MD��ý���

CHHS Data Fellows Project: 

From LBUSD to CHHS: 

Impact of High School Pathways on Student Outcomes

• HS Pathway experiences may shape both entry and progress. Overall, the findings suggest that high school pathway experiences may influence how students enter CHHS and how they progress after enrollment.
• Pre-nursing students had highest attrition. Attrition was higher for pre-nursing than for pre-social work students, likely reflecting that many students leave to pursue nursing at other institutions.
• Implications for Action
  • Recruitment: tailor outreach by pathway category and intended CHHS major
  • Advising: provide early advising for students entering pre-major pathways, especially pre-nursing
  • Program design: explore meta-major or alternative-entry structures for students blocked by impaction

Center for Latino Community Health

• The ÁNDALE Latino Research Training program was named the 2025 Example of Excelencia at the baccalaureate level by Excelencia in Education for its intentionality in serving Latino and all students through evidence-based practices with impactful academic and professional student outcomes. Fifty-three students engaged in research with a MD��ý��� faculty mentor and training in Latino health between 2020-2024. Center Director, Dr. Melawhy Garcia, and Associate Director, Natalia Gatdula, traveled to Washington, D.C. in September 2025 to receive the recognition and serve on a “What Works” panel.
• Provided three graduate and one undergraduate student financial support to attend a national conference in Fall 2025. Katelyn Chu, fourth year Nutrition and Food Science major, attended the Food and Nutrition Conference & Expo (FNCE) in Nashville, TN. FNCE provides the opportunity for networking, education, and to explore the field of nutrition and dietetics. Yeraldine Polo, second year MPH student, Nicole Olea and Primavera Garcia, BEACH Edge MPH students attended the American Public Health Association Annual Meeting & Expo in Washington, D.C. First-time experience for the students to travel and attend a professional conference, providing the opportunity to network with public health professionals, learn from the workshops and panels, and invigorate their passion for the field of public health.
• A collaboration between five Hispanic-Serving Institutions, two CSUs, Long Beach and Fullerton, and three community colleges including Fullerton, Long Beach City, and Santa Ana Colleges was formed thanks to USDA-funding for the Leveraging Interdisciplinary Nutritional Knowledge (LINK) Program. Now in its final year, the grant has supported 14 undergraduate and 11 graduate students with training, mentorship, experiential learning, research experience, and financial support. Additionally, multiple workshops on academic major options, transfer requirements, and student opportunities and resources are held in-person, virtually, and asynchronously through pre-recorded videos at the partner community colleges each semester by our peer ambassadors who are MD��ý��� and CSUF transfer students. Since its inception, over 300 prospective transfer students have engaged in workshops or recorded presentations.  

• An undergraduate student from the Exercise Science undergraduate program, recently won a national award. Marine Brissot, mentored by Dr. Kurt Escobar, won the National Undergraduate Scholar award for our national organization (American Kinesiology Association). 

• New Doctor of Physical Therapy graduate, Kaleb Reilly, has been named a recipient of the APTA Mary McMillan Scholarship. Named in honor of the founder of the American Physical Therapy Association, this highly competitive national scholarship is awarded to a select, small group of physical therapist and physical therapist assistant students each year who demonstrate exceptional academic achievement, leadership, and professional potential as they near completion of their programs.

• Creation and implementation of the new
  • Creation and implementation of the new BS in Criminology and Criminal Justice + MS in Emergency Services Administration EDGE program
  • Graduated our first cohort in the BS in Criminology and Criminal Justice + MS in Criminology and Criminal Justice EDGE program
  • Development of the Pedagogical Working Group to improve pedagogy in the School of CCJEM
• Dept/Program recognition: incl. rankings, awards
  • ranked #36 for outstanding online Criminology and Criminal Justice Masters Programs in US News and World Reports

• Three new GERN micro-credentials were created:
  • Aging Services Administration Microcredential
  • Gerontology Practice in the U.S. and Around the World Microcredential
  • Health and Nutrition for the Aging Microcredential
• Child and Family Center (CFC) reopened in May 2026, doubling capacity, adding meal program, infant care, and focus on serving student parents. CDFS faculty are partnering with CFC staff to integrate our programs in ways that serve student training and our campus community.

• Continued development of the DELTA Scholars Health Leadership Fellowship, a three-semester leadership and workforce development program designed to prepare undergraduate and graduate students for applied leadership roles in health care. The program integrates leadership development, management consulting, data storytelling, strategic management, operations management, and professional mentorship, while aligning with CHHS priorities around student success, workforce readiness, and interdisciplinary learning.
• Continued development of health data analytics and leadership-focused academic programming, including work connected to the Health Care Management Data Analytics Certificate/Option, graduate curriculum development, and applied learning opportunities that align with workforce needs in health care management.
• Proposed joint MS degree – Master of Science in Health Care Business Analytics with College of Business and continuing proposed Executive MS degree program in Health Care Management
• The Health Care Management Department participated in DATACON 2026, as part of its ongoing efforts to expand student exposure to health care data analytics, informatics, and emerging industry practices. Faculty and students engaged with professionals and organizations working across data science, technology, and health care operations, helping strengthen connections between academic preparation and workforce needs. Participation in DATACON also supported BEACH 2030 goals related to innovation, interdisciplinary collaboration, and career readiness. The event provided valuable opportunities for networking, professional development, and exploration of evolving trends in health care analytics and digital transformation.
• HCM students, advisory board and faculty hosted an evening with Dr. Anthony Chang, founder of ACAIM/PCAIM (Alliance of Centers of AI in Medicine/Pediatric Centers for AI in Medicine) is a pediatric cardiologist and pioneering figure in artificial intelligence in medicine. With advanced degrees from UCLA, and Stanford, his expertise spans clinical care, public health, AI innovation and entrepreneurship. Dr. Chang presented an engaging conversation about the challenges and advantages of the new generation of AI usage in healthcare.
• HCM faculty, Dr. Sara Nourazari received over $45,000 grant from the Chancellor’s office (among 63 selected across the CSU from a competitive pool of 400 submissions; one of the four proposals selected from the 45 MD��ý��� submissions) for:
  • ThinkMate Edu: A Faculty-Guided, AI-Supported Learning Environment for Critical Thinking
  • The initiative will be interdisciplinary as well and will include collaboration with Dr. Joshua Cotter (Kinesiology) and Dr. Dave Scozzaro (Academic Technology Services).
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• We participated in NAJGA’s 2025 International Japanese Garden Conference, joining leaders, professionals, and enthusiasts to explore the evolving role of Japanese gardens in North America

• and is well-connected within the sports industry. Students complete internships with a wide range of community partners, and graduates go on to get jobs at places like: LA Lakers, Grand Prix of Long Beach, MLB, MLS, NHL, WNBA, Special Olympics, and so on. They are celebrating the program's 25^th anniversary this year. The faculty in that program work in the industry, and include even former Olympians (like Jessica Hardy Meichtry in the 2012 Olympics).
  • The Master's degree in Athletic Training program placed students in these community sites this year, and students worked directly with athletes: Cerritos College, El Camino College, LBCC, Fullerton College, Mt. SAC, John Bosco high school, Orange Coast College, Santa Ana College, Long Beach Poly high school, Jordan High School, Millikan High School, Loyola Marymount University, LA Galaxy (MLS pro soccer team), and St. Anthony High School. They have added the LA Chargers pro football team for fall 2026.

• Dr. Adam Butz was awarded the 2026 Harry Scoville Award for Academic Excellence from the Southern California Chapter of the American Society for Public Administration.
• A 2025 Rose Institute survey ranked the MD��ý��� MPA program as the #2 producer of city managers in the state of California (right behind USC). 

• Ranked #123 in Speech-Language Pathology in the 2026 U.S. News & World Report graduate school rankings.
• Recognized as a top 5 program in California for quality, and often listed as a "Best Value" school for Speech-Language Pathology master's degrees (ranking #2 or #7 in California depending on income bracket)
• Washington Monthly: Ranked #1 nationally in the "" category for social mobility and return on investment.
• Ranked #2 Best California Master’s in Speech-Language Pathology Programs (2025) by Online Speech Pathology Programs
• Graduate and undergraduate students received multiple awards and recognition from national and local professional organizations
• Dr. Belinda Daughrity served as advisor for National Student Speech Language Hearing Association (National NSSLHA) in 2022-2025.
• MD��ý��� NSSLHA chapter is a nationally recognized Gold Honors chapter since 2020

• Fashion Merchandising and Design (FMD) has engaged with alumni in three key ways this academic year:
  • Fashion Symposium: Alumni were invited to speak at this year's symposium (March 2026).
  • Advisory Board: FMD is working to establish an advisory board, including alumni, students, and industry partners. First meeting was held in April 2026 and included many FMD alumni who offered useful program feedback.
  • Research: Two FMD faculty led a research project to engage alumni in providing feedback about the FMD practicum and internship courses. These data will be used to adjust these experiences to better prepare students for careers.
• Alumni Research: Dr. Mary Marshall led a research study to engage alumni across FCS, exploring how alumni support student success through learning experiences, internships, and career opportunities.
• Fashion Merchandising and Design (FMD) is partnering with Sea World to create a mural for World Ocean Day using sustainable practices
  • Hospitality Management is continuing to partner with the Queen Mary to host our Wine and Culinary Event
• Consumer Affairs Symposium (March 2026) exposed students to a variety of industry professionals:
  • Rigoberto Reyes, Executive Director, Office of Immigrant Affairs, County of Los Angeles Department of Consumer and Business Affairs
  • Ann M. Stahl, retired Federal Trade Investigator, Federal Trade Commission
  • Antonia Villaseñor, Education and Outreach Specialist, California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation
  • Enrique Godinez, Deputy Sheriff, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department

• Continued public-sector and community partnership work through the CalVet-funded California Veterans Health Initiative Research and Surveillance Team project, which focuses on improving veteran health data reporting across California counties. This work includes statewide county site visits and applied data translation for state-level decision-making.
• Continued Department of Defense funding for veteran health research through the Wounded Warrior Service Dog Program, in partnership with the Uniformed Services University and Henry M. Jackson Foundation. This work supports evidence-informed standards, evaluation, and collaboration across service dog providers, researchers, and veteran-serving organizations, with an emphasis to improve veteran mental health.

• New offering with Visit LB, the Vibe City Pass to bring new visitors to the Garden

• Dr. Melissa Bittner and Dr. Amanda Young run Camp Nugget in the summer, which is a summer camp for students with disabilities that also receives funding from groups like the Munzer Foundation.

• Aging in Place Initiative:
• A community-engaged program of research conducted in collaboration with OLLI members. This work integrates university research with the lived experiences of older adults in the surrounding community, creating a reciprocal model of engagement that benefits both participants and the institution.
• Across four interrelated projects, this initiative examines aging in place as a dynamic process shaped by psychological resilience, caregiving roles, and access to services. Findings identify key factors influencing independence and well-being, including stress management capacity, companion animal caregiving, barriers to accessing veterinary care, and real-world experiences of disruption, isolation, planning, and adaptation. These results highlight the importance of aligning individual capacity with accessible, responsive service systems.
• As a translational extension of this research, a pilot initiative—OLLI Member Connection Sessions—has been proposed to address themes of social isolation identified across projects. This low-cost, virtual program is designed to strengthen peer connection and community engagement among older adults and is currently under consideration by OLLI leadership.
• OLLI partners with multiple programs and agencies such as City of Long Beach Parks, Recreation and Marine, City of Los Alamitos Community Services, Alpert Jewish Community Center, Los Altos United Methodist Church, Rancho Los Cerritos/Rancho Los Alamitos, Long Beach Bridge Club and Long Beach Aging Services Collaborative.

• Hosted the first alumni homecoming in April 2025; produced and disseminated first department newsletter in June 2025
• The Scottish Rite Foundation has supported our pro bono speech and language clinic operations since 2021 (first gift agreement: 2021–2024; second five-year agreement signed in 2024).
• Launched weekly communication support group for stroke and Traumatic Brain Injury survivors in Fall 2022 (led by Clinic Director Kenya Gomez-Tydor)
• Initiated Gender-Affirming Voice Training (GAVT) in collaboration with MD��ý��� CAPS in Spring 2026. The program is led by Clinic Director Kenya Gomez-Tydor and will expand from two participants to a group of six participants in Fall 2026. Referrals are provided by CAPS. Kenya also participated in annual Embodied & Empowered: A Celebration of Trans Wellness for the second year.
• Participate annually in the City of Long Beach’s Celebration of the Young Child, providing free speech screenings since 2021

• Our department started the Local Government Placement Program that partners with cities like City of Lakewood, City of La Palma, and City of Anaheim to place MPA students into local government agencies. It has been running successfully since 2023 with numerous placements.

• Beach 2030 Grant: CHHS Pathways Learning Institute
  • Funded by Office of the President for $71,600 for 2 years (AY2025-26, AY2026-27) to provide interactive learning experiences in CHHS majors for Long Beach Unified School District (LBUSD) students.
  • AY 2025-26 included:
    • Interdisciplinary simulation with MD��ý��� School of Nursing students, Biomed engineering students, and Sato Academy for Math and Science Biomed engineering pathway students
    • Jordan High School health/medical pathway students’ visit to Physical Therapy cadaver lab and motion analysis lab
    • Groundwork collaboration for AY 2026-27 which will tentatively include a CHHS Mentoring Program with Cabrillo HS newly launched health/med pathway program (Healthcare Education and Response Training, HEART) and a food science collaboration with Browning High School culinary/hospitality management students

• Gerontology faculty, Dr. Elena Ionescu, collaborated with Dr. Chris Warren in Psychology, More Than Good Intensions: How Social Norms and Perceived Control Shape Dementia-Friendly Behavior
• NUTR faculty beginning partnership with Charles Drew School of Medicine to integrate nutrition content across medical education

• The Garden has been an outdoor learning laboratory for MD��ý��� classes across all 5 colleges

• Assistant Professors, Dr. Melissa Bittner and Dr. Amanda Young were awarded a $1.25 million grant given out from the U.S. Department of Education – Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) for the new initiative at MD��ý��� termed Project CAPE (Certification in Adapted Physical Education). This grant will fully fund 32 Adapted Physical Education master’s students over 5 years.
• Project CARE: This involves the PE Teacher Education program, particularly in Adapted Physical Education, and collaboration between Kinesiology and Speech-Language Pathology.

• Research with Nursing Administration, Recreation and Leisure Studies, Social Work, Heath Care Management, Physical Therapy, and Gerontology.  We also conduct educational forums for the public, most recently on Mental Health and Holocaust Portrait tour at Cypress Community College

• Dr. Tina Zhao is co-PI on an NSF Grant with Dr. Judy Jou (Health Sciences) that is starting a new Health Coach Certificate Program here at MD��ý���.

• Interdisciplinary Collaborative for Autism & Neurodiversity (ICAN): Led by Dr. Belinda Daughrity since 2021. Hosts the annual ICAN Autism Symposium during RSCA Week.
• Project CARE (Collaboration and Responsive Research in Education): A federally funded grant from the Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) under Personnel Development to Improve Services and Results for Children with Disabilities. Co-led by Dr. Belinda Daughrity (SLP) and Dr. Melissa Bittner (KIN–APE); launched in Spring 2026.
• Camp Nugget: SLP faculty have participated since before COVID. Current participants include Drs. Belinda Daughrity, Alaine Ocampo, and Margaret Vento-Wilson.
• Interdisciplinary Research Collaboration: Drs. Belinda Daughrity and Lei Sun collaborated with Drs. Anita Fitzgerald and Sharon Konrad (School of Nursing) on a project examining professional identity in healthcare students, resulting in two peer-reviewed journal publications.
• Interdisciplinary Training Opportunity: Kenya Gomez-Tydor led SLP 679 (Topics in Medical Speech-Language Pathology) in Summer 2025, bringing graduate students to the School of Nursing for hands-on training using their labs. This is planned as an annual activity.

SP #5: Climate & Culture

• The SLP Department has sponsored the National Black Association for Speech-Language and Hearing annual convention since 2024 to support diversification in the field.