Awards and Accomplishments

Psychology Grad student secures 1st place in category at 38th Annual CSU Statewide Competition

We are thrilled to celebrate the remarkable achievements of our CSUSM Delegates who excelled at the 38th Annual CSU Statewide Research Competition. Showcasing their expertiese across four discpinary categories -- Engineering & Computer Science, Humanities & Letters, Interdisciplinary, and Behavioral, Social Sciences and Public Administration.  

We are delighted to announce Jessica Orea secured 1st place in the category of Behavioral, Social Sciences & Public Administration (graduate).

Jessica Orea – Dr. Kimberley Pulvers, Faculty Mentor
Psychological Sciences, Graduate
Association Between Distress Tolerance and Cannabis Dependence Stronger for Under-Represented Minorities Among U.S. Young Adults

Psychology Faculty and Research Assistants Publish New Research Findings, March 2024

The Society for Personality and Social Psychology’s Annual Convention took place February 8th, 2024 in San Diego with several Psychology Faculty and students in attendance representing CSU San Marcos. Kaitlin Jubera and Dr. Jarryd Willis, pictured above, presented their research findings at the Convention. Since then, Multiracial Multilinguals: How Language Influences Multiracials' Interpersonal Relationships, has been published by the Canadian Center of Science and Education in March 2024.

Hernandez, Elizabeth, Pauley, T., Zheng, H., Jubera, K., Perreyclear, T., Vera, R., Satchwell, M., & Willis, J., PhD. (2024). Multiracial Multilinguals: How Language Influences Multiracials’ Interpersonal Relationships. Review of European Studies, 16(1). PrePrint

CSUSM Symposium on Student Research, 2024

In March, our students represented at the CSUSM Symposium on Student Research! We had four semi-finalists, and three finalists who will be representing CSUSM at the system-wide CSU Research Competition at Cal Poly SLO in April.

Finalists

• Ariana Almaraz - Dr. Yasmine Sherafat, Faculty Mentor
• NACHO Protein Expression in the Aversive Circuit in Nicotine Dependent Mice
• Jessica Orea - Dr. Kim Pulvers, Faculty Mentor
• Association Between Distress Tolerance and Cannabis Dependence Stronger for Under-Represented Minorities Among U.S. Young Adults
• Milly Lopez - Dr. Kim Pulvers, Faculty Mentor
• Anxiety and Cannabis Dependence Among Non-Hispanic Black, Non-Hispanic White, and Hispanic U.S. Young Adults

Semi-Finalists

• Alex Leon - Dr. Dustin P. Calvillo, Faculty Mentor
• Illusory Truth Occurs with Headlines from Reliable Sources but Not from Unreliable Sources
• Aryanna Alarcon - Dr. Kim Pulvers, Faculty Mentor
• Cannabis Vaping Days Associated with Impaired Neurological Quality of Life among a Tri-Ethnic Sample of U.S. Young Adult Men and Women
• Gustavo Benitez - Dr. Eric Leas, Faculty Mentor (CSUSM/UCSD Smoke and Vape Free Scholars Program)
• Disparities and impact of flavor restrictions on the availability of flavored tobacco products in online vaping retailers.
• Kai Orozco - Dr. Kim Pulvers, Faculty Mentor
• Earlier Age of First Cannabis Use Linked with Greater Current Peer Use of Cannabis among Young Adult Men and Women

Kerri Mowen Excellence in Faculty Mentoring Award - 2023

Congratulations to Psychology Faculty Member, Dr. Alex Huynh who has received the Kerri Mowen Excellence in Faculty Mentoring Award for 2023! 

The Kerri Mowen Excellence in Research and Creative Activity Faculty Mentor Award honors individuals who, during their time at California State University San Marcos, have demonstrated extraordinary leadership in increasing the participation of undergraduate students in research and creative activities above and beyond the classroom.The award recognizes faculty (including lecturers) who have mentored and guided a considerable number of students in research or creative activities, and/or faculty who have impacted the environment of the department, college, or university to significantly increase the number and diversity of students engaged in research and creative activities.

Dean's Award - Dean of Students 2023

Congratulations to Psychological Sciences Major, Ilianna Ramirez who is the recipient for the Dean of Students Outstanding Graduate Award.

Ramirez has made lasting contributions to student life at CSUSM through her many involvements, including the ASI Board of Directors, President of the American Indian Student Alliance, Arts & Lectures and her work with the Anti-Racism, Anti-Colonialism, Social Justice Committee. 

Ramirez took her experience one step further through an internship student teaching at her community college where she is creating a pathway for others and laying the foundation for her future career as a college professor. 

Ramirez has strived to help create a sense of belonging at CSUSM. She utilizes her ability to empathize with others who have experiences different from hers to create connections not only within the American Indian Student Alliance but also with other student life areas. 

Superior Achievement and Excellence in Poster Presentation

Psychological Science major, Karissa Tran, was awarded for Superior Achievement and Excellence in Poster Presentation at the West Coast Biological Sciences Undergraduate Research Conference on 4/22/23.

Her study was titled "Age of First Cannabis Use and Cannabis Misuse Linked for Men and Women and Explained by Depressive Symptoms among U.S. Young Adults" and was mentored by Dr. Kim Pulvers.

Dean's Award - Graduate Studies 2023

Congratulations to Jennifer Figueroa, MA Psychological Sciences, who is our Graduate Dean's Award 2022-2023 Recipient.

Thesis: Do Relationship Beliefs Matter? The Role of Implicit Theries of Relationships on Conflict Resolution Styles in Emerging Adults' Romantic Relationships 

A first-generation Ecuadorian American college student from a low-income background, Figueroa has demonstrated outstanding achievements throughout her time at CSUSM. She has achieved a cumulative GPA of 3.82, successfully defended her master’s thesis and trained new members of her research team.  

During her time in the master’s program Figueroa has amassed several research achievements, including one first-author publication, three first-author conference presentations, and four co-author conference presentations. 

Nominating professor Haylee DeLuca Bishop noted that Figueroa’s achievements are outstanding for someone so early in their career and they reflect her initiative and intellectual curiosity.  

Christina Maslach-Philip Zimbardo Research Award

Devanshi Upadhyaya and Rosalva Romero Gonzalez received the Christina Maslach-Philip Zimbardo Research Awards in Social Psychology for their poster, College-generational status and wisdom: What factors matter, at the 2022 Western Psychological Association (WPA) Conference. Their faculty mentor was Dr. Alex Huynh.

2022 CSUSM President's Outstanding Graduate

Congratulations to Krystal Alvarez-Hernandez for being selected the 2022 CSUSM President's Outstanding Graduate!

Krystal also won first place at the 2022 CSUSM Statewide Research Competition for her presentation "Exposure to Childhood Abuse on Symptoms of Depression Across the Perinatal Period in Mexican/Mexican American Women."  Krystal was mentored by former Psychology faculty member, Dr. Kimberly D'Anna-Hernandez.

2022 CHABSS Champion for Inclusive Excellence

Gabriel Castellanos is a Child & Adolescent Development major with a Communication minor. He's graduating Magna Cum Laude.

Psi Chi

Psi Chi co-advisor, Dr. Janice Phung, with the Psi Chi inductees of 2021-2022. Congratulations to the new members of the CSUSM chapter of Psi Chi, International Honor Society in Psychology. We are so proud of you!