Katherine Powers, director of graduate studies, greets this year’s class of CSU Sally Casanova Pre-Doctoral Scholars from Cal State Fullerton, from left, Adriana Ruvalcaba, Amelia Yzaguirre, Andres Carrillo. Photo by Kelly Lacefield

Three CSUF Students Named California Pre-Doctoral Scholars

Statewide Effort to Encourage Careers in Higher Education

September 15, 2009

Three upper-division and graduate students from Cal State Fullerton have been selected as Sally Casanova California Pre-Doctoral Scholars by the California State University. They are among 70 such scholars named statewide.

Cal State Fullerton honorees and their faculty advisers are:

• Andres Carrillo of Fullerton, graduate student studying biology
  Advisor: Kathryn Dickson, professor of biological science
• Andriana M. Ruvalcaba of Placentia, a graduate student majoring in American studies
  Advisor: Pamela L. Steinle, professor of American studies
• Amelia L. Yzaguirre of Redlands, a senior studying physics and mathematics
  Advisor: Stephen W. Goode, professor of mathematics

The pre-doctoral program is designed to increase the pool of university faculty by supporting the doctoral aspiration of individuals who are current upper-division or graduate students in the California State University. The awards are named for the late Sally Casanova, who worked with colleagues in the CSU Chancellor's Office and on various campuses to create the California Pre-Doctoral Program in 1989.

Students chosen for the award are exposed to opportunities to explore and prepare to succeed in doctoral programs by working with CSU and UC faculty members as part of the scholar program. Each receives $3,000 to underwrite such activities as visits to doctoral-granting institutions to explore opportunities for doctoral study; travel to national symposiums or professional meetings in their field; and other related activities. Next summer they will take part in a summer research program at a doctoral-granting institution to receive exposure to the world of research in their chosen field.

For more about the program, go to http://www.calstate.edu/PreDoc/scholars_list.shtml, or contact Erinn Banks in graduate studies at ebanks@fullerton.edu.