Pathways to the Professoriate

Alumni - Cohort 2

Paolo AielloPaolo Aiello
American Studies, New York University

Paolo graduated from CSUN with a double major in Central American Studies & Spanish Literature. His research project "Disabling Testimonio: Exploring the Testimonials of Undocumented and Disabled Immigrants from Honduras" was overseen by HSI Pathways/Mellon Faculty Mentor Alicia Estrada of the Department of Chicana/o Studies. Paolo’s research interests include critical race theory, postcolonialism, subaltern theory, testimonio and migration. He is currently a student in the American Studies doctoral program at New York University.

Sara AlmallaSara Almalla
Ethnic Studies, The University of California, San Diego

Sara graduated from CSUN with a major in Sociology. Her research project "Sociocultural Diasporas: The Experiences of American Muslim Women in Post-Secondary Institutions" was overseen by HSI Pathways/Mellon Faculty Mentor Moshoula Capous-Desyllas of the Department of Sociology. Sara’s research interests include transnational issues, Middle Eastern immigrant diaspora in the United States, gender and sexuality in Muslim communities, and intersectional feminist theory. She is currently a student in the Ethnic Studies doctoral program at the University of California, San Diego.

Liam Espinoza-ZemlickaLiam Espinoza-Zemlicka
Anthropology, The University of California, Riverside

Liam graduated from CSUN with a major in CTVA and a minor in Anthropology. His research project "Fans in the Gutter: People of Color in Comic Book Fandom" was overseen by HSI Pathways/Mellon Faculty Mentor Gisela Lanzas and Subject Specialist Suzanne Scheld, both of the Department of Anthropology. Liam’s research interests include fan culture, race in popular culture, communities of practice, and the relationship between media and identity. He is currently a student in the Anthropology doctoral program at the University of California, Riverside.

Lyrianne GonzalezLyrianne González
History, Cornell University

Lyrianne graduated from CSUN with a double major in Chicana/o Studies & Psychology. She was also a University Scholar.  Her research project "The Children of Braceros: Familial Ties, Education, and Social Activism, 1942-2018" was overseen by HSI Pathways/Mellon Faculty Mentor Melisa Galván of the Department of Chicana/o Studies. Lyrianne’s research interests include Chicana/o history, twentieth-century U.S.-Mexico relations, child and family history, migration history, labor history, oral history, immigrant experience, and immigrant social mobility. She is currently a student in the History doctoral program at Cornell University.

Vanessa LopezVanessa López
English-Rhetoric and Writing, The University of Texas, Austin

Vanessa graduated from CSUN with a major in English. Her research project "Third Space Chicanx: Visual Rhetoric and Participatory Culture" was overseen by HSI Pathways/Mellon Faculty Mentor JC Lee of the Department of English. Vanessa’s research interests include visual rhetoric, transmedia activism, critical discourse analysis, convergence culture, and multiliteracies. She is currently a student in the English (Rhetoric and Writing) doctoral program at the University of Texas at Austin.

Gema Ludisaca

Gema Ludisaca
English, The University of California, Irvine

Gema graduated from CSUN with a major in English. She was also a Sally Casanova Scholar and a University Scholar.  Her research project "Transgenerational Trauma: The Gothic Allure of the Harry Potter Series " was overseen by HSI Pathways/Mellon Faculty Mentor Jackie Stallcup of the Department of English. Gema’s research interests include Gothic literature, children's literature, trauma theory, psychoanalysis, and popular culture.  She is currently a student in the English doctoral program at the University of California, Irvine.

Hannah MangumHannah Mangum
Sociology, Northwestern University

Hannah graduated from CSUN with a major in Sociology. She was also a Sally Casanova Scholar and a University Scholar. Her research project "Social Media as an Emerging Pathway to Commercial Sexual Exploitation: Exploring the Experiences of Social Service Providers Working with Female Youth Age 10-18 in the Foster Care System" was overseen by HSI Pathways/Mellon Faculty Mentor Lauren McDonald of the Department of Sociology. Hannah’s research interests include culture, mass media, deviance, and youth & adolescence.  She is currently a student in the Sociology doctoral program at Northwestern University.

Carla Martinez

Carla Martinez
Cultural Studies, The University of California, Davis

Carla graduated from CSUN with a major in Deaf Studies. Her research project “Deaf Nepantla: The experiences of Deaf Latinxs in Higher Education" was overseen by Subject Specialist Tracy Buenavista of the Department of Asian American Studies. Carla’s research interests include Undocumented students, Latinx students, critical race theory, and Deaf students. She is currently a student in the Cultural Studies doctoral program at the University of California, Davis.

Kenia RodriguezKenia Rodriguez
English, The University of Connecticut

Kenia graduated from CSUN with a major in English. Her research project “Trauma, Machismo, and Childhood Abuse in Reyna Grande’s Memoir Adapted for Young Readers” was overseen by HSI Pathways/Mellon Faculty Mentor Krystal Howard of the Department of Liberal Studies. Kenia’s research interests include Latinx young adult literature, digital humanities, and textual analysis via computational tools. She is currently a student in the English doctoral program at the University of Connecticut.