2020-2021 Graduates
Joana Alfaro
Class Standing: Junior
Major: Sociology
Hometown: Delhi, CA
Graduation Term: Fall 2020
Mentor: Dr. Meggan Jordan
Mentor Department: Sociology
Research Interests: Mental health among veterans/ Lack of culture diversity among educators
Update: Joana is pursuing an MSW degree at Stanislaus State.
German Astorga
Class Standing: Senior
Major: Physics
Hometown: Salida, CA
Graduation Term: Spring 2021
Mentor: Dr. Brian Morsony
Mentor Department: Physics
Research Interests: Computational Astrophysics
Published work: Modelling Short Gamma Ray Bursts as Structured Jets
Aurora Ceja
Class Standing: Senior
Major: Sociology
Minor: Ethnic Studies
Hometown: Manteca, CA
Graduation Term: Spring 2021
Mentor: Dr. Jennifer Strangfeld
Mentor Department: Sociology
Research Interests: Racialization in Immigration
Published work: Racialization: How Does It Affect Latinx Immigrant Students?
Update: Aurora is pursing an M.A in Sociology degree at the University of Nevada, Reno.
Rachel Choate
Class Standing: Junior
Major: Biological Sciences
Minor: Chemistry
Hometown: Modesto, CA
Graduation Term: Fall 2020
Mentor: Dr. Choong-Min Kang
Mentor Department: Biological Sciences
Research Interests: Cellular and molecular biology, developmental biology, cancer biology, virology, bacteriology, and genetics
Published work: Disruption of Mating-type Switching in Saccharomyces cerevisiae Strains by CRISPR/Cas9 for Cell Fusion
Jasmin Cornejo
Class Standing: Senior
Major: Computer Science
Hometown: Lodi, CA
Graduation Term: Spring 2021
Mentor: Dr. Melanie Martin
Mentor Department: Computer Science
Research Interests: Data mining to ensure equity for all students
Published work: Predicting Student Success to Ensure Equity for Students
Arlena Liryce Gavino
Class Standing: Senior
Major: Mathematics and Economics
Hometown: Manteca, CA
Graduation Term: Fall 2020
Mentor: Dr. Bjorg Johannsdottir
Mentor Department: Mathematics
Research Interests: Math education, economics, operations research
Published Work: Informing the Need of Critical Thinking in Mathematics
Update: Arlena is currently enrolled in the credential program at Stanislaus State.
John Molthen
Class Standing: Junior
Major: Chemistry
Hometown: Modesto, CA
Graduation Term: Spring 2021
Mentor: Dr. Koni Stone
Mentor Department: Chemistry
Research Interests: Biochemistry and cancer research
Published work: Computational Docking of Potential Drug Inhibitors of SARS-CoV-2 Main Protease
Cassandra Olivas
Class Standing: Senior
Major: Biological Sciences and Computer Science
Hometown: Ripon, CA
Graduation Term: Spring 2020
Mentor: Dr. Jennifer Cooper
Mentor Department: Biological Sciences
Research Interests: The impact of agricultural proximity in body condition in California ground squirrels (otospermophilus beecheyi)
Published work: The Impact of Agriculture on Body Condition in the California Ground Squirrel
Lourdes Ramirez
Class Standing: Junior
Major: Criminal Justice & Anthropology
Hometown: Patterson, CA
Graduation Term: Spring 2021
Mentor: Dr. Sari Miller-Antonio
Mentor Department: Anthropology
Research Interests: Advances in forensic anthropology and human identification
Published work: Forensic Anthropology in Latin America: Examining Methods of Human Identification
Emma Van Hoogmoed
Class Standing: Junior
Major: Computer Science
Hometown: Madera, CA
Graduation Term: Fall 2020
Mentor: Dr. Xuejun Liang
Mentor Department: Computer Science
Research Interests: Biotechnology, Digital Pathology, and Machine Learning
Published work: Teaching Robots Biologically Inspired Tasks
Update: Emma is pursuing an M.S in Computer Science degree at UC Davis.
Updated: July 26, 2023