Gino Galvez

This study evaluates the effectiveness of the UCSF Summer Student Research Program (SSRP) in enhancing research-related skills, academic outcomes, and post-baccalaureate aspirations of underrepresented minority (URM) and non-URM undergraduate students in biomedical sciences and STEM fields. The SSRP, spanning 9 weeks, provides immersive research experiences, structured mentorship, trainings, seminars, and STEM education. Pre- and post-program survey data from eight cohorts (N = 315) were analyzed using paired-sample t-tests, MANOVA, and content analysis. Results demonstrate significant gains in critical thinking skills, research abilities, science identity, applied science skills, and readiness for a research career. Notably, participants exhibited improvements in understanding the research process, scientific thinking, science writing, and problem-solving. URM and non-URM students experienced similar gains, highlighting the program’s inclusivity. The SSRP also positively influenced students’ postgraduate aspirations. Some participants expressed heightened interest in pursuing Master of Arts, Ph.D., and M.D. degrees, indicating increased clarity and motivation towards advanced education and research careers. Furthermore, 87% of participants expressed a high likelihood of engaging in future research endeavors, underscoring the program’s sustained impact on research interest. This study underscores the transformative potential of a well-structured, intensive summer research program in significantly enhancing academic outcomes for URM and non-URM students alike. These findings align with the persistence framework, emphasizing the importance of early research experiences, active learning, and learning communities in fostering student success. The SSRP’s effectiveness in improving research skills and post-baccalaureate aspirations suggests its potential in diversifying the STEM fields, biomedical sciences and health-related professions.

Benevolent sexism is a set of attitudes towards women that are paternalistic and condescending but superficially kind, resulting in a host of negative intrapersonal and interpersonal consequences for its targets. While researchers have investigated benevolent sexism in general contexts for decades, only recently have researchers begun to explore the context of the workplace. This new focus on the workplace requires scale development and validation to appropriately measure the construct in this context. In line with this goal, the purpose of the study was to develop and validate the Benevolent Sexism in the Workplace (BSW) scale. Results from three studies indicated that the 19‐item BSW scale demonstrated robust initial evidence of reliability and validity. Specifically, Study 1 indicated that the BSW demonstrated the evidence of internal consistency and reliability across time, confirmed the predicted two‐factor structure through exploratory factor analysis and demonstrated that the scale predicted theoretically‐linked criterion variables. In Study 2, the results of the confirmatory factor analysis demonstrated the BSW factor structure found in Study 1 among a sample of working students, as well as examined additional, theoretically‐linked workplace criterion variables. Finally, in Study 3, the results of the confirmatory factor analysis and concurrent validity analyses provided additional support for the BSW factor structure and validity in a sample of working adults. Implications for theory and practice are discussed.

Purpose: Evaluation findings from Comprando Rico y Sano (CRS), a culturally relevant, community-based intervention addressing nutrition knowledge and food access are presented. Design: No-control quasi-experimental intervention with pre, post, and follow-up assessments. Setting: CRS was promotores-led through UnidosUS's Affiliate Network of community–based partners. Sample: Low-income Latino adults (N = 966) receiving services at 25 partner sites. Intervention: CRS was a six-hour intervention focused on nutrition knowledge and consumption of fruits, vegetables, and home-prepared meals. It also provided guidance for health-conscious grocery shopping, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) information, and enrollment assistance. Measures: Self-report surveys assessed nutrition knowledge; intention to change; and frequency of fruit, vegetable, and home-prepared meal consumption. Sites reported monthly SNAP enrollment data. Analysis: Paired-samples t-tests and repeated-measures ANOVAs assessed changes in knowledge, intentions, and behavior from pre-to-post (n = 960) and pre-to-follow-up (n = 115). Results: Pre-to-follow-up increases in nutrition knowledge (P < .001) were observed. Intention to consume more vegetables (P = .027) and home-prepared meals (P < .001) also improved between pre- and follow-up. Increases from pre-to-follow-up were observed for frequency of consuming fruits (P = .007), vegetables (P = .001), and home-prepared meals (P < .001). Across 16 months, 24,359 Latinos enrolled for SNAP. Conclusion: Large-scale community collaborations to deliver culturally relevant nutrition education and SNAP enrollment assistance can increase food access, health literacy, and promote healthful diets for Latinos.

First-generation college graduates, racial and ethnic minorities, people with disabilities, and those from disadvantaged backgrounds are gravely underrepresented in the health research workforce representing behavioral health sciences and biomedical sciences and engineering (BHS/BSE). Furthermore, relative to their peers, very few students from these underrepresented groups (URGs) earn scientific bachelor’s degrees with even fewer earning doctorate degrees. Therefore, programs that engage and retain URGs in health-related research careers early on in their career path are imperative to promote the diversity of well-trained research scientists who have the ability to address the nation’s complex health challenges in an interdisciplinary way. The purpose of this paper is to describe the challenges, lessons learned, and sustainability of implementing a large-scale, multidisciplinary research infrastructure at California State University, Long Beach (CSULB) – a minority-serving institution – through federal funding received by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Building Infrastructure Leading to Diversity (BUILD) Initiative. The CSULB BUILD initiative consists of developing a research infrastructure designed to engage and retain URGs on the research career path by providing them with the research training and skills needed to make them highly competitive for doctoral programs and entry into the research workforce. This initiative unites many research disciplines using basic, applied, and translational approaches to offer insights and develop technologies addressing prominent community and national health issues from a multidisciplinary perspective. Additionally, this initiative brings together local (e.g., high school, community college, doctoral research institutions) and national (e.g., National Research Mentoring Network) collaborative partners to alter how we identify, develop, and implement resources to enhance student and faculty research. Finally, this initiative establishes a student research training program that engages URGs earlier in their academic development, is larger and multidisciplinary in scope, and is responsive to the life contexts and promotes the cultural capital that URGs bring to their career path. Although there have been many challenges to planning for and developing CSULB BUILD’s large-scale, multidisciplinary research infrastructure, there have been many lessons learned in the process that could aid other campuses in the development and sustainability of similar research programs.

Objective. Although cervical cancer can be prevented through screening and follow-up, Latinas’ rate of Pap tests remains low due to knowledge gaps and cultural and attitudinal factors. Methods. This study used a single-group pre-/post-test design to evaluate the effectiveness of Mujer Sana, Familia Fuerte (Healthy Woman, Strong Family), an intervention intended to improve Latinas’ cervical cancer prevention knowledge, attitudes, self-efficacy to obtain a Pap test, and intention to get tested. The intervention is delivered through a single session by promotores de salud, who use a culturally competent, linguistically appropriate toolkit. A total of 5,211 Latinas participated in the study. Results. The evaluation indicated that participants had increases in knowledge, positive attitudes, self-efficacy, and intention to test. Conclusion. Latinas have a low rate of cervical cancer screening but a high rate of cervical cancer, and Mujer Sana, Familia Fuerte shows promise as a public health practice for use with this population.

Intimate partner violence (IPV) has been shown to have considerable effects on women’s employment and health. The purpose of this study was to examine work-related IPV, acculturation, and socioeconomic status (SES) among Latinos enrolled in batterer intervention programs. Findings indicate that 55% of men interfered with their partner’s ability to get to their work, to do their work, and to maintain their job. Positive relationships between acculturation and work-related IPV were observed, and some support was found for a moderating role of SES. Implications for employers and for the conceptualization of violence against women in an employment context are discussed.