The CSU Pre-Doctoral Program is designed to support the doctoral aspirations of CSU students who have experienced economic and educational disadvantages as a way to diversify the pool of potential CSU faculty.
Program participants are known as Sally Casanova scholars. They are juniors, seniors, and master's level students from a variety of academic disciplines. Each of these scholars is mentored by a faculty member from their respective campus and receives a $5,000 scholarship. The funds provide the Sally Casanova Scholars with an opportunity to travel to various University of California (UC) campuses and other doctoral-granting institutions for site visits, attendance at national symposia and professional meetings, exposing them to their field of interest, and memberships in professional organizations, subscriptions to academic journals, or purchasing of supplies necessary to carry out their current research agenda.
In addition, these scholars are offered an opportunity to participate in a summer research experience at any doctoral-granting institution in the United States, with particular emphasis on the UCs. The eight-week program gives the scholars direct exposure to doctoral-granting faculty and research, preparing them for entry into doctoral programs.
Psychology graduate student Jimenez Delgado is working with Dr. Amanda Hahn in the Behavioral Endocrinology Research Lab. Jimenez Delgado's thesis focuses on how hormones affect behavior, especially in social situations. She plans to earn a doctoral degree to further understand how hormones and social stress can lead to changes in behavior that impact women's mental, emotional, and physical health.
Jimenez Delgado plans to use the Sally Casanova scholarship to attend the Society for Affective Science, the Society for Personality and Social Psychology, and the Western Psychological Association conferences next year. These events will provide valuable opportunities to showcase her research findings and connect with faculty and students from doctoral-granting institutions. She is particularly interested in pursuing the summer research experience at UC Merced, UC Santa Barbara, or UC Davis for the summer research experience. Jimenez Delgado is applying to interdisciplinary Ph.D. programs in the areas of social and health psychology with the focus of expanding research in social neuroendocrinology.
“The Sally Casanova scholarship has allowed me to connect with researchers at different doctoral institutions. I am so excited to have the chance to travel to conferences, connect with scholars who share my research interests, and showcase my work thanks to this scholarship,” Jimenez Delgado said.
Jimenez Delgado is profoundly grateful for the invaluable support of Dr. Hahn, whose unwavering support played a significant role in her application journey. She aspires to pay it forward by guiding other students interested in applying to the CSU Pre-Doctoral Program.
Felix is a Journalism student who plans to study trends of human trafficking along the U.S.-Mexico border. He hopes to eventually find solutions by researching its impacts through a Ph.D. program after he graduates from Humboldt. He plans to use mixed-method research methods to ensure the data does not lose the human element, bridging academia with human stories.
Felix says his experiences in Cal Poly Humboldt's journalism program have strengthened his investigative skills. He was inspired to apply for the CSU Pre-Doctoral Program after learning about it while accepting a previous CSU Trustees Award.
Growing up in Richmond, California, exposed Felix to the reality of trafficking and inspired his passion for addressing this issue, which further drove him to journalism to nurture his investigative skills. Felix envisions academia as a strong platform for impactful research, citing the importance of institutional support when tackling complex issues like human trafficking.
Felix is exploring graduate programs that allow for focused research on trafficking, particularly those with a criminology or sociology emphasis. He is interested in the University of New Mexico, Emory University, and the University of Denver for graduate studies. Felix hopes to return his research and expertise to the CSU system to inspire future students to research similar topics.
"The CSU Pre-Doctoral Program has opened so many doors for me. It’s helped me see what’s possible, not just for my academic career but for the impact I want to have in the world,” Felix says.
Applications for the 2025-26 CSU Pre-Doctoral Program will open on Dec. 2. Learn more at www.calstate.edu/csu-system/faculty-staff/predoc.