The California State University has named two California State University, Fresno public health students among the 23-campus system’s 70 Sally Casanova Pre-Doctoral Scholars.
Jose Arrezola of Parlier and Maria Ramos of Fresno, who both plan to pursue doctorates in public health, will receive faculty guidance, summer internship opportunities and $3,000 apiece.
Arrezola is a second-year graduate student whose faculty mentor is Dr. Helda Pinzon-Perez, a professor of public health. Dr. Miguel Perez, who chairs the Department of Public Health, will provide faculty guidance for Ramos, a third-year grad student.
The pre-doctoral program is in its 21st year of helping increase the pool of potential CSU faculty by supporting students who have experienced economic and educational disadvantages in their quest for a doctorate. Students are chosen by a committee of faculty from the CSU and University of California.
Each recipient and a faculty sponsor develops a plan leading to the student’s individual career and educational objectives with the hope the student will return to campus as a faculty member.
More than one-third of the 1,000 students who have participated in the program “have already entered a doctoral program or will enter one in the fall, some with full fellowships,” said Anastasios Chassiakos, CSU program director.
The Casanova scholarships help “students in the CSU, especially those from environments where university teaching is not a common career goal, have unique opportunities to explore and prepare to succeed in doctoral programs,” said Lorie Roth, assistant vice chancellor for academic services and professional development.
The scholarships honor the memory of Dr. Sally Casanova, who began the program in 1989 when she served as dean of graduate studies at California State University, Dominguez Hills. Earlier, Dr. Casanova worked in the Chancellor’s Office for many years.
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