Cal State LA Professor Angela Cooke-Jackson, a nationally recognized scholar in health communication and behavioral science, recently completed a prestigious Fulbright Scholarship at the University of Auckland and Te Wānanga o Aotearoa, a distinctive public Māori institution in New Zealand. Māori are the Indigenous Polynesian people of New Zealand. 

As a 2024-25 Fulbright Scholar, Cooke-Jackson collaborated with Senior Lecturer Jade Le Grice of the University of Auckland on research exploring how Māori faculty and Indigenous groups negotiate their professional trajectories in predominantly white institutions. She also collaborated with Rebecca Kiddle, director of the Te Manawahoukura Rangahau Centre at Te Wānanga o Aotearoa, examining the role of women in prominent research fields and the ways women have been catalysts for growth and advancement in their communities. 

“This scholarship provided a unique opportunity to understand the historical, geopolitical, and cultural climate of New Zealand,” said Cooke-Jackson. “The emphasis on simplicity, environmental stewardship, and the Indigenous Māori values of aroha (love) and respect for the land was grounding.” 

Cooke-Jackson is a research scholar with expertise in race, gender, and reproductive health justice. Her scholarship calls for a kinder, more holistic approach to health across the lifespan. Her research focuses on how women navigate puberty through menopausal transitions. She draws on individual narratives and community stories to inform healthcare reforms that promote equity and holistic empowerment.  

From February to July 2025, her residencies at both institutions in New Zealand fostered significant dialogue, scholarship, and international partnerships centered on social justice and sexual health literacy. Through public lectures, faculty and student workshops, and collaborative dialogues, Cooke-Jackson engaged academic and community audiences. Her sessions highlighted the intersection of individual experiences and community engagement, showing how they coalesce with personal agency and health literacy. Her work aims to help communities design innovative, practical applications for sustainable change. 

Reflecting on her Fulbright experience, Cooke-Jackson emphasized the value of building global partnerships around shared commitments to women’s health, equity, and justice. 

“One highlight from the trip was the opportunity to be welcomed into the Māori community through Te Wānanga o Aotearoa,” she said. “Dr. Rebecca Kiddle was an outstanding ambassador. She opened doors for me to engage with multiple communities within New Zealand, which gave me firsthand connections and friendships that will last a lifetime.” 

Cooke-Jackson, a professor of communication studies in the College of Arts and Letters at Cal State LA, is widely acclaimed for her cross-disciplinary research and applied approach. She has earned national and international recognition for her scholarship examining how race, gender, and cultural identity shape sexual health and health literacy. Her work concentrates on community engagement with youth, LGBTQ+ individuals, and women of color.

Cooke-Jackson’s Fulbright research fellowship underscores Cal State LA’s role as a leader in fostering global engagement, equity-driven scholarship, and research that serves the public good.

The Fulbright Program is a program of the U.S. Department of State, with funding provided by the U.S. government. Participating governments, host institutions, corporations, and foundations around the world also provide direct and indirect support to the program, which operates in over 160 countries worldwide. 

In the United States, the Institute of International Education administers the Fulbright U.S. Student and U.S. Scholar Programs on behalf of the U.S. Department of State. For more information, visit the Fulbright Program website. 

# # #

California State University, Los Angeles is the premier comprehensive public university in the heart of Los Angeles. Cal State LA is ranked number one in the United States for the upward mobility of its students. Cal State LA is dedicated to engagement, service, and the public good, offering nationally recognized programs in science, the arts, business, criminal justice, engineering, nursing, education, and the humanities. Founded in 1947, the University serves more than 22,000 students and has more than 270,000 distinguished alumni.