Student Research Trainees

Psychology

I am a first generation Mexican-American student currently pursing my bachelor's degree in Psychology. I am passionate about wanting to make the world a better place.

Urban Studies and Planning

Political Science (Politics & Government)

Spanish-Language Journalism

Hello! My name is Jasmine Mendez. I am a first-generation college student studying Political Science, with a minor in Spanish-Language Journalism. I am excited to be a part of this program!

My passion for progressive, sustainable change in areas like housing insecurity, stems from a once personal & community-spread issue. My goal is to help find solutions through data and bring in Latine/Latinx voices to this discussion.

Psychology

From Los Angeles, Summer has volunteered over the last 15 years with various non-profits, with a focus on mentoring at-risk youth and those battling homelessness. In 2020 she launched her own initiative, Positive Effects, raising in-kind donations for children on skid row represented by Inner City Law Center. She's currently a Psychology major at CSUN for her undergrad, and looks forward to her career one day as a Clinical Psychologist.

Psychology

Hello everybody! I am Dora Feher, and I am currently an undergraduate student majoring in psychology. I aspire to continue my studies as a graduate student pursuing the realm of clinical psychology.

During my educational journey, I had been given the opportunity to serve as a guide and mentor to both high school students as well as community college freshmen. Not only so, but I had also been able to further serve my community by embodying the role of a Blood Donor Ambassador for the American Red Cross.

I am delighted to have been selected as an intern for the HERE Center and am looking forward to contributing to my community in such a capacity.

I am a second year MPH student pursuing the Community Health Education concentration.

I have dedicated over 5 years serving the multiethnic community that raised me while working at a nonprofit in the heart of Koreatown. I look forward to strengthening my public health skills in the field of substance use prevention to advance health equity among disadvantaged communities.

Psychology

I am a first generation Mexican-American student currently pursing my bachelor's degree in Psychology. I am passionate about wanting to make the world a better place.

MPH - Community Health Education

Lihua got her BS in Nutrition and Dietetics in 2020 and will get her MPH at CSUN soon. She grew up in Chengdu, China. She loves eating and cooking spicy food. She also enjoys gardending and practising sustainability lie style. Teaching young kids where food comes from, how to plant, harvest, and cook their own fruits and vegetables are her current and future goals.

Public Health

Hello All, my name is Jason Cruz Velasco, and I am currently completing my senior year. I currently work as a Community Health Worker at St. John's Well Child & Family Center providing COVID-19 education to communities. I am very excited to part of the HERE center and have the opportunity to learn more about the health disparities in the San Fernando Valley.

Political Science

Emely is a graduating senior majoring in Political Science at CalState Northridge. She has experience in government, political campaigns, and nonprofit organizations. Emely is passionate about uplifting underserved communities, specifically through healthcare reform in the policymaking process. She plans to pursue a career advocating for health equity in California and beyond. On her spare time she enjoys rock climbing and beach days.

Public Health

Ashlyn Southerland is a CSUN undergraduate student pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Public Health. She has worked in numerous community-focused nonprofit organizations and has dabbled in experiences pertaining to medicine, research, politics, education, and nonprofit leadership. In particular, many of Ashlyn's experiences have highlighted her extensive expertise in mental health resource provision, program development and evaluation, domestic and international outreach, qualitative and quantitative data collection, content writing, community advocacy, and curriculum facilitation.

At the Health Equity Research and Education (HERE) Center, Ashlyn aims to support her community and beyond through promotion of HERE Center initiatives. Her drive to increase awareness of high-impact programs, research, and resources fuels her hope of reducing the health disparities and inequities that plague the San Fernando Valley and surrounding communities.

Psychology

I am a third year undergraduate student pursuing a bachelor's in psychology. I am a proud first generation college student who is passionate about public health and anything relating to science! Some of my hobbies include cooking, reading, exploring the outdoors, and hanging out with the people that I am close with. Im looking forward to being an intern for the HERE Center and I cannot wait to learn more about research, health disparities, and ways to maintain and build equity! 

MPH - Community Health Education

Franklin Amaya Torres is a first-generation college student at California State University Northridge (CSUN).

Franklin is currently pursuing his masters in public health with a focus in community health education. On Franklin's spare time, he likes to listen to music and play it himself.

Political Science (Politics & Government)

Spanish-Language Journalism

Hello! My name is Jasmine Mendez. I am a first-generation college student studying Political Science, with a minor in Spanish-Language Journalism. I am excited to be a part of this program!

My passion for progressive, sustainable change in areas like housing insecurity, stems from a once personal & community-spread issue. My goal is to help find solutions through data and bring in Latine/Latinx voices to this discussion.

Psychology

Hello everybody! I am Dora Feher, and I am currently an undergraduate student majoring in psychology. I aspire to continue my studies as a graduate student pursuing the realm of clinical psychology.

During my educational journey, I had been given the opportunity to serve as a guide and mentor to both high school students as well as community college freshmen. Not only so, but I had also been able to further serve my community by embodying the role of a Blood Donor Ambassador for the American Red Cross.

I am delighted to have been selected as an intern for the HERE Center and am looking forward to contributing to my community in such a capacity.

MPH - Community Health Education

I am a second year MPH student pursuing the Community Health Education concentration. I have dedicated over 5 years serving the multiethnic community that raised me while working at a nonprofit in the heart of Koreatown. I look forward to strengthening my public health skills in the field of substance use prevention to advance health equity among disadvantaged communities.

MPH - Community Health Education

Derek is currently a CSUN graduate student pursuing his Masters in Public Health degree with an emphasis in community health education and works full-time as a Policy Analyst for the Department of Social Services in statewide child trafficking response efforts. He has worked in multiple community-based settings aimed at family health and empowerment, program and curriculum development, and county- and statewide health program evaluation.

His passion lies in ensuring the integration of culturally responsive and trauma-informed practices into community-based health programming and policy. Outside of the classroom and office, Derek loves to spend time with his dog, travel, and be outdoors in nature.

MPH - Community Health Education

Hello my name is Lupita, I am a second-year graduate student at CSUN, completing my masters in Public Health with an emphasis on community health education. When I am not in school, I enjoy spending time outdoors with family and friends. Currently I am living in the central coast of CA. But I am extremely excited to be a part of the HERE Center and making a change in the community, especially during this pandemic.

Economics and Philosophy

Hanli Su is a CSUN Senior majoring in Economics and Philosophy. Born in Vietnam and grew up in West Covina, CA she is proud to be a first generation college student. Having experienced first hand the strengths and challenges of immigrating to the U.S with her family she strives for social change through her interest in policy analysis and reforms, especially in Health Economics, International Economics, and Environmental Economics.

MPH - Community Health Education

I am a CSUN graduate student pursuing an MPH degree with a focus on Community Health and a full time middle school teacher. I also volunteer as a volunteer engagement coordinator at Love For Our Elders, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting isolated seniors. My current passions lie with researching environmental issues that impact human health and educating communities, especially those with more health disparities, so they can be empowered to advocate for their own health.

I spent the Fall semester of 2020 researching the Aliso Canyon Blowout and its impacts for the HERE Center. In my free time, I enjoy spending time outdoors and writing. I just published a children’s book called If You Give a Girl a Bike in hopes of diversifying the featured sports and making them more inclusive for young girls.

MPH - Community Health Education

An inspiring individual with unwavering passion for community and public service, working diverse communities and advocating for progress in underserved communities. Has competent knowledge of public health and healthy aging with an interest in supporting local, state, and federal support for older adults that include quality of care throughout end stages of life.

Equipped with a Bachelor’s in Science (B.S.) of Public Health. Special Interests and a love for learning procured a University Approved Graduate Certificate in Gerontology. Currently a candidate for a Master’s in Public Health - Community Health Education (MPH) from the California State University of Northridge.

Computer Science

Hello there! Welcome to my bio. My name is Kavya Dhyasani and I am a fourth year at CSUN majoring in computer science. I am so excited to be part of the HERE research program as I have the opportunity to apply my knowledge towards data and learn about the health disparities around the San Fernando Valley, as well the country.

M.S. Geographic Information Science

I am interested in studying and analyzing health disparities in the San Fernando Valley. During my time as an undergraduate student in the NSF Data Science Program, I worked on a project with Dr. Steve Graves analyzing health disparities in the San Fernando Valley such as high blood pressure, obesity, tree canopy, etc. More recently, as a graduate student, and with the help of Dr. Carrie Saetermoe, I was looking at hospital data to analyze infant and mother mortality rates in Los Angeles County.

Currently, I am starting to work on my thesis studying period poverty in the San Fernando Valley. I have been analyzing school attendance data of LAUSD schools in the valley, and I want to explore a possible correlation between period poverty and attendance rates.

MPH - Community Health Education

My name is Monique Peralta and I am a Master’s in Public Health student at CSUN. I graduated from CSU, Fresno with a Bachelor’s Degree in Health Sciences. During the last several years I have worked in the behavioral health/substance use disorder community to reduce the stigma of seeking out mental health and other community services. I am inspired daily by the individuals I work with.

Computer Science

I am majoring in Computer /Science and minoring in Data Science, expecting to graduate in Spring 2021. I will be working on a Data Science related project with the HERE Center. I hope to help get interesting results using statistical analyzation.

MPH Candidate - Community Health Education

Hello Everyone! My name is Stephany Gonzalez. I am current student in the program of Master’s of Public Health- Community Health Education. I graduated with my Bachelor’s of Health Admin and minor in Psych from CSUN. My current health interests are in: environmental health, women’s health, nutrition and physical exercise.

Public Health

Hello my name is Brianna Jacobo. I went to Pierce College for my first two years then transferred to CSUN. This will be 5th, in my senior year and my last semester at CSUN. I am majoring in Public Health and after I graduate this fall I plan to go into nursing and become a certified Lactation Consultant.