A group of eight Cal State LA students has been selected as 2025–26 Sally Casanova Pre-Doctoral Scholars, joining 85 students from across the California State University (CSU) system.
Each scholar receives a $5,000 award to support their preparation for doctoral study. The program aims to increase diversity among university faculty by helping students gain access to doctoral programs and academic careers.
Students chosen for the Pre-Doctoral Program are designated Sally Casanova Scholars in tribute to the late Sally Casanova, who dedicated her career to supporting student success. The scholarship honors her commitment to expanding opportunities for underrepresented students in higher education.
“We are proud of our students who have been recognized as Sally Casanova Scholars,” said Karin Elliott Brown, dean of Graduate Studies at Cal State LA. “This program provides invaluable support as they prepare for doctoral studies and future academic careers. Their selection highlights both their outstanding achievements and Cal State LA’s commitment to advancing diversity in higher education.”
Sally Casanova Scholars benefit from one-on-one guidance from CSU faculty and opportunities to work with mentors at doctoral-granting institutions. They may use their awards to participate in a summer research experience at a doctoral-granting campus, visit institutions to explore doctoral study opportunities, and travel to national symposia or professional meetings. The scholarship also helps cover related costs such as professional organization memberships, graduate school application and test fees, and educational resources.
Cal State LA’s 2025–26 Sally Casanova Scholars are:
- Gabriel Alaniz (Psychology) – Faculty Mentor: Dana Saifan
Research topic: “Conformity at a Cost: Code-Switching and Its Mental Health Implications for Muslim Americans.”
- Carlos Regalado Figueroa (Latin American Studies) – Faculty Mentor: Gabriela Fried Amilivia
Research topic: “Surviving the Ring: The Brutal Economy of Boxing.”
- Arwa Hammad (Political Science/Philosophy) – Faculty Mentor: Michael McLendon
Research topic: “Democratic Elasticity and Epistemic Legitimacy in the U.S.”
- Blanca Henriquez (Psychology) – Faculty Mentor: Alma Olaguez
Research topic: “Immigrant Mental Health and Post-Migration Experiences: Barriers, Outcomes, and Societal Implications.”
- Daniela Lara (Latin American Studies) – Faculty Mentor: Enrique Ochoa
Research topic: “Defending Mexico’s Last Free River: Indigenous Resistance Against the El Nayar Hydroelectric Dam.”
- Jennifer Leiva (Anthropology) – Faculty Mentor: Amira Ainis
Research topic: “Comparative Rock Art Studies in a Cultural Transition Zone: Analysis of Northern Abstract and La Rumorosa Rock Art in Baja California through pXRF and Photogrammetry.”
- Marineh Mousalu (Anthropology) – Faculty Mentor: Michele M. Bleuze
Research topics: “Non-metric Dental Variation in the Classic Period: Human Sacrificial Assemblage from Midnight Terror Cave in Belize” and “Embodiment through Dental Crafting: An Exploration of Dental Modification among Classic Period Sacrificial Victims of Midnight Terror Cave.”
- Angela Valadez (Psychology) – Faculty Mentor: Corinne Bower
Research topic: “Computer Science Anxiety, Math Anxiety, and Spatial Anxiety: The Moderating Role of Spatial Ability.”
Casanova, who launched the program in 1989, served in the CSU Chancellor’s Office during the 1960s and later as associate vice president for academic affairs and dean of graduate studies at CSU Dominguez Hills until her passing in 1994. Her husband, Joseph Casanova, was a Cal State LA emeritus chemistry professor.
For more information, contact Cal State LA’s Graduate Studies Office at 323-343-3820.
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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 260,000 distinguished alumni.
