Our Office
Student Services Center, Room 460
530-898-6880
graduatestudies@csuchico.edu
The Office of Graduate Studies
Business Hours
8 a.m.–5 p.m.
Monday–Friday
Mailing Address
Office of Graduate Studies
California State University, Chico
400 W. First St.
Chico, CA 95929–0875
@chicostategradstudiesGrad Studies YouTube Channel (@chicostate-gradstudies)
Grad Studies YouTube ChannelSuccess Stories 2022–2023
Graduate Studies Awarded the Promoting Postbaccalaureate Opportunities for Hispanic Americans (PPOHA) Award
The Office of Graduate is thrilled to announce that it was awarded the prestigious Promoting Postbaccalaureate Opportunities for Hispanic Americans (PPOHA) Award. This highly regarded recognition comes with a substantial $3 million grant, set to commence in October 2023, that will help to ensure that Hispanic and low-income students have more opportunities for educational growth and success.
Graduate Students Awarded the Sally Casanova Pre-Doctoral Program Award
Two Chico State graduate students were selected recipients of the highly esteemed Sally Casanova Pre-Doctoral Scholar Award for the 2023-2024 academic year:
- Recamier Jauregui-Ocampo (MA, Psychology)
- Arely Saldana (MA, Psychology)
Adelante Postbaccalaureate Pipeline Program Continues to Find Success
The Adelante Postbaccalaureate Pipeline Program, supported by a $3 million Title V Developing Hispanic Serving Institutions grant, continues to make a significant impact at Chico State. Impressively, 99 percent of graduate student participants have either been retained or successfully graduated. Graduation rates for first-time freshmen and transfer students also continue to surpass the University's average. Furthermore, the Adelante Wayfinders program has demonstrated outstanding success, as undergraduate mentees have applied to graduate programs at more than twice the rate of the general student population.
Grad Studies Staff Awarded 2022 Wildcat Spirit Award
There was much rejoicing by the Office of Graduate Studies when Rose White’s name was announced as the recipient of the 2022–2023 Chico State Spirit Award at the Staff Excellence Awards ceremony. Everyone who has ever met or worked with Rose knows she holds an exceptional dedication and unwavering commitment to student success that is truly remarkable. It comes as no surprise that she would be nominated for and then receive the honor.
Graduate Studies Awarded Governor's Award for 2023–2024
The Office of Graduate Studies was honored to be selected as the recipient of the 2023–2024 Governor’s Award by the Chico State University Foundation Board of Governors. This recognition brings invaluable support as it will help to cover the application fees for undergraduate students who apply to Chico State graduate programs.
Michael Pratt Awarded Outstanding Advisor For 2023
Michael Pratt (MPA, ’18), an Admissions Coordinator in the Office of Graduate Studies and Chico State alum, was awarded the Outstanding Advisor Award for the 2022-2023 academic year in recognition of his exceptional service as the advisor to the Council of Graduate Students.
Grad Slam 2023
Rocci Vizzusi, a graduate student in the Psychological Science master's program with faculty mentor Alexander Wong, and Pa Yang, also from the Psychological Science master's program with faculty mentor Martin van den Berg, proudly represented our campus at the second annual statewide CSU Grad Slam on May 5, 2023.
Connecting Generations Through Understanding
Pa Yang sees learning as a continual process with no defined beginning or end.
At the same time, the Oroville native channels everything she learns from life and college into making her community stronger, more connected, and (hopefully) happier.
On the cusp of receiving her master’s in psychology, Yang’s (Psychology, ’21) thesis focused on acculturation and well-being in the Hmong community. Specifically, her work deals with the inter-generational and familial conflicts that often arise when one’s heritage culture undergoes shifts as its people assimilate into a new country or environment.
Earth and Environmental Sciences Grad Student Driven by Social Issues
Science is just about Claire-Marie Kooi’s favorite topic. Whether mulling over ideas with her father (a retired physicist), as an Earth and environmental sciences graduate student at Chico State, or in discussion with undergraduate students at UC Berkeley, she feels at home, confident, and empowered when researching and exchanging ideas about science.
Initially a math major as an undergrad at UC Berkeley, Kooi switched to Earth and planetary science. To her, the difference was a tangible one.
“I was able to have a community and also see the impact of my work—that’s the thing about the Earth, nothing happens in isolation, everything impacts something else,” she said. “I think the connection to the real world is something I didn’t see in math at the time, and Earth and planetary science is where I saw connections to issues I was really interested in.”
Grad Student Farmer Grows Case for Marrying Agriculture With the Natural World
For years, birds have been singing the praises of Raquel Krach’s regenerative farming practices. She hears it every day.
“When we’re in our orchard, the birds are busy, and so loud,” she says. “But when you’re off the property, 100 yards away, the silence is deafening.”
Krach and her husband, Greg Massa, are co-owners of Massa Organics. She recently completed her master’s degree in interdisciplinary studies through Chico State’s Center for Regenerative Agriculture and Resilient Systems. With the completion of her master’s thesis—a study on the effects of regenerative agriculture on an almond orchard on their 250-acre organic farm—she has proof beyond the peeps and chirps of her feathered farm-mates that her efforts are paying off.
Samuel L. Winter Awarded Outstanding Thesis for 2023
Samuel L. Winter (MS, Psychology) was awarded Outstanding Thesis for 2023. He wrote and conducted a strong thesis entitled “The Impact of Clinician-Perpetrated Sexual and Gender Minority Microaggressions Upon Client Perceptions in Psychotherapy.”
He-Lo Ramirez Awarded Outstanding Project for 2023
He-Lo Ramirez (MS, Interdisciplinary Studies: Wildland Management) was awarded Outstanding Project for 2023. His project entitled “Improving Northwestern Maidu Education in Northern California: A Need for and Creation of Place-Based Culturally Relevant Curricula” is a solid contribution to the work of creating more diverse, relevant, and critical pedagogy for our communities of the North State.
Grad Student and Honor Fan LEAPs into Editing and Publishing
Love can lead one to do some surprising things. For instance, when Benjamin Vandersluis fell head over heels for literary editing and publishing during his final semester as an undergraduate at Chico State, he started reading the Chicago Manual of Style, 17th edition.
“I started on page one,” he laughed. “I found some of it genuinely interesting.”
That was in the fall of 2017. He graduated that December with a bachelor’s degree in English and then worked at the California Cooperative Rice Research Foundation for the next three years, helping with planting, harvesting, and of course, editing the annual report. Vandersluis also kept the flame alive as a freelance editor. In the middle of 2020, struggling during the pandemic and looking for a reset, he discovered that the University had revived its Literary Editing and Publishing (LEAP) Certificate Program. Vandersluis jumped at the chance to earn the certification as part of his graduate studies. And he’s thrilled he did
Grad Studies Rocks Giving Day 2023
With a modest monetary goal and a vital cause, Graduate Studies took part in the annual Giving Day in March of 2023. The one-day fundraising event was a great success as not only was the goal surpassed, but Graduate Studies ended the day in an impressive third-place position on the Leader Board, resulting in additional funding for their cause, the Pipeline to Success Fund.
37th Annual Statewide Student Research Competition – 2023
In April 2023, ten Chico State students delivered exceptional academic presentations at the 37th Annual CSU Statewide Student Research Competition hosted by San Diego State University. The competition featured 250 participants from all 23 CSU campuses. Each student’s outstanding presentation was a testament to their hard work and dedication to their fields of study, highlighting the outstanding research and academic work produced by Chico State students.
Chico State's MBA Program Continues to Receive Global Recognition in CEO Magazine
Chico State has once again been recognized as one of the top business schools with an MBA program—with a Tier One ranking in CEO Magazine’s 2023 Global MBA rankings. The University’s online MBA program also ranked No. 46 globally, jumping up from No. 65 last year. This marks the fifth year that Chico State’s MBA program has been ranked by CEO Magazine.
Kinesiology Grad Student and Former Marine Honored with CSU Trustees’ Award
Isaiah Armond Jamal Henderson tries to live by a motto he picked up from his undergraduate mentor and kinesiology professor: “Whenever you have an opportunity, say yes and figure out the details later.”