Student Award Recipients

The symposium was held on Thursday, April 27 at Fresno State University. A total of 40 presentations were made (31 based on formal papers, 9 on abstracts only). Fifteen campuses were represented.Thanks again this year to the generosity of Dr. Gene Geisler, $5,000 awards were presented for the best papers in each of three categories, with smaller awards given for all other papers presented. The conference programThis link will open a PDF file. -  (pdf) is available in PDF format. 
 

Winning papers.

Photo (left to right): Dr. Gene Turner (SSRIC Chair, CSU Northridge),  Elia Shelby, Samantha Luna, Richard Kemp, Dr. Francis Neely (San Francisco State)
 

Gloria Rummels Award for Best Use of Quantitative Data:  Shelby Elia (Public Administration, Fresno State)
Public Perceptions of Exonerees from the Criminal Justice System
Abstract: The advent of DNA technology within the courtroom has given rise to an upward trend in exonerations of wrongfully-convicted individuals from the criminal justice system since the 1980s. To study the effects of demographic and conviction-scenario variables on public perceptions of exonerees, a random sample of 515 university students who issued consent answered survey questions following the reading of a variable manipulated, mock newspaper article depicting an exoneration. Results of this study indicated that the race of the participant and the reason for the wrongful conviction were significant in predicting perceptions of compensation, innocence, recidivism, and tax increases.

Charles McCall Award for Best Undergraduate Paper: Samantha Luna (Criminology, Fresno State).
The Impact of Veteran’s Mental Health and Offense Severity on Admissibility into Veterans Treatment Court
Abstract: Veterans Treatment Courts are specialty courts designed to give veterans who become involved with the legal system a second chance. This study sought to investigate the impact of veteran’s mental health (PTSD, war injury, no mental illness) and offense severity (DUI, DUI with injury, aggravated battery) on perceptions of admissibility into Veterans Treatment Court. Three hundred and sixty-one participants were randomly assigned to read one of nine fictitious news articles about a veteran recently convicted of a crime. Participants were then asked questions regarding that veteran’s admissibility into Veterans Treatment Court. IRB approval was received prior to the use of human subjects. 

Betty Nesvold Award for Best Graduate Paper: Richard Kemp (Political Science, CSU Bakersfield)
Preemptive Federalism: The Banking Dilemma Facing State Legal Marijuana Laws 
Abstract: Despite marijuana being prohibited under Federal law, as of 2016, 26 states and the District of Columbia have legalized marijuana for medical purposes, and eight states including the District of Columbia have legalized recreational marijuana. The current policy framework – cooperative federalism – established a new set of federal priorities in marijuana enforcement. While this new approach has resolved some uncertainties, others questions still persist. For example, under the Bank Secrecy Act (1970), federally insured banks face severe penalties for providing services to the marijuana industry. Because banks are liable to prosecution, less than one percent of banks have been willing to provide these financial services.  In sum, further incremental action is needed to resolve the current banking dilemmas regarding state marijuana laws.

The symposium was held on Thursday, May 5 at San Diego State University. A total of 64 presentations were made (48 based on formal papers, 16 on abstracts only). Sixteen campuses were represented.Thanks again this year to the generosity of Dr. Gene Geisler, $5,000 awards were presented for the best papers in each of three categories, with smaller awards given for all other papers presented. The conference programThis link will open a PDF file. -  (pdf) is available in PDF format. 

Winning papers.

Charles McCall Award for Best Undergraduate Paper

 
Photo (left to right): Gilbert Garcia (Awards Committee Chair, CSU Los Angeles),  Brittany Marberry, Hala Alnajar, Maria Pimentel, Dr. Stafford Cox (SSRIC Chair, CSU Long Beach).

• Best Paper
  • Maria Pimentel (Sociology, CSU Channel Islands).
    Is Education the Great Equalizer? Comparing the Wages of Native and Immigrant Latinos and Asians in California: 2000-2012.
    Abstract:This study analyzes the socioeconomic outcomes of Latino and Asian young-adults in California across two decades (2000-2012). Specifically, I examine how the income gap between immigrants and natives is influenced by educational attainment. For example, does education have the same pay-off regardless of nativity status? The immigrant generation is disaggregated by age of arrival into two groups: 1.0 and 1.5 generation. Two prevalent theories of immigrant assimilation, and theory of human capital are tested by utilizing individual level data from the 2000 U.S. census and 2008-2012 American Community Survey. Considering the continued growth of the immigrant population in California, this study of Latino and Asian young-adults provides insight to the state’s future workforce. 
• Honorable Mention
  • Brittany Marberry (Sociology, CSU Channel Islands). 
    Investigating Individual and Contextual Factors Related to Arrests Across Latino Immigrant Generations.
  • Hala Alnajar (Sociology, CSU Bakersfield). 
    On a Scale of Faith: Muslim American Attitudes Towards Homosexuality.

Betty Nesvold Award for Best Graduate Paper

 
Photo (left to right): Gilbert Garcia (Awards Committee Chair, CSU Los Angeles), Jacob Schreiber, Dara Seidl, Jen Marony, Dr. Stafford Cox (SSRIC Chair, CSU Long Beach).

• Best Paper
  • Dara Seidl (Geography, San Diego State University).
    Privacy and False Identification Risk in Geomasking Techniques.
    Abstract: Recent years have seen an uptick in location privacy research, including the application of geomasking procedures. Masking aims to protect privacy and preserve spatial information through the slight displacement of point data. False identification, or the mistaken association of data with the incorrect person, is an unexplored issue in geomasking, despite legal protections against false association. This study examines the risk of false identification in three masking techniques: random perturbation, donut masking, and Voronoi masking. Voronoi masking is found to best protect against false identification and preserve clustering properties of a San Francisco foreclosure data set.
• Honorable Mention
  • Jacob Schreiber (Anthropology, CSU Long Beach). 
    Everyone here is sick: Constructing Identities of Illness Through Narrative in Assisted Living.
  • Jen Marony (Sociology, CSU Northridge). 
    Tonight's Top Story: Newsworthiness and Race on Los Angeles' Television News.

Gloria Rummels Award for Best Use of Quantitative Data

 
Photo (left to right): Gilbert Garcia (Awards Committee Chair, CSU Los Angeles),  Ashley Araiza, Jose Lara-Ruiz, Kaitlyn Kauzor, Ginger Hashimoto, Dr. Stafford Cox (SSRIC Chair, CSU Long Beach).

• Best Paper
  • Ginger Hashimoto (Public Policy and Administration CSU Sacramento).
    Analyzing Factors that Predict Alumni Giving at a Public University in California. 
    Abstract: Using data from a California State University institution, this study conducted a two-part regression analysis to examine factors that predict alumni giving. The first stage uses logistic regression to determine donor likelihood and the second stage uses ordinary least squares regression to estimate gift amounts. Corroborating previous research, the study identified higher educational attainment, student involvement, age, median household income, and proximity to campus as statistically significant determinants for alumni giving. While not surprising, given the lack of literature specific to the CSU system, it is significant that the study validated such findings for public, non-research based institutions in California.
• Honorable Mention
  • Jose Lara-Ruiz and Kaitlyn Kauzor (Psychology, CSU Northridge). 
    MCI and Mild Alzheimer's Disease Patients' Cognitive and Functional Status as Predictors of Caregiver Burden.
  • Hala Alnajar (Sociology, CSU Bakersfield). 
    On a Scale of Faith: Muslim American Attitudes Towards Homosexuality.

The symposium was held on Thursday, May 7 at CSU Sacramento. A total of 55 presentations were made (37 based on formal papers, 18 on abstracts only). Thirteen campuses were represented. Thanks again this year to the generosity of Dr. Gene Geisler, $5,000 awards were presented for the best papers in each of three categories, with smaller awards given for all other papers presented. The conference programThis link will open a Word document. -  (docx) is available in MS Word format. 

Winning papers.

Photo (left to right): Dr. Matt Jarvis (SSRIC Chair, CSU Fullerton),  Simone Radliff, Aaron Jackson, Mikaela Vournas, Dr. Francis Neely (Awards Committee Chair, San Francisco State).

• The Gloria Rummels Award for Best Use of Quantitative Data: Simone Radiff (San Francisco State) for Education for Political Empowerment: The Effect of Collective-Efficacy Developing Curriculum and Experiences in High School Civics Courses on Political Engagement, 
• The Betty Nesvold Award for Best Graduate Paper: Aaron Jackson (CSU Sacramento) for Why They Endured: Trench Journalism as a Reflection of the Soldierly Community in World War One.
• The Charles McCall Award for Best Undergraduate Paper: Mikaela Vournas (Cal Poly SLO) for Mapping Motivations: Nutrition in Transition in Fiji.

The conference was held on Thursday, May 8 at CSU Fullerton. A special feature of this year's event was the awarding of prizes from the "SSRIC Faculty Memorial Fund." The fund was created thanks to a generous contribution from Dr. Gene Geisler, Professor Emeritus of Political Science at San Francisco State, and a key founding member of the Council. There were three Best Paper Awards of $5,000 each, and 47 awards of $100 each for other paper presentations. In all, 79 presentations (50 based on formal papers, 29 on abstracts only) were made. Sixteen CSU campuses and one community college were represented.

The conference programThis link will open a Word document. -  (docx) is available in PDF. 

Winning papers

Photo (left to right): Dr. John Korey (SSRIC Chair), Dr. James Till (Interim Assistant CSU Vice Chancellor, Research Initiatives and Partnerships), Noor Qwfan (CSU Bakersfield), Gokh Alshaif (CSU Bakersfield), Jennifer Bernard (CSU Fresno), Jody Lewis (CSU Sacramento), Dr. Steve Stambough (Conference host and Chair of Political Science, CSU Fullerton).

• The Betty Nesvold Award for Best Graduate Paper: Noor Qwfan and Gokh Alshaif, International Relations, CSU Bakersfield for Daughters of Sojourners: Yemeni American Females’ Experience in Education
• The Charles McCall Award for Best Undergraduate Paper: Jennifer Bernard, Economics, CSU Fresno for An Examination of California’s Realignment Policy and Property Crime Rates
• The Gloria Rummels Award for Best Paper Using Quantitative Data: Jody Lewis, Public Policy Administration, CSU Sacramento for Improving Bachelor’s Degree Completion Rates: An Examination of First Year Experience at Sac State

The conference was held on Thursday, May 2 at San Francisco State. There were about 30 presenters from about 8 campuses. The conference programThis link will open a PDF file. -  (pdf) is available in PDF. See more photos from the Conference This link will take you to an external website in a new tab..

Winning papers (award winners (Marc Joffe (left) and Karl Nicholas (right), shown with 2012-2013 SSRIC Chair, Dr. Rhonda Dugan; not shown, Kathryn Gruszecki):

Winning papers (award winners (left to right: Lauren Bates, Lia Marshall, Martha Nuño Diaz) shown with 2011-2012 SSRIC Chair, Dr. Josh Meisel):

• The Charles McCall Award for Best Undergraduate Paper: Karl Nicholas, San Francisco State, Effect of Poverty on Attorney Representation in San Francisco Family Court
• The Betty Nesvold Award for Best Graduate Paper: Kathryn Gruszecki, Cal Poly Pomona, Japanese Incumbency: A Focus on Confucian Values and the Liberal Democratic Party of Japan
• The Gloria Rummels Award for Best Use of Quantitative Data: Marc Joffe, San Francisco State, Drivers of Municipal Bond Defaults During the Great Depression

The conference was held on Thursday, May 3 at CSU Los Angeles. There were a record high 52 presentations by 65 students (including co-authors) from 9 CSU campuses. The conference programThis link will open a PDF file. -  (pdf) is available in PDF.

Winning papers (award winners (left to right: Lauren Bates, Lia Marshall, Martha Nuño Diaz) shown with 2011-2012 SSRIC Chair, Dr. Josh Meisel):

• The Charles McCall Award for Best Undergraduate Paper: Martha Nuño Diaz, California State University Fresno, Aqui y Alla: Using Alternative Medicine to Cope with Mexican-American Diaspora
• The Betty Nesvold Award for Best Graduate Paper: Lia Marshall, California State University Los Angeles, Acculturation and Health Literacy: Heart Disease Self-Management of Older Immigrant Adults
• The Gloria Rummels Award for Best Use of Quantitative Data: Lauren Bates, California State University Long Beach, Difference in Perspective Precipitates Difference in Memory Performance in the Survival Processing Paradigm

The conference was held on Friday, April 29 at San Jose State University. There were 14 presentations from 4 CSU campuses. The conference programThis link will open a PDF file. -  (pdf) (including presentation abstracts) is available in PDF format.

Winning papers:

• Samantha Paine (Antropology, San Jose State University). The Charles McCall Award for Best Undergraduate Paper, "An Ethnography of Water Birth and Its Representations on YouTube.com."
• Juan Pablo Mercado (Mexican American Studies, San Jose State University). The Betty Nesvold Award for Best Graduate Paper, "Re-visioning the Mexican American Experience in World War II."

The conference was held on Friday, April 30 at Cal Poly Pomona. There were 33 presentations (involving a total of 37 students) from 9 CSU campuses. The conference programThis link will open a PDF file. -  (pdf) is available in PDF format, as are abstractsThis link will open a PDF file. -  (pdf) of the papers submitted.

Winning papers: 

Dr. Ellen Berg (left), SSRIC Chair for 2009-2010, shown with (left to right):

• Daniel Krystosek - Sociology, Sacramento - Gloria Rummels Award for Best Quantitative Paper, "The Church Influences the State: Religion and Marijuana Laws."
• Mark Ocegueda - History, San Bernardino - Charles McCall Award for Best Undergraduate Paper, "Lopez v. Seccombe: The City of Sn Bernardino's Mexican American Defense Committee and Its Role in Regional and National Desegregation."
• Andria Black - Political Science, Long Beach - Betty Nesvold Award for Best Graduate Paper, "Composing a Nation: A Multidisciplinary Approach to French Nationalism."

The conference was held on Friday, May 8 at CSU, Sacramento. There were 43 presentations (involving a total of 50 students) from 12 CSU campuses. The conference programThis link will open a PDF file. -  (pdf) is available in PDF format.

Winning papers:

Dr. Kathy Naff (right), SSRIC Chair for 2008-2009, shown with (left to right):

• Christopher Lewis - Business Management, Long Beach - Gloria Rummels Award for Best Quantitative Paper, "Capitalization or Lock-In? An Empirical Study of the 2003 Capital Gains Tax Cut."
• Daniel Liu - Government, Sacramento - Betty Nesvold Award for Best Graduate Paper, "US-China Relations Viewed through the Lenses of Prospect Theory."
• Vivian Helliwell - Economics, Humboldt - Charles McCall Award for Best Undergraduate Paper, "Fisheries Management for California Dungeness Crab: Adaption to Change."

The conference was held on Friday, May 2 at CSU Long Beach. Students from 11 CSU campuses made a total of 43 presentations.

Winning papers:

• The winner of the Charles McCall Award for best undergraduate paper was Chris Curd (Sociology, Long Beach) for his paper, "Male Virgins: Social Isolation, Religion and Self-esteem.
• Elizabeth P. Adie (Psychology, Long Beach) won the Betty Nesvold Award for best graduate paper for her paper on "The Effect of Social Support on Depression and Maternal Stress Dduring Pregnancy."
• The Gloria Rummels Award for best paper using quantitative data went to Jeff Hemsley (Economics, East Bay) for his paper, "Tobacco Interests, Information Policy and Market Failure: An Empirical Analysis.

Honorable Mentions (awarded for the first time this year):

• Melanie Duncan (Sociology, Chico), "Young Feminists and the Beauty Ideal: Analysis of Internalization and Reduction Behaviors."
• John J. Eddy (Anthropology, Northridge), "Source Characterization of Santa Cruz Island Chlorite Schist and Its Role in Stone Bead and Ornament Exchange Networks."
• Brooke Hundtoft (Anthroploogy, Long Beach), "Stylistic Variability of Stemmed Obsidian Biface Tools on Easter Island Using a Frequency Seriation."

The conference was held on Friday, April 27 at CSU East Bay. Students from 11 CSU campuses made a total of 24 presentations.