myCSUSM
MASP Alumni
Congrats to Class of 2025!
- Class of 2025
Email: Altam011@csusm.edu
Amandah AltamiranoArea of Interest:
My research specifically focuses on examining women of color’s experience in video game culture. I am currently looking into the negative experiences that women of color face online and in-person in this male dominated culture that also stems from my own personal experiences. Some of these experiences include sexual harassment, gamer abuse, toxic masculinity, racism, sexism, and the various “coping” mechanisms developed to survive in a community that is not welcoming to women. The aim of my research is to validate the experiences of women of color gamers that have traded their voice for a life sentence of silence in hopes to empower others to speak out and bring a sociological lens to an area that needs additional research.Dulcinea Arroyo
Email: Arroy124@csusm.eduArea of Interest:
My research seeks to expound upon previous research from Black and Brown scholar-activists in their efforts to shift the power dynamics of a white capitalist academic institution to an institution where liberatory research and pedagogy is uplifted. I investigate how academia operates within a capitalist and colonial framework that alienates the intellectualism of scholars from oppressed communities because their intellectualism presents a threat to the capitalist intelligentsia.
Joshua Brown
Email: Brown460@csusm.edu
Lauren Chambers
Email: Chamb101@csusm.eduArea of Interest:
My past research includes student engagement in higher education as well as Black student engagement in higher education. My current research interests include community advocacy, and the intersectionality of the Black experience with gender and sexuality.
Valerie Dagnino
Email: Dagni002@csusm.eduArea of Interest:
Some sections that pique my interest are Children and Youth, Crime, Law and Deviance, Drugs and Society, Inequality, and Migration. My main interests are Juvenile Delinquency, Gangs, and Immigration. More specifically, the reasoning behind joining gangs with an emphasis on why undocumented individuals would put themselves under more extensive scrutiny by joining a gang.
Patrice Elise-Byrd
Email: Elise002@csusm.eduArea of Interest:
I have a Bachelors in Theatre Arts with Emphasis in Performance. I am researching Black reproductive experiences in San Diego. As a San Diego actor and mother of two, the subject is close to my heart. I am also interested in misogynoir in entertainment.
Email: Griff148@csusm.edu
Simon GriffithArea of Interest:
My research focuses on the sociology of queer life, cities, and human agency. I explore what happens to the collective identity of queer neighborhoods as society's perception of LGBTQ+people evolves. Additionally, I investigate the material impacts that arise for individuals within these communities. By analyzing the genealogies of queer neighborhoods, I aim to understand the consequences of changes to both the physical and social spaces that exist within them.
Mikel Luque Jimenez
Email: Luque011@csusm.eduArea of Interest:
My research is to explore why Latinx/Latine students want to pursue a career in law enforcement. This would include their motivations and backgrounds contributing to wanting to be a law enforcement agent. Emphasizing in male and female identifying is a priority, no voices will be left out. My other interests involve first-generation college students, immigration, criminalization toward our youth, racial inequality, and feminism.
David Zavala
Email: Zaval107@csusm.eduArea of Interest:
My research studies include the impact of COVID-19 and the way it has impacted the landscape of education. Involving school curriculum, classroom settings, professors and students mental health. The pandemic forced many school institutions to transition into an online learning environment, but this transition caused many challenges for both professors, teachers, and students. With the transition that forced educators to implement an online or virtual learning environment, a rise in mental health issues rose significantly due to the major change in educational learning. - Class of 2024
Cameron Bunton
Thesis/Project:
Outnumbered: Black Students' Experiences at Hispanic-Serving Institutions
Jelger Kalmijn
Thesis/Project:
Building Union Member Agency
Bejamin Medina
Thesis/Project:
"Bro ours is going untreated, ours is going unnoticed, and it's fucked up:" Community Trauma and Education
Lawrence Morris
Thesis/Project:
"Who's Got my Six?": An Investigation into the Interactions between Formerly Incarcerated Veterans and Service Providers
Brianna Phillips
Thesis/Project:
Where do I Start? Helping Students Explore Student Health and Counseling Resources on a College Campus
Natalie Picart
Thesis/Project:
Sit, Stay, or Go Away: The Social Experiences of Service Dog Owners
Melvin Sen
Thesis/Project:
"Mississippi with Palm Trees:" Examining Caste and Community Resistance in Escondido, California
- Class of 2023
Nonya Browcorwise
Email: Brown371@cougars.csusm.eduThesis/Project:
Blacks on the BLM Movement: "We Do Have Voice"
Ana Cardenas Benitez
Email: Carde034@cougars.csusm.eduThesis/Project:
Examining Underdocumented Latinx/e young adults' experiences post Trump administration, through the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, and beyond the DREAMer narrative
Camille Carrion
Email: Carri279@csusm.eduThesis/Project:
Examining the Experiences and Assets of Women of Color in Computing
Area of Interest:
My interest is to learn more about our educational system, K-12, using critical policy analysis to understand how this institution prepares Latinx students for higher education. Emphasis will be placed on push-out rates, graduation rates and school structure. My other interest is domestic violence within the immigrant community in California. To understand discriminations within the immigrant community, Intersectionality theory, and analyzing racial stratification practices are my preferred method.
Thesis/Project:
Stories of Resilience Among First Generation Latinx College Students Navigating the U.S Education System: A Community Cultural Wealth Perspective
Area of Interest:
Impact of DACA on undocumented students - This would include exploring the educational & professional outcomes of DACA recipients & the barriers to higher education. Other interests include exploring mental health issues as a result of status amongst undocumented/immigrant communities, first-generation undocumented students, & effects of deportation amongst families.Thesis/Project:
Assessing the Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Latinx Students with Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA)
Email: Elias031@cougars.csusm.edu
Mia EliasArea of Interest:
Social inequalities specifically inequalities in criminal sentencing and bureaucracies of the court systems that have led to the unequal sentencing and treatments of African Americans and POC.
Thesis/Project:
Trust the Stories of the People: The Intersectional Experiences of Court Users in San Diego
Chandler Hardin-IngramArea of Interest:
I'm a qualitative researcher, but I also have training in quantitative research methods as well.
Broadly speaking, my research interests focus on society’s relationship with its governing institutions and how their relationship reflects and affects policy considerations on the local, state and federal levels. However, I do have experience researching immigration policy, international criminal statutes, applications of criminality, migration and the global economy, juvenile delinquency, community organizing and informal economies.
I'm currently attempting to understand the effects that major socio-political events have had on interpersonal relationships and social dynamics in San Diego County between 2016 and 2022.Thesis/Project:
Transparency: How Socio Political Events Shape Interpersonal Relationships
Email: Olgui027@cougars.csusm.edu
Daniela OlguinArea of Interest:
Race, ethnicity, class, inequalities, and higher education.
Thesis/Project:
"They Hyped It Up": Hispanic Serving Institution Designation and Effectiveness According to Latinx Student Experiences
Area of Interest:
My areas of interest are in medical sociology and sociology of mental health, especially looking at the experiences of BIPOC communities and their overall health outcomes taking stigmatization of mental health and wellness into account. I want to shed light on health disparities and focus on the social factors that lead to different health outcomes for minority populations.
Thesis/Project:
Echale Ganas: The Mental Health of Latino Men
Nora Pozos
Email: Pozos005@cougars.csusm.eduThesis/Project:
Hood to Prison Pipeline
Email: Rainw004@cougars.csusm.edu
Elisha RainwatersArea of Interest:
Cancel Culture, Inter-Ethnic Racism, Critical Education, Sociology of Deviance, and Sociology of Music.Thesis/Project:
The Impact of COVID Quarantine on Local Independent Musicians in Southern California
Sara Rodriguez
Email: Rodri842@cougars.csusm.eduArea of Interest:
My research project focuses on immigrants that face human trafficking when coming to the United States. I seek to understand the problem, and the possible solutions to prevent this issue. My areas of focus will be sex trafficking, forced labor, and debt bondage. Overall human trafficking is a very relevant problem that is happening in San Diego.
Thesis/Project:
'Hunger Doesn't Take a Vacation': An Analysis of the Fallbrook Food Pantry
Issac Salcido
email: Salci017@cougars.csusm.eduThesis/Project:
An Advocacy Project: The Case for Culturally Relevant Financial Literacy
Thesis/Project:
Our Skin is Not Our Sin: Black Women and Their Mental Health
- Class of 2022
Area of Interest:
My research interests involve former foster youth and transitional care services that serve them. I seek to understand the gatekeeping techniques that are used to determine eligibility for access to these services. I particularly favor looking through the lense of critical race theory and conflict theory in sociological analysis. I have further interests in Pasifika communities, religion, cultural sociology, and postcolonialism.
Email: Diaz413@cougars.csusm.edu
Kayleen DiazArea of Interest:
My research explores experiences of BLM protesters who have been victims and/ or witnesses to police violence. In addition to analyzing media’s role in constructing narratives of protests/ protesters. Interests of mine include law and society, policing, race, legal authority, and social movement.
Lizandra Garcia
Email: Garci496@cougars.csusm.edu
Jasmine Glenn
Email: Glenn009@cougars.csusm.edu
Ibeth May
Email: Maypi001@cougars.csusm.edu
Vanessa Martinez
Email: Marti455@cougars.csusm.edu
Area of Interest:
Issues affecting Chicanx and Mexican Indigenous communities, the cultural appropriation and commodification of Día de Los Muertos (Day of the Dead), colonialism, capitalism, race and ethnic relations, and Chicana feminism.
Roberto Ortega
Email: Orteg254@cougars.csusm.eduArea of Interest:
My research examines how Chicana/o students are stigmatized by zero tolerance policies in secondary education. Overall, I am interested in the areas of race/ethnicity, intersectionality, education, criminology, and inequality.
Elizabeth Wright
Email: Wrigh128@cougars.csusm.eduArea of Interest:
My research project focuses on undocumented students who face the structural barriers to higher education. I will specifically be looking into some of the services that are critical to their success (academic advisors, student service specialists and policies). My other interests include how well undocumented undergraduate students perform academically compared to other similar students, and what USC’s are doing for marginalized students during the post COVID pandemic. I will be using the Mixed Method approach to provide me with a better understanding for this research problem.
Karla Maypizano
Email: Maypi001@csusm.edu - Class of 2021
Daniella CarreonArea of Interest:
Chicana/Latina Motherhood & Mothering, Sociology of Family, Sociology of Immigration, Race, Class, Gender, Chicana Feminism, Resilience & Joy.
Kayli EvansArea of Interest:
Imposter Syndrome, intersectionality, feminist theory, multiracial identity negotiation, and higher education navigation.
Area of Interest:
Intergenerational Relationships, Elders, Class, Race, Gender, Non-nuclear Latinx Families, Chicana Feminism, Ethnography.
- Class of 2020
Area of Interest:
Sex and sexuality, gender, LGBTQA+ studies, masculinity, Latinx experience, police culture, social justice.
Maricruz Gomez
Email: Gomez122@cougars.csusm.eduArea of Interest:
Youth, gangs, incarceration, and re- entry.
Tony Hidalgo
Area of Interest:
My research interests are crime and gangs, law and inequality, and medical sociology.
Area of Interest:
Social issues that impact indigenous communities, stereotypes, colonialism, capitalism, domestic violence and missing/murdered indigenous women.
Shawntae Mitchum
Area of Interest:
Mass incarceration, school-to-prison pipeline, education reform, critical race theory, and issues affecting the Black community.
Christina Monroy
Area of Interest:
I wanted to analyze the probation departments progress with their newly implemented programs to see if they are decreasing recidivism rates for youth.
Area of Interest:
My areas of interest are in higher education. Specifically, I will research institutional inequality that leads to failures in preparation and graduation of African American black males at predominantly white colleges. - Class of 2019
Area of Interest:
Medical Sociology, White Collar Crime, and Juvenile Delinquency.
Email: Ochoa035@cougars.csusm.edu
Ana OchoaArea of Interest:
Juvenile Delinquency, School to Prison Pipeline, and Third World Country Gangs.
Area of Interest:
Domestic Violence, Racial Profiling, and Gun Control. - Class of 2018
Area of Interest:
Asian Studies, Cosplay Culture, Sociology and Technology, Poverty, Gender and Sexuality, Race and Ethnicity, Families and Intimate Relationships, and Gender Performativity.
Area of Interest:
Emphasis on the Prison Industrial Complex Prisoner, Reentry and Recidivism; Youth and Gangs, Gang Injunctions, Gang Intervention, Prevention and Street Restorative Justice; Social Justice, Equality, Equity, and Intersectionality.
Area of Interest:
Concept of Intersectionality, Standpoint Theory, Navigation of Public Space, Gender, Internalized Sexism.
Area of Interest:
Informal Economy/Political Economy, Gentrification, Youth Gangs and their hyper-criminalization leading to incarceration.
Area of Interest:
Juvenile Justice. Thesis topic: Youth experiences in institutional care.
- Class of 2017
Area of Interest:
Informal Economy, Hyper-Surveillance of Gangs, Youth and Gangs, Mass Incarceration, and Homelessness.
Area of Interest:
Youth in Mixed Immigration Status Families, Undocumented Youth, and Education.
Area of Interest:
Police Subculture, Critical Race Theory, Power and Privilege, Social Control, Oppression, and LGBT Studies.
Area of Interest:
Intersectionality of Race, Class, Gender, Latino/a Middle Class, Middle Class Minority Groups, Colorism, and Identity.
Area of Interest:
Latinos and Education and Medical Sociology.
- Class of 2016
Area of Interest:
Accent Prejudice, Linguicism, CRT, Racialization of Language, Second Language Acquisition, Identity Formation for ESL Learners, and SocioPoetix.
Area of Interest:
Youth experiences in education and the school-to-prison pipeline, Education, Youth, Youth in Gangs, Immigration.
Area of Interest:
White Supremacy Ideology and Institutionalized Racism in Corporate America and our Judicial System that legitimize and perpetuate inequality for Black Americans.
Area of Interest:
Hyper-criminality and Hyper-surveillance as experienced by Xican@ youth, Youth and Gangs, Critical criminology, Urban sociology and Immigration.
Area of Interest:
Prison Industrial complex emphasis on Disproportionality among Prison Systems, Prisoner reentry and recidivism, Youth and Gangs, and Gang Injunctions.
Daniel Panuelas
Tatiana Apelu
Denise
Felipe
Aaron "Fitz" Fitzpatrick
Erendira Irais Hernandez
If any MASP Alumni would like to make updates to their segments, please contact Sociology@csusm.edu. Thank you!