Meet Our Pre-Doctoral Scholars

San Francisco State University is proud of our robust participation in the California Pre-Doctoral Program:

2025-26

Pre-Doctoral Scholars

• Jo Nisa Cabilogan, Graduate student in Psychology
• Lo Klauer, Graduate student in Sexuality Studies
• Francesca Mejia, Graduate student in Race & Resistance Studies
• Sam Hyder, Graduate student in English
• Elijah Valverde, Undergraduate in Mathematics
• Daphne Jomo, Undergraduate in Computer Engineering
• Sebastian Bustamante Ceja, Graduate student in Cinema
• Merrissa Hart, Graduate student Education

2024-25

Pre-Doctoral Scholars

• Manuel Abundis-Morales, Psychology graduate student
• Benjamin Lee, Biology undergraduate
• Christoper Statton, Communication Studies graduate student

Pre-Doctoral Honorable Mention

• Natalie Yam, Computer Science undergraduate

2023-24

Pre-Doctoral Scholars

• Teah Ardoin, Political Science graduate student; 2024-25 American Political Science Association (APSA) Diversity Fellowship Program (DFP) Fellow
• Eeshan Kumar, Philosophy, blended bachelor's/master's student
• Athena Ramirez, Equity and Social Justice Education graduate student

Pre-Doctoral Honorable Mention

• Trevor Hart, Particle Physics graduate student

2022-23

Pre-Doctoral Scholars

• Nathan Burns, Sociology with a minor in Sexuality Studies undergraduate
• Christian Camaño, Computer Science and Mathematics for Advanced Study undergraduate, 2024 National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship (NSF GRFP) in Applied Mathematics 
• Victoria Chou, Developmental Psychology graduate student
• Saramanda Swigert, English Literature graduate student

Honorable Mentions

• Brenda Sofia Garibay, Cell and Molecular Biology undergraduate
• Gail Anne Manalastas, Psychology: Mind, Brain, Behavior graduate student

2021-22

Pre-Doctoral Scholars

• Kelso Becktol, Women and Gender Studies graduate student
• Betsy Paredes Centeno, Psychological Research: Mind, Brain and Behavior graduate student
• manmit singh, Ethnic Studies graduate student
• Alvaro Cornejo, Mathematics graduate student; 2022 National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship (NSF GRFP) Honorable Mention in Algebra, Number Theory, and Combinatorics
• Mickenly Doyle, Communicative Disorders undergraduate, minors in education and special education
• Elleanor Pangilinan, Biology: STEM Education graduate student
• Luis Alberto Perez, Mathematics graduate student; 2022 National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship (NSF GRFP) in Algebra, Number Theory, and Combinatorics
• Robert Willis, History undergraduate

Honorable Mentions

• Jessica Agnos, Physics: Astrophysics graduate student
• Charlie Wang, Asian American Studies graduate student

2020-21

Pre-Doctoral Scholars 

• Angelika Arada, Biochemistry undergraduate
• Karina Hissen, Biology graduate student
• William O'Farrill, Anthropology undergraduate
• David Ward, Physics graduate student

Honorable Mentions

• Matthew Patrick Gee, Kinesiology graduate student
• Andrew Ronquillo, Philosophy graduate student

2019-20

Pre-Doctoral Scholars

• Kiera Abdur-Rahman, Cinema Studies graduate student
• Luis Ayala, Cell and Molecular Biology graduate student 
• Justin Brown, Geography: Natural Resource Management and Environmental Planning graduate student 
• Estely Carranza, Chemistry graduate student 
• Angeline Chemel, Cell and Molecular Biology graduate student 
• Viviane Zurdo Costa, Physics graduate student 
• Romel Harmon, Education graduate student 
• Can Ali Kilic, Developmental Psychology graduate student 
• Jill Laufer, Political Science graduate student; 2020 CSU Chancellor's Doctoral Incentive Program Fellow
• Matt Madruga, Philosophy graduate student 
• Wilmer Amaya Mejia, graduate student in Biology
• Steven Sun, Cell and Molecular Biology graduate student 
• Meme Than, Public Health graduate student 
• Caitlin Waddle, Mathematics graduate student; 2020 CSU Chancellor's Doctoral Incentive Program Fellow

Honorable Mentions

• Alyscia Richards, Political Science graduate student
• Garcia Ruiz Tonatiuh, Physiology and Behavioral Biology graduate student

2018-2019

Pre-Doctoral Scholars

• Inayah Baaqee, Psychology graduate student
• Ngoc-Cam Bui, Psychology graduate Student
• Teagan Bullock, Philosophy undergraduate
• Tsz Chan, Mathematics graduate student
• Francesca Colonnese, English Literature graduate student
• Vivien Enriquez, Biology graduate student
• Gesean Lewis Woods, Special Education graduate student
• Alonso Reategui, Philosophy graduate student
• Kadellyn Sandoval, Cell and Molecular Biology graduate student
• Wayne Swinson, Cell and Molecular Biology graduate student
• Michelle Thomas, Philosophy graduate student

Honorable Mentions

• Seon-Hye Moon, Ethnic Studies graduate student
• Philip Nguyen, Asian American Studies graduate student

2017-2018

Pre-Doctoral Scholars

• Spencer Beaudette, Philosophy graduate student 
• Amanda Carbajal, Biology graduate student; 2020 CSU Chancellor's Doctoral Incentive Program Fellow
• Alexandra Cooper, Biology graduate student 
• Edward Elizarraras, Cell and Molecular Biology graduate student 
• Mai Foua Her, Asian American Studies graduate student 
• Hilda Loury, Philosophy graduate student 
• Jose Lumbreras, Ethnic Studies graduate student, 2019, CSU Chancellor's Doctoral Incentive Program Fellow
• Tatiana Mariscal-Raymundo, Kinesiology graduate student 
• Jessica Brenda Mejia, Comparative Literature graduate student 
• Leslie Lee Pedraza, Cell and Molecular Biology graduate student 
• Deseret Weeks, Geography graduate student 
• Kenisha A. Williams Puckett, Cell and Molecular Biology graduate student; 2018, CSU Chancellor's Doctoral Incentive Program Fellow

2016-2017

Pre-Doctoral Scholars

• Julie Gonzalez, Marine Science graduate student
• Joshua Gutierrez, Biochemistry graduate student
• Troy Lowe, Biochemistry graduate student
• Jacquelyn Nelson Glidden, Developmental Psychology graduate student
• Michelle Gomez Parra, Sexuality Studies graduate student
• Pedro Ramos, Linguistics graduate student
• Spencer Taylor Berdiago Ruelos, Sexuality Studies graduate student
• Jillian Salazar, Sexuality Studies graduate student
• Shola Shodiya-Zeumault, Counseling, Marriage and Family Therapy graduate student
• Andres Vindas Melendez, Mathematics graduate student; 2017, National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellow in Mathematics; 2019, CSU Chancellor's Doctoral Incentive Program Fellow. Dr. Melendez completed his Ph.D. in Mathematics at University of Kentucky, and is a National Science Foundation Mathematical Sciences Postdoctoral Research Fellowship (NSF MSPRF) at U.C. Berkeley
• Lyndsey Wallace, Psychology graduate student
• Chelsey Williams, Counseling, Marriage and Family Therapy graduate student

Honorable Mentions

Our five Honorable Mentions this year include:

• Daniel McKeown, Physics graduate student
• Kathleen Yingqiao Morrison, Sexuality Studies graduate student

2015-2016

Pre-Doctoral Scholars

• Michelle Nguyen, History graduate student
• Serina Sebilian, Biology graduate student
• Jonathan Robinson Anthony, Communicative Disorders graduate student; 2020 National Institutes of Health Ruth L. Kirschstein Predoctoral Fellowship to Promote Diversity in Health-Related Research
• Jon-David Settell, Comparative Literature graduate student
• Christopher Arreola, Education and Feminist Studies undergraduate student
• Kathleen O’Neal, Philosophy graduate student
• Jamie O’Quinn, Sexuality Studies graduate student

Honorable Mentions

• Paulina Fraser, Education graduate student 
• Reuben Zellman, Ethnomusicology graduate student 
• Zaviera Reyes, Social Psychology graduate student

2014-2015

Pre-Doctoral Scholars

• Delicia Kamins, Philosophy graduate student
• Flor Khan, Education graduate student
• Sigmund Werndorf, Philosophy graduate student
• Monica Padilla-Stemmelen, Education graduate student
• Brittany Johnson, Cell and Molecular Biology graduate student; Dr. Johnson earned a Ph.D. in Biochemistry from University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas
• Nonye Okonkwo, Biochemistry graduate student
• Yvonne Sohn, French graduate student
• Alice Chapman, Classics graduate student

2013-2014

Pre-Doctoral Scholars

• Christina Abram-Davis, Ethnic Studies graduate student
• Joseph Beyene, Cell and Molecular Biology graduate student; Dr. Beyene earned a Ph.D.in Biological and Biomedical Sciences from Harvard University
• Cynthia Brannvall, Art History graduate student
• Marguerite Campbell, Sexuality Studies graduate student
• Joemar Clemente, Asian American studies graduate student
• Jesus Gaeta, Pubic Health graduate student
• Elvin Lauron, Biology graduate student; Dr. Lauron earned a Ph.D. in Virology and Immunology from Washington University in Saint Louis
• Imelda Munoz, Ethnic Studies graduate student
• Nanea Renteria, Ethnic Studies graduate student
• James Sheldon, Special Education graduate student
• Ian Tewksbury, Classics graduate student
• Marilyn Thomas, Public Health graduate student; 2016, Ford Foundation Predoctoral Fellow in Social Epidemiology; Dr. Thomas earned a Ph.D. in Social Epidemiology from University of California, Berkeley; she is a Postdoctoral Scholar in Psychiatry at the UCSF Weill Institute for Neurosciences
• Jennifer White, Philosophy graduate student

Honorable Mention

• Giselle Cunanan, Ethnic Studies graduate student

2012-2013

    Pre-Doctoral Scholars

• Nick Alvarez, Philosophy graduate student
• Sarah Braasch, Philosophy graduate student
• Jazmin Morelos, Communication Studies graduate student
• Thao Nguyen, Communication Studies graduate student
• Khouanchy Souvong Oakgrove, Microbiology graduate student
• Vivian Sotomayor Power, Spanish Studies graduate student
• Brian Tibbetts, Philosophy graduate student

2011-2012

Pre-Doctoral Scholars

• Nicole Chaffee, Chemistry graduate student
• Alexander Farrow, Cinema graduate student
• Cassandra Freeman, American Indian Studies undergraduate
• Sylvia Kocięda, Philosophy graduate student; 2013, Ford Foundation Predoctoral Fellow in Philosophy
• Courtney Leung, Sexuality Studies graduate student
• Victor Ma, Philosophy graduate student
• Jessica Orozco, Biology undergraduate
• Joachim Pedersen, Engineering undergraduate; 2013, National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellow in Materials Engineering
• Alp Tuncaci, International Relations graduate student
• Adrienne Wilson, Public Health graduate student

Honorable Mentions

• Nick Alvarez, Philosophy graduate student
• Jordan Bohall, Philosophy graduate student; Dr. Bohall earned a Ph.D. in Philosophy from University of Illinois,Urbana-Champaign
• Louis Cornejo, Psychology undergraduate

2010-2011

Pre-Doctoral Scholars

• Christina Buck, Marine Biology graduate student
• Nikica Favretto, Civil Engineering undergraduate
• Anne Glaros, Women's Studies graduate student
• Sylvie Kim, Asian American Studies graduate student
• Jay (Ledbetter) Bettergarcia, Psychology graduate student; Dr. Bettergarcia is an Assistant Professor of Psychology and Child Development at Cal Poly
• (Mary) Mae Marcaida, Geology graduate student
• Criseyda Martinez, Biology/Microbiology graduate student
• Thanh Nguyen, Special Education graduate student; 2019, American Psychological Association’s Minority Fellowship
• Jennifer Rubin, Sexuality Studies graduate student; Dr. Rubin earned Ph.D. in Psychology Social and Personality Psychology and Women's Studies from University of Michigan, Ann Arbor; she is an NIH Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Social and Cognitive Development
• Kanara Ty, Asian American Studies graduate student
• Jia Wei Zhang, Psychology undergraduate; 2012, National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellow in Social Psychology; Dr. Zhang is an Assistant Professor of Psychology at University of Memphis 

Honorable Mentions

• Courtney Leung, Psychology undergraduate
• Teresa Hodges, Asian American Studies graduate student; Dr. Hodges earned a Ph.D. in Educational Foundations at University of Hawaii, Manoa
• Patrick Lapid, Economics graduate student; Dr. Lapid earned a Ph.D. in Economics from University of California, Berkeley
• Deborah Morgan, Classical Archeology undergraduate

2009-2010

Pre-Doctoral Scholars

• Lee Dawson, Education master's student
• Jeffrey Masko, Cinema Studies master's student; Dr. Masko earned a Ph.D. in Mass Communication/Media Studies from Penn State University
• Laura Cervantes-Meyers, Social Psychology master's student
• Blanca Pacheco, Physiology undergraduate
• Anthony Scoggins, Comparative Literature graduate student