CSUB student selected for prestigious California Pre-Doctoral Program

Sally Casanova Scholars program provides research scholarships

By California State University, Bakersfield

September 17^th, 2021

California State University, Bakersfield student Susan Rodriguez has been selected for the 2021-22 California Pre-Doctoral Program Sally Casanova Scholars.

Rodriguez will receive a $3,000 research scholarship and one-on-one guidance provided by faculty members within the CSU, as well as the opportunity to work with faculty from doctoral-granting institutions.

To date, 2,333 students have received this prestigious award, many of them were from CSUB, according to Dr. Luis Vega, interim associate dean of graduate and undergraduate studies and CSUB coordinator of the program.

“We have a record of excellence in sponsoring Sally Casanova Scholars, many of whom are now in doctoral programs, many others who are now CSU professors,” he said. "The program is particularly beneficial for students who are first-generation students, who are underrepresented in the faculty of the university, who come from modest economic means, and who otherwise would not pursue a job as a professor.”

Around 40% of accepted scholars go on to fully funded doctoral programs across the nation, Dr. Vega said. On average, since 2015, 12 scholars have been admitted to Ph.D. programs at the University of California campuses. Around 8 % of current CSU faculty are former scholars.

Rodriguez's research examines the role of suicide in countries as portrayed in their respective national literature. She is investigating the political, religious and social movements in countries that have shifted the literature portrayals of suicide from a tragic and romantic notion of individual psychological distress to one of selfless acts interpreted as heroic, patriotic, or rebellious for a greater cause.

Furthermore, she examines the similarities and differences observed in national storytelling through literature amongst countries with and without a history of colonization. Altogether, Rodriguez hopes to gain a better understanding of the relationship between culture and suicide, and literature and society.

“Were it not for Dr. Merry Pawloswski inspiring my research interest in literature, I would not have thought of applying to graduate school. Because of her, I am now pursuing a master’s degree at CSU Fullerton," she said. "I will pursue a doctoral degree and my hope is to come back and be a professor, perhaps here at CSU Bakersfield, my undergraduate alma matter."

Three CSUB students also received honorable mentions, and they will also explore graduate opportunities and resources by participating in numerous workshops offered by the California Forums for Diversity in Graduate Education, all sponsored by the Sally Casanova scholarship.

Planned by a consortium of public and private colleges and universities from throughout California, these diversity forums are designed to meet the needs of advanced undergraduates and master's candidates who belong to groups that are currently underrepresented in doctoral-level programs.

Here are this year's honorable mentions:

CSUB student selected for prestigious California Pre-Doctoral Program

Natalie Velasco

Velasco is currently working on a research project analyzing felony disenfranchisement and the impact it has on minority voting outcomes, recidivism and overall civic engagement. Felony disenfranchisement is a policy widely implemented in the United States whereby individuals who are convicted of criminal offenses are denied the right to vote. Using problem definition formulas to identify the root cause of the issue, she has examined the background of felony disenfranchisement, the racial implications and current legislation that prevents people formerly and currently incarcerated to be engaged in democratic processes. Velasco is conducting this research under the faculty mentorship of Dr. Kallee McCullough of the Criminal Justice Department. Her career goal is also to become a professor.

Jasmine Pulido

Pulido is working in Dr. Isabel Sumaya’s Behavioral Neuroscience Lab. As a psychology student, she would be following the steps of many other students who have worked with Dr. Sumaya, many of whom were Sally Casanova Scholars, are currently in doctoral programs, or have finished and are CSU professors now. Pulido's research focus is on the role of anxiolytic, or anti-anxiety medications and their effect on diet as interacts with age. She is testing these on animal models and hopes to learn about side effects and eventual safer anti-anxiety treatments for humans across the lifespan. This work is in the early stages and Pulido is gearing up to apply to doctoral programs as well.

Brittany Johnson

Johnson has done research for the Kegley Institute of Ethics (KIE) under the sponsorship of Dr. Michael Burroughs. Her research has examined healthcare disparities and the impact of implicit biases. She also moderated a symposium of KIE Distinguish Speakers Series. This highly rated, public-facing panel featuring physicians and bioethicists, informed and impacted the audience with many insights on medicine, the pandemic and gender/age/race biases. Johnson is currently enrolled in the Educational Counseling program, plans to pursue a dual PhD/MD program, and intends to join the professoriate ranks in a non-distant future.

Current students who are junior, seniors, or in masters’ programs and are interested in applying for the Sally Casanova Scholars program are encouraged to attend an orientation workshop on Friday, Oct. 22, from 3-4 p.m., by emailing gsc@csub.edu.