CSU Dominguez Hills Represented at National Conference for Minority Scientists

Students and faculty from California State University, Dominguez Hills attended the yearly conference of the Society for Advancement of Chicano and Native Americans in Science (SACNAS) National Conference last week in Dallas.

“This entire experience has definitely helped cement my decision in pursuing a career in the sciences,” says psychology major Alex Floyd Lim. “The SACNAS conference allowed us to engage and network with a caliber of students, scientists, academicians and professionals far and beyond what I could have possibly imagined.”

Seventeen undergraduate students from CSU Dominguez Hills attended SACNAS, with eight students making poster presentations. Two McNair Scholars were given awards in the poster competition for social and behavioral sciences. Psychology major Eric Bonilla was mentored by Keisha Paxton, associate professor, psychology while working on “An analysis of the masculine depression scale at California State University, Dominguez Hills,” and Lim was assisted by mentor Larry Rosen, professor of psychology with his poster on “Memory for classroom lecture material with text message interruptions.”

Lim, a senior, underscores the value of doing upper-level research while an undergraduate at CSU Dominguez Hills.

“Not only does having research experience give me the edge in applying to grad schools, but most importantly conducting research allows me and other fellow lab students to collaborate and share ideas,” he says. “It’s a special privilege to be under the constant guidance and mentorship of Dr. Rosen and Dr. (Mark) Carrier in the psychology department and George Marsh Cognition Lab as they continue to help channel my academic goals in pursuing graduate studies.”

Members of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Minority Access to Research Careers, Undergraduate Student Training in Academic Research (MARC U*STAR) cohort and the NIH Minority Biomedical Research Support, Research Initiative for Scientific Enhancement (MBRS RISE) cohorts were in attendance, including four seniors majoring in psychology who presented their research in posters. Sherica Bolden and Leah Fortson were also mentored by Paxton on “Empowering wellness: Innovative strategies for the mental health promotion of urban women.” Brittney Parish created “Gender and its effects on willingness to help victims,” and Fernando Martinez presented “The relationship between media usage and psychological problems and sleep,” as mentored by Rosen. Other students attending from the NIH cohorts were Toyin Dunn, junior, Esbeyde Garcia, junior, psychology, and Kumar Tiger, biology.

Three other McNair Scholars also presented their posters. Mattia Day was mentored by Mark Carrier, professor of psychology on “The effect of cultural background on the comprehension of medical materials.” Rosen assisted Helen Gutierrez with “Life satisfaction of elderly retired women,” and Lauerene Lewis presented “Type II diabetes in the African-American community and understanding how spirituality plays a role in finding preventative medicine.”

Faculty and staff members represented various cohorts and programs on campus including, Leonardo Martinez, professor, chair of the chemistry department and Mario Carrasco, staff member, Minority Access to Research Careers (MARC) Minority Biomedical Research Support Research Initiative for Scientific Enhancement (MBRS) and Brandilynn Villarreal, program coordinator, McNair Scholars. Also in attendance were Laura Robles, dean, College of Natural and Behavioral Sciences, Mohsen Beheshti, professor and chair, computer science department, Jianchao “Jack” Han, associate professor, computer science, and Thomas Landefeld, professor of biology. Ana Pitchon, assistant professor, anthropology, presented a talk titled, “The risks and realities of pier fishing in Los Angeles County” during a session on the conservation and management of ocean resources.

The Computing Alliance of Hispanic Serving Institutions is supported by the National Science Foundation (NSF). Students in the “Broadening Participation in Computing” program are part of a collaboration between CSU Dominguez Hills, the University of Texas-El Paso, Florida International University, New Mexico State University, Texas A&M- Corpus Christi, and the University of Puerto Rico-Mayaguez. Representatives attending SACNAS included Andrea Alvarez, sophomore, computer technology; Deisi Ayala, junior, computer technology; Monique Ann Dominguez, sophomore, computer science; Eugena Nicole Jones, junior, computer technology; and Alexander Majano, freshman, computer science.

Bonilla, who is in his senior year, says that attending SACNAS “helped me envision myself making a difference.” He plans on earning his doctorate in order to help reduce the underrepresentation of minorities in the mental health field.

“I hope to find new and creative techniques and interventions that will help break these existing disparities,” he says. “Seeing so many students with a desire to pursue graduate studies and make a difference not only in their field but in the world was very inspiring.”

SACNAS is made up of researchers, students, educators, and administrators from diverse backgrounds who represent fields and careers in science, mathematics, technology, and engineering. CSU Dominguez Hills faculty and staff are on the organizing committee for the 2010 annual conference, which will be held at the Anaheim Convention Center.

- Joanie Harmon

Photo above: CSU Dominguez Hills students at the national conference of the Society for Advancement of Chicano and Native Americans in Science.

L-R, top row: Leah Fortson, Sherica Bolden, Brittany Parish, Helen Gutierrez, Esbeyde Garcia, Mattia Day, Laurenne Lewis L-R, bottom row: Fernando Martinez, Eric Bonilla, Alex Lim, Toyin Dunn, Kumar Tiger

Alex Floyd Lim was assisted by mentor Larry Rosen, professor of psychology with his poster on “Memory for classroom lecture material with text message interruptions.”

Eric Bonilla was mentored by Keisha Paxton, associate professor, psychology while working on “An analysis of the masculine depression scale at California State University, Dominguez Hills.”

Photos by Laura Robles