduate program.
FUN FACT: I can play the bassoon.
Project Title “The Journey to College Success: A Pilot Study” (faculty mentor: Dr. Linda Kline)
NAME: Alaina Castor
MAJOR/AREA OF STUDY: MA Psychological Science
WHY DID YOU APPLY TO ADELANTE RESEARCH PROGRAM? I applied to this program because I thought it would be a great way to thoroughly develop my research and gain valuable research experience.
WHAT DO YOU HOPE TO GAIN FROM THIS PROGRAM? I hope that by participating in this program I will be able to better understand how to assist first-generation students and be ready to launch my thesis study in the Fall!
FUN FACT: I enjoy participating in combat sports like Jiu-jitsu and wrestling.
Project Title: “Impacts of Covid-19 on Latinx Families” (faculty mentor: Heather Werner)
NAME: Daisy Cedillo
MAJOR/AREA OF STUDY: Social Work
WHY DID YOU APPLY TO ADELANTE RESEARCH PROGRAM? I applied to the Adelante Research Program because I wanted to step out of my comfort zone and try something new. I never thought I would have the opportunity to do research at Chico State and when I saw the opportunity, I did not think twice about it.
WHAT DO YOU HOPE TO GAIN FROM THIS PROGRAM? What I hope to gain from this program is to gain experience with research in case I would do any research in the future.
FUN FACT: I have a small greeting card business in the works.
Project Title: “COVID-19 & Student Basic Needs: Understanding impacts of the disruption and emergency funding” (faculty mentors: Dr. Susan Roll and Dr. Jennifer Wilking)
NAME: Daniel Celis
MAJOR: Social Work/ Counseling
I applied to the Adelante program because I saw it as an opportunity to grow in research. My knowledge wasn't as extensive as I would have liked it be.
I hope to gain experience and a different understanding of what research means.
FUN FACT: I like to play the bass guitar on my free time.
Project Title: "Making as an Epistemic Practice in English" (faculty mentor: Dr. Kim Jaxon)
NAME: Jasmine Corona
MAJOR: English: Language and Literacy Pathway
WHY DID YOU APPLY TO ADELANTE RESEARCH PROGRAM? I joined the Adelante Research Program in hopes to gain more insight into what researching in the field of English looks like. I also appreciate the opportunity to work alongside a talented student cohort filled with interesting people. Adelante is building a sense of community centered around research and the pursuit of scholarly goals, which is inspiring to be apart of. I also appreciate the time to work more closely with student work. I am thrilled to see the different ways they create meaning within their work and can take ownership of an assignment.
WHAT DO YOU HOPE TO GAIN FROM THIS PROGRAM? I hope to gain more research experience, along with more insight into the field of English composition. I hope to gain more experience working with qualitative and quantitative data and learning how to interpret it more effectively. I hope to learn how to apply my findings to better serve students in my future courses. I also hope to keep being inspired and taken away by student brilliance.
FUN FACT: I am always interested in what other people are reading and I like talking about Young Adult Fiction. I am constantly buying new books for my future classroom library.
Title of Project: "COVID-19 & Student Basic Needs: Understanding impacts of the disruption and emergency funding" (faculty mentors: Dr. Susan Roll and Dr. Jennifer Wilking)
YOUR NAME: Mariela Cuna
MAJOR/AREA OF STUDY: Social Work; Currently in the 1 year advanced standing Masters in Social Work program.
WHY DID YOU APPLY TO ADELANTE RESEARCH PROGRAM? I applied to the Adelante Research Program to participate in important research that’ll help college students during this pandemic.
WHAT DO YOU HOPE TO GAIN FROM THIS PROGRAM? I have gained a new understanding of macro-social work and how research is a catalyst for change. My time working alongside my colleagues as a co-researcher has allowed me to develop my research skills. I have learned and gained new confidence in my research skills, facilitating focus groups, and coding transcripts. I look forward to learning more from my colleagues and researching how the pandemic is affecting our college students.
FUN FACT: I’m really into astrology and can read birth charts.
Project Title: “Generation of Vortex Laser Beams” (faculty mentor: Dr. Hyewon Pechkis)
NAME: Lauren Gorman
MAJOR/AREA OF STUDY: Physics
WHY DID YOU APPLY TO ADELANTE RESEARCH PROGRAM? This research program has given me the opportunity to commit to full-time research to finish a project we started in Spring 2020.
WHAT DO YOU HOPE TO GAIN FROM THIS PROGRAM? I am specifically interested in pursuing research in atomic, molecular, and optical physics and this research will help me gain necessary skills for this field. I hope this opportunity will make me more prepared and successful in graduate school.
FUN FACT I am a triplet.
Project Title: “Emerging Black Identity: A Comparative Analysis of James Baldwin & Ta-Nehisi Coates.” (faculty mentor: Nathaniel Heggins Bryant)
NAME: Theodore “Sam” Haynes IV
MAJOR: English Major w/ Minor in African American Studies
WHY DID YOU APPLY TO ADELANTE RESEARCH PROGRAM? I applied to Adelante because I wanted to gain valuable independent research experience for when I am in graduate school. For me, being a part of this program means that I can better my research skills while starting to practice for the demands of higher education.
WHAT DO YOU HOPE TO GAIN FROM THIS PROGRAM? This is my first step towards higher education and possibly a career in it as well. I am excited to be a part of Adelante with others who share similar goals.
FUN FACT: One fun fact about me is that I like to bake, and cookies are my favorite dessert.
Project Title: “Analysis of bi/multilingual discourse in science classrooms” (faculty mentor: Dr. Catherine Lemmi)
NAME: Liliana Hernandez
MAJOR/AREA OF STUDY: Child Development/Special Education
WHY DID YOU APPLY TO ADELANTE RESEARCH PROGRAM? I applied to the Adelante program to further my understanding of research. In order to pursue my dream of obtaining a higher level of education it is vital for me to have a clear understanding of research.
WHAT DO YOU HOPE TO GAIN FROM THIS PROGRAM? I want to connect with future scholars and while doing so I want to empower others who identify with the Latinx community to continue and obtain a higher level of education.
Project Title: "The Impact of Contraception and Declining Fertility Rates on Mexican Women since 1968." (faculty mentor: Dr. Steve Lewis)
NAME: Vivian Hernandez
MAJOR/AREA OF STUDY: History and Latin American Studies with Minors in Spanish and Global Development Studies
WHY DID YOU APPLY TO ADELANTE RESEARCH PROGRAM? These past two years at Chico State, I have found a passion for historical research and would like to pursue a career in it. I plan to go to graduate school in hopes of becoming a history professor. As a first-generation Latina college student, my family was not able to help me apply for college, let alone graduate school. I thought Adelante would be a great program to get involved with in order to accomplish my goals. I knew that the Adelante Research Program would allow me to dive in and research what I’m passionate about, the history of Mexican women in the 20th century. My research project deals with the impact of the introduction of contraception on women’s fertility rate in twentieth-century Mexico. Before 1970, women of childbearing age were averaging six live births and within a generation, Mexican women of reproductive age averaged about two births. This dramatic drop in births affected women politically, economically, and socially because once women had control over their bodies, they also had more control over their relationships and were able to be more active outside of the home.
WHAT DO YOU HOPE TO GAIN FROM THIS PROGRAM? I aim to develop my analytical and research skills this summer. I also hope to gain guidance on my path to graduate school. My goal is to become familiar with the history of 20th century women in order to establish the foundation for a possible Master’s thesis about the impact the introduction of contraception has had on Mexican women since 1968.
FUN FACT: I’ve been playing tennis for seven years so if you ever need someone to play with HIT me up!
Project Title: "Cooking Skills in Relation to Food Security and Academic Performance" (faculty mentor: Dr. Maria Giovanni)
NAME: Breanne Lencioni
MAJOR/AREA OF STUDY: Nutrition Education and Public Health
WHY DID YOU APPLY TO ADELANTE RESEARCH PROGRAM? To join a cohort of like minded individuals who could help me develop academically and professionally so that I can continue my education and achieve my goals.
WHAT DO YOU HOPE TO GAIN FROM THIS PROGRAM? To improve my skills as a researcher and learn how to create assessment surveys to help identify the skills deficits that contribute to food insecurity.
FUN FACT: I have grown over 100 pounds of zucchini so far this year!
Project Title: “COVID-19 and Structural Violence in America: The Case of Blue Collar Latinx Workers in the Meat-Packing Industry.” (faculty mentor: Dr. William Nitzky)
NAME: Daisy Belle Linsangan
MAJOR: Anthropology
WHY DID YOU APPLY TO THE ADELANTE PROGRAM? I applied to the Adelante program because I wanted to research the impact of COVID-19 in the Latinx workforce. As events are unfolding in real-time, I would also like to delve further into how underserved communities are taken advantage of by the large corporations they work for.
WHAT DO YOU HOPE TO GAIN FROM THE PROGRAM? I hope to gain the research skills necessary for a career in higher education and a better understanding of how rooted structural violence is in America.
Fun Fact: My hair has been green for about two years and I don't plan on changing it anytime soon.
Project Title: “Investigating animal-microbe interactions in the sea anemone Aiptasia” (faculty mentor: Dr. Cawa Tran)
NAME: Jaime Lopez
MAJOR/AREA OF STUDY: Master’s of Science-Biological Sciences; Exploring the role of nitrogen fixing bacteria in the sea anemone Aiptasia and algal-microbial interactions
WHY DID YOU APPLY TO THE ADELANTE RESEARCH PROGRAM? I applied to the Adelante program to improve my research skills in the laboratory and be able to communicate scientific findings effectively.
WHAT DO YOU HOPE TO GAIN FROM THIS PROGRAM? From this program, I hope to build friendships and memories with fellow researchers. I also hope to build confidence in my ability to perform research at a high level. Lastly, I wish to encourage that the ocean is not that frightening and working with marine animals is AMAZING!
FUN FACT: I’ve swam with leopard sharks (lol), sea turtles, and a spotted eagle ray.
Project Title: “Impacts of Covid-19 on Latinx Families” (faculty mentor: Heather Werner)
NAME: Veronica Lopez
MAJOR/AREA OF STUDY: Social Work & Minor in Sociology
WHY DID YOU APPLY TO ADELANTE RESEARCH PROGRAM? I applied to the program because I wanted to push myself out of my comfort zone and help my community. I also wanted to try a new side of social work beyond my interest in child welfare.
WHAT DO YOU HOPE TO GAIN FROM THIS PROGRAM? I would like to gain confidence in my social work skills and be able to do my own research in the future.
FUN FACT I was supposed to be born with one leg!
Project Title: “Impacts of Covid-19 on Latinx Families” (faculty mentor: Heather Werner)
NAME: Alejandra (Ally) Moreno
MAJOR/AREA OF STUDY: Social Work
WHY DID YOU APPLY TO ADELANTE RESEARCH PROGRAM? I started to gain an interest in research after taking SWRK 330: Research in Social Work. I saw an email with an opportunity to apply and thought that it would be a great thing to add to my resume and to my graduate school application. I also saw that they offer support for those wanting to pursue graduate school. I thought I should explore my interest in research more to see if this is something that I would want to do more of in the future.
WHAT DO YOU HOPE TO GAIN FROM THIS PROGRAM? Because our topic is researching the primary needs and challenges the Latinx community is facing, I hope that while conducting this research, I am able to look deeper at the community I was born and raised in and look for better ways that I can serve my community and the Latinx population that it serves.
FUN FACT: I am ambidextrous!
Project Title: “Using Gravitational Many-body Simulations to Explore the Origins of Rouge Asteroids” (faculty mentor: Dr. Nicholas Nelson)
NAME: Cynthia Olvera Perez
MAJOR/AREA OF STUDY Astrophysics
WHY DID YOU APPLY TO ADELANTE RESEARCH PROGRAM? I applied to Adelante research program because I saw it as an opportunity to continue to focus on my research project over the summer and continue to learn and gain experience as a student programmer.
WHAT DO YOU HOPE TO GAIN FROM THIS PROGRAM? Adelante will allow me to grow as a researcher and set me to become a professional when I graduate in the fall.
FUN FACT: I have a 5 year old daughter, I love her so much! She is a little poodle.
Title of Project: "COVID-19 & Student Basic Needs: Understanding impacts of the disruption and emergency funding" (faculty mentors: Dr. Susan Roll and Dr. Jennifer Wilking)
YOUR NAME: Suyet Peralta
MAJOR/AREA OF STUDY: Masters in Social Work
WHY DID YOU APPLY TO ADELANTE RESEARCH PROGRAM? The Adelante program has allowed me to join an amazing team and conduct research on student basic needs, a topic that has become important to my own social justice work. The graduate level research experience I will obtain through the program will allow me to further my educational goals of obtaining my PhD one day. In addition, through this program, I am receiving research and professional development mentorship from two incredible professors.
WHAT DO YOU HOPE TO GAIN FROM THIS PROGRAM? Not only is this program providing research opportunities, but I have gotten the opportunity to work with such an amazing team and be able to network with fellow students who have the same aspirations.
FUN FACT: I am a total Primate Nerd! I never grew out of my fascination and love of primates. Did you know that there's 105 species of Lemurs? :)
Project Title: “COVID-19 and Structural Violence in America: The Case of Blue Collar Latinx Workers in the Meat-Packing Industry” (faculty mentor: Dr. William Nitzky)
Name: Magaly Quinteros
Major/Area of Study: Anthropology
Why did you apply to the Adelante research program? I applied to the Adelante research program because I was eager to conduct my own anthropological research before attending graduate school. This opportunity would allow me to attain the skills and methods that I will practice regularly in my prospective career. In addition, this program would allow me to collaborate with researchers from other departments.
What do you hope to gain from this program? From this program I hope to gain confidence in performing ethnographic research methods to collect data from any given population. More specifically, I hope to accurately learn how to transcribe how COVID-19 has impacted the realities of the individuals who reside within a marginalized community when I complete my ethnographic research.
Fun Fact: I love to swim. One of my favorite memories in regard to swimming took place at Avila beach. I spent the entire day swimming with one of my girlfriends. The water was warmer than usual that day. During the sunset dolphins and sea lions were swimming right next to us.
Project Title: “Swipe Against Hunger: Our Students Are Going Hungry” (faculty mentor: Dr. Marianne Paiva)
NAME: Jessica Ramirez - preferred name: Jess Ramirez (she/her/hers)
MAJOR/AREA OF STUDY: Master of Social Science - Emphasis in Community Nutrition/Food Insecurity
WHY DID YOU APPLY TO ADELANTE RESEARCH PROGRAM? Understanding the prominent emphasis placed on research-based curricula in graduate school, I applied for the Adelante program to further improve my research skills. Having a cohort of students with a similar goal makes me feel comfortable and supported throughout this summer program.
WHAT DO YOU HOPE TO GAIN FROM THIS PROGRAM? I hope to gain confidence in my ability to conduct research and statistically analyze data, all while networking with like-minded students.
FUN FACT: With the support of Dr. Marianne Paiva in the Sociology Department, I created the first ever Meal Swipe donation program at Chico State, now known as Swipe Against Hunger. The program launched last fall and received over 400 individual meal swipe donations in a single day. Swipe Against Hunger has since been signed into university contract for the next five years in collaboration with Associated Students, Dining.
Project Title: “Seed banking for Climate Change & Restoration” (faculty mentor: Dr. Kristen Kaczynski)
NAME: Lillian Trejo
MAJOR/AREA OF STUDY: MS IDST Wildland Management
WHY DID YOU APPLY TO ADELANTE RESEARCH PROGRAM? As a first generation Hispanic, I applied to this program to get funding I needed that will support research for my graduate program. I applied to get a jump start on summer research that will allow me to formulate a better idea of what I want my thesis project to be.
WHAT DO YOU HOPE TO GAIN FROM THIS PROGRAM? I hope that this program will allow me to gain experience in performing hands-on field work and research at the Big Chico Creek Ecological Reserve this summer. I hope to grow confident in presenting my research while gaining a sense of community through the first Adelante cohort and professional relationship with my advisors.
FUN FACT I'm PADI Scuba certified.
Project Title: “Chicano Muralism: Legacies of the Movement, Representations of Community, & the Redefinition or Historical Narratives” (faculty mentor: Dr. Shawn Schwaller)
NAME: Jose Valadez
MAJOR/AREA OF STUDY: B.A. in History (spring 2020) and currently enrolled in the Teaching Credential Program
WHY DID YOU APPLY TO ADELANTE RESEARCH PROGRAM? I applied to the Adelante program because I want to expand my research on Chicanx murals in the late 20th century U.S.. As a first-generation Chicano student, being a part of professional research allows me to voice new narratives in a historically white dominated field of history.
WHAT DO YOU HOPE TO GAIN FROM THIS PROGRAM? I hope to better my research and writing skills as well as the professional development opportunities that come with the program. I also look forward to networking with staff, faculty, and fellow students.
FUN FACT: I have been to Disneyland over 60 times. Finding "hidden Mickeys" across the attractions and parks is one of my favorite things to do.
Project Title: “Investigating animal-microbe interactions in the sea anemone Aiptasia” (faculty mentor: Dr. Cawa Tran)
NAME: John Vang
MAJOR: Bachelor of Science-Biological Science: Cellular and Molecular
WHY DID YOU APPLY TO ADELANTE RESEARCH PROGRAM? I want to continue doing research to further my molecular skills.
WHAT DO YOU HOPE TO GAIN FROM THIS PROGRAM? I want to understand more about molecular research and how I can apply what I learn to graduate school. I also want to learn more about different fields of research from other students. This will be a great way to form connection with students and professors outside my major.
FUN FACT: I do a lot of fishing and hikes. I also enjoy getting into new hobbies. Some new hobbies are rock climbing and backpacking.
Project Title: "Proselytizing Modernity: Reexamining the Summer Institute of Linguistics’ Tenure in Mexico, 1934 - 1979" (faculty mentor: Dr. Steve Lewis)
NAME: Juan Vega
MAJOR: History
WHY DID YOU APPLY TO ADELANTE? I applied to the Adelante Research Program because I thought it would be a good opportunity to continue working with Dr. Lewis and simultaneously secure funding for my thesis project. Although the ongoing pandemic has limited the use of the Interlibrary Loan Service, Adelante will allow me to purchase books and obtain copies of periodicals that I need for my research.
WHAT DO YOU HOPE TO GAIN FROM THE PROGRAM? I hope the program will enable me to write a compelling thesis paper that I can submit as a writing sample when applying to doctoral programs.
Fun Fact: Despite opting to study history, I am fascinated with computers and technology in general. I currently work as a Tier-2 Technician for IT Support Services on campus.
Project Title: “Body Image and its Effects on Male and Female Ethnic-Minority Adolescents” (faculty mentor: Dr. Shelley Hart)
NAME: Vicky Wong
MAJOR/AREA OF STUDY: Child Development and Psychology
WHY DID YOU APPLY TO ADELANTE RESEARCH PROGRAM? I saw it as a great opportunity to collaborate with my mentor and further the work on my honors project that I had focused on during my time in undergrad within the Child Development program.
WHAT DO YOU HOPE TO GAIN FROM THIS PROGRAM? I hope to gain an academic support system or plan and better my research and writing skills as I move forward in applying to graduate programs in School Counseling.
FUN FACT: My favorite thing to do with friends and family is to go on road trips to the big cities or the beach!
Project Title: “COVID-19 & Student Basic Needs: Understanding impacts of the disruption and emergency funding” (faculty mentors: Dr. Susan Roll and Dr. Jennifer Wilking)
YOUR NAME: Tatiana Ybarra
MAJOR/AREA OF STUDY: Criminal Justice (major) American Indian Studies (minor)
WHY DID YOU APPLY TO ADELANTE RESEARCH PROGRAM? I applied to Adelante to learn more about the research process explored in graduate school. And to learn more about how COVID impacted our community. I want to make sure our students' voices feel heard and represented through our work.
WHAT DO YOU HOPE TO GAIN FROM THIS PROGRAM? I hope to gain the confidence and knowledge it takes to accomplish research because it can be complex. I hope to continue networking within the program and growing outside of my comfort zone. Thank you for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
FUN FACT: I grew up on the Native American Temoak Shoshone reservation in Elko, NV that I visit once a year and I hope to return after I graduate.
