The College of Liberal Arts Equity Scholars
Meet Chavva Olander! She's a first-year graduate student in the Philosophy MA program. Chavva received her BA in Philosophy from California State University, Fullerton in 2021 after a long hiatus from higher education. Chavva works as an educator and curriculum development specialist, and is a solo parent to two teenagers who have been homeschooled for the last seven years.
What excites you most your selection as an Equity Scholar?
I’m looking forward to opportunities for mentorship and receiving feedback on my research.
What are you most looking forward to in your graduate program?
The Philosophy MA program at CSULB has already been an outstanding learning experience. I anticipate becoming more adept at research and writing, along with gaining experience in the field of philosophy through participation in conferences.
What are your future goals or career plans for life post-grad?
After earning my MA, I plan to pursue a PhD in Philosophy. I look forward to teaching and mentoring college students, particularly those who have taken a non-traditional academic path.
What’s your best advice for students looking into graduate school?
Graduate school might be a great idea if you think it will open up opportunities for you to contribute meaningfully in your field of interest. Learning is always valuable, regardless of whether it takes place in a classroom.
Since the fall semester of 2021, the Equity Scholars Program has supported one graduate research assistantship per academic year (or two one-semester assistantships) for every CLA department offering a graduate degree (13 in total). The goal of this support of $7000 per student per year (or up to a maximum $3500 each for two students per semester, pending budget) has been to recruit promising students into the Humanities and Social Sciences. Recruitment of first-generation, historically underrepresented, and/or low-income graduate students is strongly encouraged. This recruitment initiative was designed to promote excellence in research and to support enhanced accessibility to the mentorship and research training of the Liberal Arts graduate experience.
The EQS initiative offers the following benefits:
- Creating a preferential pathway for our talented CSULB undergraduates seeking graduate degrees, as well as an opportunity for local, regional, and state residents seeking to retrain or upskill;
- Encouraging graduate role models for first-generation and historically underrepresented undergraduate students;
- Enhancing the intellectual life of the college and uplifting the graduate community;
- Contributing to a faculty pipeline for state education;
- Building in and contributing to future access and equity;
- Serving as a vital springboard to build partnerships, including with the city of Long Beach, locally-based corporations, and businesses in order to support career pathways for first-generation, historically underrepresented and/or low-income students.
For more information, contact CLA Director of Graduate Studies Sarah Schrank or EQS Co-ordinator Mariya Mileva.
Please meet our community of Equity Scholars below!
2022/2023 Equity Scholars Cohort
Motto “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.”
Spring 2023
Meet Jazmin Arellano Gallardo! She obtained her B.A. in Linguistics with minors in German and Writing at Cal Poly Pomona. At CSULB, she is studying German with Russian as a secondary language. She is also an assistant copy editor for the Daily 49er and the treasurer of the Grupo Folkorico Mexica de CSULB club. In her spare time, Jazmin reads German classics and manga, writes, and submits her writing to literary journals.
Learn more about Jazmin below!
What excites you most about your selection as an Equity Scholar?
I'm grateful for my education and what it's allowed me to accomplish. I love being an Equity Scholar, not just for myself but for other students like me that have doubted their place at university. I love proving this fear wrong.
What are you most looking forward to in your graduate program?
I can't wait to advance my German and Russian to a more advanced level and read more classics in both languages.
What are your future goals or career plans for life post-grad?
I hope to work at a newspaper or publishing house as an editor. I'd like to use both German and Russian in my future career, wherever that may be. I'd also like to travel and study Japanese formally.
Meet Thai Butterfield! He is very excited to be a part of the Beach community. In his senior year of high school, Thai developed a passion for Christian studies and received his B.A. in Religious Studies at Cal State Fullerton. Now he is on the path to achieving his M.A. at Cal State Long Beach. His research interests include biblical queer studies and historical-critical Guadalupan studies. I enjoy listening to music, hanging out with friends, and going to raves in my free time.
Learn more about Thai below!
What excites you most about your selection as an Equity Scholar?
I am excited and honored to show others that underrepresented students, too, can succeed in academia and serve as a model for those who face hardships that make being a scholar a little more difficult.
What are you most looking forward to in your graduate program?
I look forward to developing critical research skills that will teach me how to engage in independent research.
What are your future goals or career plans for life post-grad?
After graduating, I hope to be accepted into a Ph.D. program as my final step before entering the professoriate.
Meet Victoria Cinquegrani! She is a first-generation student who recently graduated from the University of California, Irvine, with BAs in Philosophy with a Specialization in Law and Society and Public Health Policy. Her research interests lie at the intersection of social and political philosophy, a niche of philosophy that provides space to contemplate the philosophy of law, legal rights, and natural rights and how these rights are forsaken in instances of social injustice. This topic area incites Victoria's deepest apprehensions and hopes due to the power of legal rights to impact those belonging to persecuted groups. This research is also deeply personal for Victoria because of her Armenian ancestors, who actively suffered the consequences of the Turkish state's ideological continuity with its Ottoman past.
Learn more about Victoria below!
What excites you most about your selection as an Equity Scholar?
I am most excited about finding a mentor to guide me as I pave my career path and grow academically.
What are you most looking forward to in your graduate program?
I look forward to cultivating more compelling analytical and argumentative skills while gaining a deeper understanding of the philosophical discourse.
What are your future goals or career plans for life post-grad?
My career goals include earning a law degree and pursuing a legal career, as well as teaching philosophy.
Meet Taufik! He graduated from Padjadjaran University in Indonesia in 2012 with a B.A. in French Literature. He worked as an Assistant Teacher in French at an international school called Bandung Independent School in Indonesia. His students were from international backgrounds, such as South Korea, Ireland, Netherlands, Spain, Belgium, France, etc.
Learn more about Taufik below!
What excites you most about your selection as an Equity Scholar?
I appreciate that my department graduate advisor nominated me for this big opportunity. I'm always willing to learn more about French culture and language, especially to do research on contemporary French literature.
What are you most looking forward to in your graduate program?
I'm looking forward to learning more about contemporary French literature as well as medieval, 16th-century, 17th-century, and 19th-century works of literature. I am also fascinated with romance linguistics and sociolinguistics.
What are your future goals or career plans for life post-grad?
After graduating, I plan to pursue a Ph.D. and teach French at a community college or university. Before that, I would love to study abroad in France and visit Spain, Italy, Portugal, and Romania to study Romance Linguistics more extensively.
I am currently a first year graduate student in Philosophy, as well as a board member of CSULB's Student Philosophy Association. When I am not on campus. I enjoy cooking, reading non-fiction books, playing with modular synthesizers, and petting my cat.
What excites you most about your selection as an Equity Scholar?
I am looking forward to all the opportunities and events that come with being an Equity Scholar, as well as making close connections with all the folks in the program.
What are you most looking forward to in your graduate program?
I am most looking forward to more exposure to areas of interests that I wasn't exposed at the undergraduate level, as well as building friendships with people in the program and staff.
What are your future goals or career plans for life post-grad?
I am hoping to be accepted into a Philosophy PHD program in order to impact and guide young aspiring academics in a way that many professors have impacted me throughout my academic career. Giving back in any way I can to my immediate community is the closest thing to fulfillment that I can think of.
Meet Jesse Ocampo! She is a first-year graduate student pursuing a master's degree in applied anthropology. She graduated from CSULB with a B.A. in Anthropology and a minor in dance in 2022. Along with graduate school, she is also a dance teacher and school coordinator for a ballet dance studio in Bixby Knolls!
Learn more about Jesse below!
What excites you most about your selection as an Equity Scholar?
What excites me most is growing a stronger relationship with my department staff and colleagues!
What are you most looking forward to in your graduate program?
I am looking forward to the research that I will be conducting. I am currently working on creating a dance movement therapy workshop in collaboration with the staff in the dance department and the student health services to help combat compassion fatigue in health care professionals. This collaborative process has been eye-opening and fun, and I look forward to the finished product.
What are your future goals or career plans for life post-grad?
I would love to take my research into diversity, equity, and inclusion training by incorporating embodied curriculum & dance movement therapy techniques to re-humanize the current healthcare system. I genuinely think everyone deserves the right to creativity and play and that incorporating these concepts into "professional" environments will create an empathetic and community-based cultural shift in professional workplaces 🙂
Meet Alejandro Smit! He recently graduated with a B.A. in German and a B.S. in Physics, along with a minor in Mathematics. He is pursuing an M.A. in German and serving as the president of the German Studies Student Association at CSULB.
Learn more about Alejandro below!
What excites you most about your selection as an Equity Scholar?
I am particularly excited about collaborating with my advisor and fellow German Equity Scholar, as I believe that our collective interests and experiences will enhance our discussions about what research interests each of us most. I also look forward to building lasting professional relationships through this exciting opportunity and gaining experience conducting research in the humanities.
What are you most looking forward to in your graduate program?
I'm excited to improve my German language skills, become more familiar with German literature, and collaborate with other students. My goal is to gain a deeper understanding of the cultural and historical context behind these literary works and their relevance today and to make thoughtful connections with other students in the program.
What are your future goals or career plans for life post-grad?
After graduation, I am considering either pursuing a career in education or applying to a Ph.D. program in German. Ideally, my future career would allow me to combine my passions for teaching, German, and physics. I am interested in teaching these subjects at the university level, where I can share my knowledge and inspire students to develop their own passion for these subjects and make a meaningful contribution.
Meet Athena Vasquez! She is a graduate student in the MFA Creative Writing program. Athena is a Mexican transgender woman who comes from a low-income community. She is a fiction and nonfiction confessional writer. She is also the social media manager for RipRap, a literary journal on campus run by MFA students. She completed her undergrad at CSULB in the fall semester of 2021. She has also had two of her creative pieces published by DIG Mag, a lifestyle magazine on campus. A lot of her writing is influenced by her many social identities.
Learn more about Athena below!
What excites you most about your selection as an Equity Scholar?
I am excited about the opportunities to advance in my field of study!
What are you most looking forward to in your graduate program?
I look forward to learning from my peers and professors and completing my biggest project yet: a Roman à clef.
What are your future goals or career plans for life post-grad?
After I earn my MFA (since it is a terminal degree), I plan to teach creative writing at the college level while simultaneously attending an English Ph.D. program! I want to narrow down my research interests and work as a Ph.D. student to study gender with a focus on transgenderism. I want to demystify transness and locate the source of transphobia using theoretical frameworks like Foucault (power, knowledge, and institutional structures) and Butler (gender performativity).
Meet Sandy Vu! Born in Da Lat, Vietnam, Sandy lives in Orange County and graduated with a BA in History, with an emphasis on Asia and World from the Beach in 2021. She is the first in her family to attend college, let alone graduate school! In her free time, Sandy loves napping, bunnies, fashion, and "trying all of the delicious food the world has to offer."
Learn more about Sandy below!
What excites you most about your selection as an Equity Scholar?
I am honored that I was selected for the Equity Scholar program! It means a lot that my potential as a student was recognized. I am excited to be mentored by a professor I greatly respect and admire. Furthermore, I'm excited to participate in a program that lifts up and supports passionate students in the liberal arts who come from disadvantaged backgrounds like me.
What are you most looking forward to in your graduate program?
I look forward to further developing my skills as a historian and writer and learning even more about historical topics I am interested in.
What are your future goals or career plans for life post-grad?
I don't know what exactly I want to pursue as a career yet, but I am considering working in education, law, or government.
Fall 2022
Meet Wendy Barahona! She graduated from CSU Northridge in 2021 with a BA in Geography.
Learn more about Wendy below!
What excites you most about your selection as an Equity Scholar?
What makes me most excited about my selection of an Equity Scholar is the opportunity to learn alongside with a mentor and gain knowledge from their wisdom. Researching topics that spark interest in me makes me look forward to this opportunity.
What are you most looking forward to in your graduate program?
I am looking forward to getting to know everyone and being surrounded by classmates that are genuinely interested in the topic of geography and all it entails!
What are your future goals or career plans for life post-grad?
I look forward to many things after grad school, I would love to one day become a professor and share the how great geography is. My goal is to spark interested in geography, to help them realize geography is so much more than maps! It has everything to do with the world!
Meet Jose Chavez! He transferred from Long Beach City College to CSULB and graduated in 2022 with a BA in Economics. Jose expresses his gratitude to the Long Beach community and hopes “to return the favor in the future.”
Learn more about Jose below!
What excites you most about your selection as an Equity Scholar?
Meeting all of the Equity Scholars excites me for the possibility of collaborating in research. They all have some unique insight from their respective fields.
What are you most looking forward to in your graduate program?
Getting involved in my professor's research project.
What are your future goals or career plans for life post-grad?
Post-grad, I do not currently know what my career plan will be. I am sure the graduate program will help me decide on my career plan.
Meet Adrian Cox! He graduated with a BA in History from CSULB in 2022. He is currently teaching Humanities and Social Science courses for middle and high school students. Adrian has been busy – he earned his first publication in August 2022 about post-secondary prison education in the Made by History section of the Washington Post. You can read here: https://www.washingtonpost.com/made-by-history/2022/08/23/educational-aid-prisoners-works-yet-its-politically-precarious/
Learn more about Adrian below!
What excites you most about your selection as an Equity Scholar?
I am excited to work closely with the faculty in our department to further develop my professional and academic skills. Most importantly, I am excited to represent first-generation minority graduate students in my hometown of Long Beach.
What are you most looking forward to in your graduate program?
I look forward to creating relationships with my graduate cohort; with individuals that I will one day call "colleague". I also look forward to working/learning with a group of individuals who are just as motivated and driven as I am to become better historians.
What are your future goals or career plans for life post-grad?
Post-secondary history instructor, post-secondary prison education instructor/program director.
Meet Bryan Corona Martin! A first generation Latino, Bryan graduated this summer with a BA in Economics. In his spare time, he likes to play soccer, go to concerts, and game.
Learn more about Bryan below!
What excites you most about your selection as an Equity Scholar?
Being selected as an Equity Scholar enables me to dedicate and prioritize my education by allowing me to allocate more time to digest and retain my studies.
What are you most looking forward to in your graduate program?
Expanding my knowledge of Economics and learning more applications to the information I have learned in my undergrad.
What are your future goals or career plans for life post-grad?
As of know I do not have a concrete idea if I want to go into the public, private or government sector. I do know by participating and when I complete this graduate program, I will have the necessary tools to be able to enter either sector well prepared.
Meet Crystal (Junlei) Du! She moved to the United States in 2013 when she was 15 years old. When she graduated high school, she decided to pursue her dreams in film. Crystal graduated from CSULB in 2021 with a degree in Film! She has always been “passionate to share Chinese culture and languages with more and more local kids,” which prompted her to join the Intercultural Diploma Program at CSULB while pursuing her undergraduate degree. Crystal graduated from CSULB in 2021 with a degree in Film! After she completed her degree, Crystal worked as a Chinese teacher and social media specialist. She is a filmmaker, director, editor, and influencer – Crystal is busy! In her spare time, Crystal likes to hike, swim, watch K-dramas, and eat desserts!
Learn more about Crystal below and on her social media channels at @Crystal小葵!
What excites you most about your selection as an Equity Scholar?
I appreciate our department advisors and professors for giving me this opportunity. I have always been eager to learn more knowledge in order to better help research the field of Asian cultural studies and pass on the correct and useful information to more local people.
What are you most looking forward to in your graduate program?
I‘m looking forward to learning more about teaching methods and Chinese cultural background during my graduate program. I'm also looking forward to meeting more friends who have the same interest as me, and we could help and learn from each other.
What are your future goals or career plans for life post-grad?
After I graduate from my master's program, I'm going to go back to work on my film career, I'll prepare to direct and film a story as a portfolio, and apply to another film master's program. Meanwhile, I would like to teach Chinese as a part-time teacher and keep doing research with professors. I might look for an opportunity to teach at an elementary school because I have always loved to stay with kids.
Meet Courtney Jackson! She graduated from CSU Channel Islands in 2021 with a BA in Political Science. While in undergrad, Courtney was a part of the Model United Nations team in 2020. In her free time, she enjoys playing piano and practicing the guitar.
Learn more about Courtney below!
What excites you most about your selection as an Equity Scholar?
The thing that excites me the most about being an Equity Scholar is the fact that I get to do research. My main interest in Political Science has always been researching and finding new data to contribute to the current discussions.
What are you most looking forward to in your graduate program?
I'm excited to get to know my professors and peers in my graduate program. We all have different backgrounds and different skill to contribute to society, and I'm excited to partake in that exchange.
What are your future goals or career plans for life post-grad?
After graduating, I hope to travel the world and assist humanitarian organizations with the many issues that the global community faces today. That might include being a journalist or researcher. It might also include being on the ground assisting people in person.
Meet Iyree Jarrett! She recently received her BA in Religious Studies from Westmont College. She loves studying Comparative Theology, World Religions, and Apologetics, and hopes to teach as a professor in the future. In her free time, she loves listening to music, watching TV, riding her unicycle, writing, and playing her guitar named Java Chip. While Iyree is studying in her MA program and keeping busy with her hobbies, she is playing on the CSULB Women’s Basketball team. Go Beach!
Learn more about Iyree below!
What excites you most about your selection as an Equity Scholar?
I am most excited to learn from dedicated professors and like-minded classmates. I am also really thrilled about my research as a graduate assistant.
What are you most looking forward to in your graduate program?
I’m looking forward to good conversations, growing in knowledge, and forming positive relationships with mentors, classmates, and professors.
What are your future goals or career plans for life post-grad?
Post-grad, I hope to play professional basketball before pursuing a PhD in Religious Studies. My goal is to become a college professor and researcher.
Meet Fabian Lugo! He graduated from CSULB with a BA in Political Science and is a first-generation Latino graduate student. Fabian is a photographer and cinematographer! He loves traveling to new places and “immersing myself in their natural environments and histories.”
Learn more about Fabian below!
What excites you most about your selection as an Equity Scholar?
The great research opportunities and the chance to represent my program!
What are you most looking forward to in your graduate program?
I am most looking forward utilizing my passion for film, environmental justice, and civil rights in directing and producing an ethnographic documentary for my thesis project. This department has great opportunities for multimedia Anthropology that I am very excited to explore.
What are your future goals or career plans for life post-grad?
I hope to continue my academic career in a PhD program in pursuit of becoming a professor shedding light on true history. I would also love to work for a film production company as a cultural researcher, and hopefully direct my own films.
Meet Janessa Moung Seng Phanh! She recently graduated with a BA in Anthropology from UC Merced, and is now studying Asian Studies here at the Beach. She is first-generation Mien American and has the oldest of five. She loves music, food, writing, and poetry. Since moving to Long Beach, Janessa says she loves “exploring and going to beaches.”
Learn more about Janessa below!
What excites you most about your selection as an Equity Scholar?
What excites me most about my selection as an Equity Scholar is I get to continue my undergrad research about Asian Diaspora, continuing to build it into a new foundation/understanding, and learn new things along the way.
What are you most looking forward to in your graduate program?
I am most looking forward to meeting all the different faculties and learning about them. I’m also looking forward to making new connections with other graduate students.
What are your future goals or career plans for life post-grad?
My future goals and career plans for life post-grad is to open up a community center specifically for Iu Mien people and their families. I want to build a foundation to help with translation, homework, tutoring, and crisis needs.
Meet Esther Sims! She graduated with a BA in Philosophy in 2021. She has recently been getting involved with the CSULB LGBTQ+ Resource Center and Philosophy Club. In her spare time, she likes to listen to music, read, or “stare at cute animals.”
Learn more about Esther below!
What excites you most about your selection as an Equity Scholar?
I am most excited for other Black transwomen to hopefully see my selection as a testament to their own importance.
What are you most looking forward to in your graduate program?
I most look forward to writing a thesis I feel proud of.
What is your best advice for students looking into graduate school?
Research a career/life path that interests you and only join a program if you're truly interested in the faculty and their studies.
Meet Summer Sylvester! She graduated from UC Irvine in 2022 with a BA in English. She is excited to be involved with the Equity Scholars – so are we! – and to connect with other students.
Learn more about Summer below!
What excites you most about your selection as an Equity Scholar?
I am extremely honored to have been selected, as I believe the university fully embraces their students of diverse backgrounds. I am glad that my presence on the campus is celebrated by the university and I hope to connect with other students in the program. I believe that our diverse backgrounds can help contribute to the university as they continue to support their students.
What are you most looking forward to in your graduate program?
I am most looking forward to being in the classroom and engaging with my cohort. Earlier in the pandemic I truly missed the classroom and I could not wait to be back. I feel that the nature of my major is successful, as least for myself, while being in the classroom amongst other students and participating in the discourse. I hope to gain answers to my questions that were unanswered in undergrad, and provide clarity on how to utilize my knowledge post-grad.
What are your future goals or career plans for life post-grad?
My future goals would include continuing with higher academia and either obtaining a doctorate or law degree (could be both)! I want to use my knowledge to help others and contribute to society in a meaningful way. Ultimately, I would love to teach at a university or community college; I highly value helping students reach their goals through academia, especially Black and students of color.
Meet Marcus Woolfolk! He graduated in 2021 with a double major in Creative Writing and English Literature, and received a certificate in the Professional Writing Program. Marcus recalls that he would tell stories about his classmates “instead of bringing in new toys or stuffed animals for show & tell.” He likes going to festivals, cooking, and spending time with his family and friends in his free time.
Learn more about Marcus below!
What excites you most about your selection as an Equity Scholar?
What excites me most is to be a part of a such a diverse group of academics who are not only recognized, but celebrated in the space of scholarship and education, which was predominantly only open to white, cisgendered, heterosexual men.
What are you most looking forward to in your graduate program?
I am most looking forward to surrounding myself with some of the best up and coming minds in my field. To constantly be inspired and learn how to surpass the limits that we all unknowingly confine ourselves to.
What is your best advice for students looking into graduate school?
My best advice is to take a chance and bet on yourself.
2021/2022 Equity Scholars Cohort
Motto “Redefining Possibilities”
Spring 2022
Fall 2021
Meet Hiram Aguilar! After receiving his BA in Business a few years ago, he will begin his MA in Linguistics option in TESOL here at CSULB in the Fall. Hiram's plans post-MA are "to teach and to continue on with my research work for a possible doctorate."
Learn more about Hiram and find out what his best advice for students looking into graduate school is below!
What excited you most about your selection as an Equity Scholar?
Being able to receive ongoing guidance for research.
What are you most looking forward to in your graduate program?
Being in a learning environment with motivated, like-minded individuals.
What are your future goals or career plans for life post-grad?
To teach and to continue with my research work onto a possible doctorate.
What is your best advice for students looking into graduate school?
Not to get discouraged even if they have changed their mind about their field of interest.
Meet Lupita Barragan!
She graduated from UCSB with a BA in English with specializations in Early Modern Literature, Literature and the Mind, and the Medical Humanities. She is the leader of two virtual book clubs at UCSB, one of which is the UCSB Reads program. Lupita currently works as a student services assistant for the EOPS program at Ventura College and will begin her MA in English here at CSULB in the Fall!
Learn more about Lupita and find out what her plans for her future are below!
What excites you most your selection as an Equity Scholar?
As part of the Equity Scholars Program, I am really excited to research metaphors in medical rhetoric, which directly correlates to the fiction I will be developing at CSULB. I am also excited to be working with such a talented and resilient group of people.
What are you most looking forward to in your graduate program?
It's hard to choose, as I have been looking forward to this program for so long now, but I'm especially looking forward to working with my professors, some of whom I met with virtually and are absolutely amazing.
What are your future goals or career plans for life post-grad?
Post-grad, I plan on teaching multi-ethnic literature and creative writing at the college level. I also look forward to continuing my research as well as creative writing.
What’s your best advice for students looking into graduate school?
The best advice I can give an aspiring graduate student is to embrace failure as another professor. Don't be so hard on yourself and be open to growth and change!
Meet Janet Chen! Born and raised in Taiwan, Janet came to America as an international student when she was 16. In 2018, she graduated from Central Washington University with a BA in Education and TESOL/Bilingual Education endorsement. She was an exchange student in Macao, China for two years and will be starting her MA in Asian and Asian American Studies, option in Teaching Chinese as a Foreign Language at CSULB in the Fall! In her free time, Janet loves to hang out with her friends and do outdoor activities! "I am excited to be a part of CSULB, and I can't wait to start my new life at CSULB!"
Learn more about Janet and find out what her best advice for students looking into graduate school is below!
What excited you most about your selection as an Equity Scholar?
I am very happy and grateful to be nominated by the department advisor and professors as one of the equity scholars at CSULB. I am very excited to get to know more information and start my research in order to contribute to the community and be a better teacher in the future.
What are you most looking forward to in your graduate program?
I look forward to learning different theories and strategies of how to teach Chinese as a foreign language and how to help students learn their second or third language more effectively.
What are your future goals or career plans for life post-grad?
I want to be an excellent teacher in a bilingual elementary school setting to help my future students learn their second or third language in the easiest way.
What is your best advice for students looking into graduate school?
Since it is going to be my first year at CSULB for my master’s program, I am not sure what my graduate school life will be, but I am very excited about it. However, I believe that knowing what your goal is and never forget why you started is very important.
Meet Javier Fernandez! He graduated from UC Davis with a Bachelor of Arts in Religious Studies and will begin his Master of Arts in Religious Studies this Fall! In his free time, Javier loves to hike and says, “I am always doing something related to my area of study.”
Learn more about Javier and find out what his best advice for students looking into graduate school is below!
What excites you most your selection as an Equity Scholar?
What excites me most about being an Equity Scholar is the opportunity to be an example to my Latinx community. I want to show that there a myriad of social and career opportunities made available from taking one's education seriously. My being an Equity Scholar already changes the narrative for my community.
What are you most looking forward to in your graduate program?
I am most looking forward to working with and alongside the amazing faculty and students of the Religious Studies department.
What are your future goals or career plans for life post-grad?
After completing the Master’s program at CSULB I plan on pursuing my PhD with the eventual hope of becoming a full-time university researcher.
What’s your best advice for students looking into graduate school?
Ask yourself why you want to pursue graduate school. Specify your interest, and don't be afraid to be honest with yourself.
Meet Robyn Garces! She graduated from CSULB in Fall 2020 with a BA in Mathematical Economics and will be starting her MA in Economics this Fall. During undergrad, Robyn was on the board of the Economics Student Association (ESA) and a JusticeCorps intern. In her spare time, she's an "avid movie watcher and film 'reviewer,' musical theatre nerd, amateur guitarist, and bullet journaler."
Learn more about Robyn and find out what her plans for her future are below!
What excited you most about your selection as an Equity Scholar?
As part of the inaugural class of Equity Scholars, I am thrilled to be recognized for my potential in the subject of economics. I also hope that this new initiative will continue for as long as as accomplished and underrepresented students are seeking higher education past a Bachelor's. Personally, I am most excited about the support from CLA and the Econ Department in my journey to developing my skills in research.
What are you most looking forward to in your graduate program?
In the MA Econ program, I am most looking forward to narrowing my interests and largely having more career opportunities as I develop my technical skills. I am also looking forward to connecting with my cohort and the department as best as I can.
What are your future goals or career plans for life post-grad?
Post-grad, I'd love to live and work in Washington, D.C. but would also love to stay in Long Beach to support and uplift the community that helped me in my undergrad. In general, I am hoping to have a career in research working for a governmental organization or a think tank analyzing public policy.
What is your best advice for students looking into graduate school?
My best advice for students would be that once you've decided that you want to go to graduate school, do not confine yourself to only studying that subject. You'll never know what you will learn in those "unrelated" classes that will be applicable to your primary interest. It will not only make your undergrad more enjoyable but will also give you different perspectives to consider.
Meet Daniela Gonzalez! She graduated with her BA in Applied Linguistics with a minor in Anthropology from UCLA. As a Long Beach City College transferee, she says she has "always looked for opportunities to mentor other first generation students." Daniela will start her MA in Applied Anthropology here at CSULB in the Fall!
Learn more about Daniela and find out what her plans for her future are below!
What excited you most about your selection as an Equity Scholar?
The network between all of the Equity Scholars is going to be a powerhouse.
What are you most looking forward to in your graduate program?
I can’t wait to see the work that’s being done in my field and finding how I can collaborate with other graduate students with similar interests.
What are your future goals or career plans for life post-grad?
I’m pursuing a role in the community where I can directly impact policy changes.
What is your best advice for students looking into graduate school?
Follow all the clichés like “pursue your passions” and “be true to yourself”. It’s how you’ll find the right program and direction for yourself.
Meet Kim Hu! Originally from southern Louisiana, she moved to California in 2016. She graduated with her BA in English from UCI in 2019 and will begin her MA in English here at CSULB in the Fall. In her free time, Kim enjoys cooking and watching sea otter livestreams!
Learn more about Kim and find out what her best advice for students looking into graduate school is below!
What excited you most about your selection as an Equity Scholar?
As an Equity Scholar, I'm most excited to represent historically underrepresented groups within the humanities. Growing up in a small rural town in southern Louisiana, I was one of the very few Asian American students in my schools. I also endured many personal struggles including not learning English until the age of three, being raised by a single parent, and being pressured to pursue STEM careers. The Equity Scholars program grants me the chance to highlight the academic opportunities available for others who come from a similar background as well as the chance to collaborate with others to foster a more diverse community within the CLA.
What are you most looking forward to in your graduate program?
I'm most looking forward to learning from and collaborating with others who can help me foster my intellectual curiosity and progress in my academic career.
What are your future goals or career plans for life post-grad?
After my M.A., I plan to pursue a Ph.D. in English and eventually become a university professor. I also hope to contribute meaningful research to my field and publish scholarly work in English Romanticism and literary theory.
What is your best advice for students looking into graduate school?
My advice for prospective graduate students is to be confident in yourself and to learn to trust yourself, your knowledge, and your decisions.
Meet Abigail Judge! She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and minor in Religious Studies, Philosophy, and Ethics from California State University, Chico. Abigail will begin her Master of Arts in Religious Studies in Fall 2021.
Learn more about Abigail and find out what excites her most about her selection as an Equity Scholar!
What excites you most your selection as an Equity Scholar?
I am thrilled that CLA is supportive of first generation college students from underrepresented backgrounds. It is exciting to know that CLA is invested in my success.
What are you most looking forward to in your graduate program?
I look forward to learning from all the wonderful professors in the program.
What are your future goals or career plans for life post-grad?
My goal is rather simple at the moment! I just want to graduate on-time.
What’s your best advice for students looking into graduate school?
Research the department you want to apply to!
Meet Venus Meza! She graduated with a BA in Geography and minor in Italian Studies from UCSB in 2020. While at UCSB, she was a research assistant for the Geography Department’s Oceanography lab and her research was presented at the 2020 Ocean Sciences Meeting in San Diego! During her free time, Venus loves hanging out with her friends and going to shows and the beach!
Learn more about Venus and find out what her best advice for students looking into graduate school is below!
What excites you most your selection as an Equity Scholar?
I am excited to do research on topics I am passionate about! I hope this opportunity will allow me to gain confidence in my work for my thesis and career.
What are you most looking forward to in your graduate program?
I look forward to learning and being in classes with those who share the same interests as me. During my undergraduate career, I mostly worked with the physical and technical side of geography. For my masters, I plan to focus on Human Geography topics. I am excited to gain more focus on social issues.
What are your future goals or career plans for life post-grad?
I hope to find a career that allows me to travel! I am very interested in learning about various cultures and customs. So, I hope to make a career where I am somehow given this opportunity. My future goal is to try different cuisines from at least 20 different countries by the time I am 50.
What’s your best advice for students looking into graduate school?
Learn to manage your time! There will be long nights and loads of work, so make sure to set time aside for yourself. When studying, study as effectively as possible and stay away from your phone! I like to take breaks because every couple of hours so my brain doesn't get fried. Also, don't be afraid to ask for help or extra time.
Meet Evelyn Ortiz Soto! She graduated from summa cum laude in Fall 2019 from CSULB with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science. She will return CSULB this Fall 2021 for her Master of Arts in Political Science to “expand upon my socio-legal research and gain experience working as a graduate assistant.” In her free time, Evelyn enjoys camping, gardening, and spending time with her pets.
Learn more about Evelyn and find out what her plans for her future are below!
What excites you most your selection as an Equity Scholar?
I am excited to return to school with financial security so that I can focus on my education and take advantage of more opportunities on campus.
What are you most looking forward to in your graduate program?
I am very excited to work as a graduate assistant and learn from accomplished professionals in the discipline. Even more, I will be able to conduct research alongside other motivated individuals with a passion for political science.
What are your future goals or career plans for life post-grad?
I aspire to continue my education after earning my MA in the hopes of one day working as a professor in California.
What’s your best advice for students looking into graduate school?
There is no better investment than one in your education!
Meet Zeki Polat! Born and raised in Germany, he recently graduated from Hacettepe University in Ankara with a BA in German Language and Literature. He describes himself as a social person and is looking forward to meeting "new people from all different backgrounds" and join a variety of student clubs and societies that CSULB has to offer!
Learn more about Zeki and find out what his plans for his future are below!
What excited you most about your selection as an Equity Scholar?
Besides the fact that l highly value the acknowledgement of my academic performance, l am incredibly happy to be able to support my family financially, who otherwise would have to go through difficult times to be able to finance my time abroad.
What are you most looking forward to in your graduate program?
I am looking forward to meeting new people from all different backgrounds, to join the student clubs and societies that CSULB has to offer and become socially active, to gain independence and finally, to continue my studies in my field of interest.
What are your future goals or career plans for life post-grad?
I definitely see myself as an academic and I wish to pursue this goal in the United States. I believe having had experience in teaching (during my time at the Goethe Institut in Ankara) and being fluent in three languages will be beneficial in following this career plan.
What is your best advice for students looking into graduate school?
I would definitely advise everyone interested in pursuing their Master's to thoroughly do their research, not to be shy about contacting their university of interest to get information and if possible, to reach out to either students or graduates of their university of interest as both can be of huge help and give a good orientation.
Meet Ning Shao! She received her BA in Philosophy from Shandong University in China and will start her MA in Philosophy here at CSULB in the Fall! In her free time, Ning loves watching Japanese Anime, especially Naruto!
Learn more about Ning and find out what she is looking forward to most in her program below!
What excited you most about your selection as an Equity Scholar?
The Equity Scholar program is set to recruit promising students and promote excellence in research. So, by awarding this to me, my department seems to tell me that they trust my research ability. This encourages and excites me most. I want to make progress in my future study and make contributions to areas of philosophy so as not to let them down.
What are you most looking forward to in your graduate program?
I look forward to conversations and discussions in my courses on papers with my professors and classmates.
What are your future goals or career plans for life post-grad?
I want to receive an offer from my dream PhD program and graduate from it. I want to do research in philosophy in the rest of my life and make contributions to some areas of philosophy.
What is your best advice for students looking into graduate school?
Find the one that suits you most!
Meet Taryn Thrasher! She graduated from UCLA with a BA in Psychology with a minor in African American studies in 2018. While at UCLA, she was involved with the Afrikan Women's Collective, Black Pre-Health Organization, and Active Minds. In her spare time, Taryn is busy! She loves to travel, read, "get in a good workout," spend time with her family and friends, and loves "taking pictures to remember moments in my life" and putting them in a scrapbook.
Learn more about Taryn and find out what she is looking forward to most in her program below!
What excited you most about your selection as an Equity Scholar?
I am most excited by the opportunity to receive mentorship from the psychology department and the unique honor of representing the inaugural class of Equity scholars. I believe that mentorship can make a world of difference, especially for folks like me who are the first in their family to aspire toward a doctoral degree. Knowing that I am no longer flying blind is a huge relief, and I am humbled and honored to know that the CSULB faculty believe in my ability to succeed. I know that my selection as an Equity Scholar will make me a more effective researcher and thus more of an asset to the community of folks I intend to serve.
What are you most looking forward to in your graduate program?
I am most looking forward to meeting and learning from my professors and fellow students. The course material is precisely what I have been waiting to study in depth, and the opportunity to learn alongside fellow psychology enthusiasts is exciting. I look forward to being pushed to reach my highest potential through the process of working on my thesis and diving deeply into my research interests.
What are your future goals or career plans for life post-grad?
I plan to become a clinical (or counseling) psychologist. I plan to be on the front lines of the fight against systemic racism and inequities within mental health care through both research and practice. After earning my master’s degree and a subsequent doctorate in clinical (or counseling) psychology, I plan to open a community mental health clinic of my own in the Crenshaw District where I am from. I hope to run research projects out of the clinic while providing therapeutic services for little or no cost. I plan on using my education as a tool to lead those most vulnerable among us out of the darkness of stigma and inequity and into the light of mental wellness for all.
What is your best advice for students looking into graduate school?
As a strong proponent of mentors, I recommend that students find someone who is doing the work that they aspire to do. Reach out to that person and ask them how they got to where they are now. By working backwards you can decide what might be the best way for you to achieve your ultimate goal. Be honest with yourself about what you want out of the career you seek. The letters after your name won't keep you happy if you don't truly love the work. Passion and hard work make it all worth while!
Meet Shuvan Paul! He graduated from UCSB in 2020 with a Bachelor of Science in Physical Geography. He will begin his Master of Science in Geographic Information Science (MSGISci) in Fall 2021! Shuvan enjoys math, psychical sciences, spatial analysis, and video games. He says, “A recent interest of mine is observing player movement in video games/sports through the lens that GIScience has given me.”
Learn more about Shuvan and find out what his best advice for students looking into graduate school is below!
What excites you most your selection as an Equity Scholar?
I look forward to gaining experience in real world applications of GISci.
What are you most looking forward to in your graduate program?
I am interested in integrating programming to GISci and further developing my critical and creative thinking necessary for the field.
What are your future goals or career plans for life post-grad?
My future goals are to make a beneficial impact on the world as a GIS analyst be it in the public or private sector.
What’s your best advice for students looking into graduate school?
Research every program extensively and find out the things which you have prioritized/interested in.
Meet Victoria Roa! Victoria graduated from CSULB with a BA in History in 2016. She completed her Social Science credential at CSULB as well in 2018. Since completing the credential Victoria has worked as a long term substitute for different subjects within Social Science but has not worked as a full time teacher. She wanted to go back to school for a MA to continue learning and to open new career possibilities. Victoria is a big Marvel and Star Wars fan and loves going to the movies in her free time. She also loves reading horror and true crime shows.
What excites you most your selection as an Equity Scholar?
What excites me the most excited about being an Equity Scholar is the opportunity to receive mentoring from the Department of History. I am a first generation student and having this opportunity means so much, as I am the first in my family to attend graduate school.
What are you most looking forward to in your graduate program?
I am most looking forward to working with my cohort as well as my department. I am excited to learn further about the historical discipline and becoming a better student.
What are your future goals or career plans for life post-grad?
As of now I don't have definitive plans for life after grad school. I would love to work in some sort of historic preservation or to work in a museum.
What's your best advice for students looking into graduate school?
Just do it! If you are passionate about school and learning I would say just to do it. I love history and I am so excited to be back in school.
Meet Yedda Zhang! She received her first BA in Music Education and Opera Performing in China and says, "singing exercises my heart, lungs, and lifts my spirits." After she received her second BA in International Business at CSUF, she was a public school teacher for 10 years and currently teaches at a local Chinese school on the weekends. She will begin her MA in Asian and Asian American Studies, option in Teaching Chinese As A Foreign Language here at CSULB in the Fall! In her free time, Yedda loves to compose music, play piano, bake, hike, travel, and drink wine!
Learn more about Yedda and find out what she is looking forward to most in her program below!
What excited you most about your selection as an Equity Scholar?
I was very touched that the Chair of Asian and Asian American Studies department nominated me as an Equity Scholar for my first year here at CSULB. It means so much to me, thanks for the support and great opportunity!
What are you most looking forward to in your graduate program?
I am looking forward to further developing my knowledge in Chinese Linguistics, lesson plans, and teaching skills.
What are your future goals or career plans for life post-grad?
My future goal is to become a Chinese language instructor at a college or high school.
What is your best advice for students looking into graduate school?
Map out your goals early, focus on learning, and connect with other graduate students and professors.