Honors Program
Student Research and Creativity
- Ethnic Studies Methodologies
Preserving Chico State Voices for Change
In Fall 2024, students in Gloria Lopez's section of HNRS 300 created an oral history project that aims to archive and narrate the history of community activism at Chico State. Chico State has a long history of student-led projects and protests that address current social, cultural, political, and ecological issues that are of immediate concern to their communities. This project amplifies the voices of those at Chico State who have challenged injustice and inequality as it arises. Interviews include the stories of students, faculty, staff, and alumni who participated in this project.
- Interdisciplinary Thesis and Creative Project
In 2024-25, students in Steve Caldes' section of HNRS 390 and 391W produced the following theses or creative projects:
- Alyssa Angulo, "My Body, My Choice, My Health: Abortion Bans and Their Effects on Women’s Healthcare"
- Lars Bartels, "Blind Vehicle Pose and Navigation using 3rd Person Cameras and Remote Computing"
- Aidan Beck, "Environmental Connection: The Complicated Impacts of Roads on Parks and Wilderness"
- Valerie Douglas, "The Impact of Overfishing on Shark Populations and Marine Ecosystems"
- Yuri Camarena Linarez, "Is Our Body Worth All the Labor?"
- Logan T. Elllis, "Legacy: How One Man’s Vision Shaped The Entertainment Industry"
- Valeria Flores, "Intimate Partner Violence & the Law: What Are My Options if I Need Protection and Support?"
- Bobby Gordon, "Climate Change and the Cultural Geography of Outdoor Recreation: Lessons from the Past, Reflections for the Future"
- Lucy Lockmiller, "The Bare Minimum? An Exploration into Love Languages’ Popularity and Applicability"
- Biridiana Mora Tovar, "Voices Unheard: The Role of Advocacy in Breaking Down Barriers for those with Aphasia"
- Etelvina Moreno, "Neophobia: Investigating Physiological Stress Responses in Animal & Human Behavior"
- Tyler Reed, "Climate Change: Where Science and Politics Collide"
- Jesus Ruvalcaba, "Investigating the Potential of Bacterial Manipulation for Post-Fire Regeneration in the Sierra Nevada"
- Grayson Souza, "Skateboarding: From Passive-Aggressive to Progressive"
- Kelly Sprengelmeyer, "Incredible Invisible Women: Mis(d)Diagnosis of ADHD in Women"
- Adam Ullmann, "Enhancing Audio in the Remote Workplace"
These theses and creative projects will be added to our online archive!
- Leadership, Power, and Change
In Spring 2025, students in Jason Nice's section of HNRS 393 conducted student focus groups on a university-wide process to reorganize departments and colleges (Reimagining Academic Affairs). They wrote the focus group introduction and discussion questions (PDF), produced a report based on their focus group research (PDF), and shared their report to university leadership including the President and Provost.
In Spring 2025, students in Nathaniel Heggins Bryant's section of HNRS 393 participated in group advocacy projects that explored key concepts including positionality, cultural humility, inclusive leadership, and the role of apologies and reparations:
- "Breaking the Language Barrier: Addressing Communication Gaps in Medical Settings"
- "Creating an Equitable Patient Care Curriculum to Prepare Future Healthcare Professionals"
- "Environmental Justice In The Golden State"
- "Homelessness in Chico"
- "Infrastructural Failures in Chico"
- "Promoting Inclusive Mental Health Awareness at CSU Chico"
- "Social Inequity in the Criminal Justice System"
- "Stop the Spread: Awareness is Contagious"
