Education:

Master of Science, Interdisciplinary Studies, Texas State University, 2011
Bachelor of Arts, Spanish and Latin American Studies, UCLA, 2006

Distinguished designations:

• Rising Star of Texas, Texas State University, Spring 2011

Research interests:

• Health Geography
• Cultural Geography
• Race/Ethnicity Studies
• Border Studies

Dissertation topic:

My area of study is an intersection of ethnic and health geographies, within which I will conduct a mixed methods study about the health disparities of Latinas in four border cities in California, Arizona, and Texas. Comparing health care services and health status of Latinas across various states is necessary because each state has different health policies and varying Latino migration patterns.

My methodology will be:

1. Identify and analyze the historical and current Latino immigration geographical patterns in Southwest
    borderlands of California, Arizona, and Texas through geographic information systems (GIS).
2. Understand and characterize the health status, health care services, and health care policies in the three
    states for various female demographics, including ethnicity, education, and income, particularly for women of
    reproductive age.
3. Survey young Latinas in four border towns from California to Texas—Calexico, Nogales, Del Rio, and
    Laredo—to determine their health status and where and how often they receive health care.
4. Survey Latina patient and primary care physicians and other key informant health providers about their
    respective roles in developing a healthy lifestyle, health policy, and health education through community
    outreach and relationship building.
5. Survey physicians and other health care providers in the adjacent Mexican towns—Mexicali, Nogales,
    Ciudad Acuna, and Nuevo Laredo— about how often and to what extent they provide health care for Latinas
    living in the U.S.
6. Analyze the collected data, draw out findings, and discuss the policy implications in improving Latina health
    status and health care services in borderland communities.

Scholarships:

• $3,000 Scholarship, Atlantic Housing Inc., 2012-2013
• $2,000 Scholarship, Associated Student Government (ASG), Texas State University - San Marcos, 2011-2012
• $500 Scholarship, Star Trac, NIRSA Foundation, 2011
• $1,500 Scholarship, Hispanic Scholarship Fund,1999
• 4-year Scholarship, Lily Endowment Inc., 1998-2001

Recognition and awards:

• National Service Award, National Intramural Recreational Sports Association (NIRSA), 2012
• Quilt Raffle Sales, 1st Place, NIRSA Foundation, 2011
• Sustainable Marketing, 1st Place, NIRSA Creative Excellence Award, 2011
• T-shirt Design, 2nd Place, NIRSA, 2010
• Photo Exhibit, A Week in the Life Photography Competition, Texas State University - San Marcos, 2010
• Certificate of Achievement, NIRSA National Marketing Institute, 2004 and 2006
• Designer of the Year, Daily Bruin, UCLA, 2002 and 2003
• Outstanding Design Award, La Gente Newsmagazine, UCLA, 2002

Membership and volunteer:

• Graduate Forum, Texas State University, 2012-Present
• Supporting Women in Geography (SWIG), Texas State University, 2012-Present
• Association of American Geographers (AAG), 2012
• Cancer Advocacy Movement in Colleges and Outreach (CAMCO), Texas State University, 2010-Present
• Mentor, Texas State University, 2010-Present
• Sponsorship Coordinator, Puntos de Vista Film Festival, Texas State University, 2010-2012
• Marketing Chair, Young Professionals for the Cure (YPC), Susan G. Komen for the Cure, 2011-2013
• Speakers Bureau Volunteer, Komen (Breast Cancer Education), 2011-Present
• Sponsorship Co-chair, YPC, 2010-2011
• Volunteer, Texas Rowing Center, Austin, Texas, 2010-Present
• Host Committee Member, NIRSA Region IV Student Lead-On Conference, Texas State University, 2011
• Chair, National Girls and Women Sports Day (NGWSD), Texas State University, 2011
• Co-chair, NIRSA Region IV Student Lead-On Conference, Sam Houston State University, 2010
• NIRSA Governance Transition Team, 2009-2010
• NIRSA Student Roles and Responsibility Team, 2009-2010
• Texas Student Representative, NIRSA Region IV, 2009-2010

Presentations:

• Presentation “Health Disparities of Latinas in California and Texas: An Overview,” Race, Ethnicity &
• Place (REP) Conference, University of Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico - October 2012
• Poster Presentation “Texas State Students’ Perception of Sustainable Campaign and Their Positive
• Behavior Correlation Based on Theory of Planned Behavior,” NIRSA Annual Conference Expo, New
• Orleans, Louisiana - April 2011, Group Research Project
• Marketing Round Table Session Leader, NIRSA Emerging Recreational Sports Leaders (ERSL)
• Conference, San Antonio, Texas - February 2011
• Presentation “Sustainable Marketing - Marketing Advice for Newbies,” NIRSA Student Lead-On
• Conference, Texas State University - San Marcos, San Marcos, Texas - January 2011,
• Co-presenter Jordan Gray
• Presentation “Play Greener! Promote Your Sustainable Plan,” NIRSA National Marketing Institute,
• Memphis, Tennessee - November 2010
• Presentation “Work Hard, Play Greener: Marketing/Eco,” NIRSA Region IV Conference, Texas Tech
• University, Lubbock, Texas - September 2010
• Presentation “Marketing Made Smart and Easy,” NIRSA Student Lead-On Conference, University of •
• Texas at Arlington, Arlington, Texas - January 2010, Co-presenter Bonnie Uresti
• Presentation “Marketing Your Programs on Campus,” Division of Student Affairs, Texas State University -
• San Marcos, San Marcos, Texas - October 2009