- May 12, 2020

Our research teams have the privilege of working with a diverse group of students from Arizona State University and surrounding institutions. The Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention would like to share the accomplishments and career goals of our 2020 CHPDP graduates.  

Chelsea Cameron earned a Master of Science in Chemistry from Grand Canyon University. She is a research technician for the Food Environment Measurement for People with Mobility Impairment project with Dr. Rebecca Lee and a chemistry and microbiology laboratory technician at Central Arizona College. In the fall, she will be teaching general college chemistry as an adjunct faculty member at Central Arizona College. 

Lisbeth Cantu completed a Bachelor of Science in Public Health with a certificate in Public Administration and Public Management. She is a research technician for the Sustainability via Active Garden Education project with Dr. Rebecca Lee. She plans to take the Certified Health Education Specialist exam to become a health education specialist and to pursue a master’s degree in Community Health Education.

Jasmine Arlyn Mae Cura earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing with a minor in Personal Health. Through the guidance of Drs. Angela Chen, Elizabeth Reifsnider, and SeungYong Han, she completed her thesis, titled "Knowledge of Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) and HPV Vaccination Intent: The Adolescent Perspective". Jasmine plans to work as an adult health medical-surgical nurse and to pursue a PhD in nursing. 

Coles Hoffmann earned a Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing and Healthcare Innovation and successfully defended her dissertation entitled, "The Associations of Physical Activity, Sedentary Behavior, and Sleep with Cognitive Function in Adults without Cognitive Impairment," under the mentorship of Drs. Megan Petrov and Rebecca Lee. She plans to pursue a postdoctoral fellowship in Stockholm, Sweden to continue her research examining the relationship between lifestyle behaviors and cognitive impairment and dementia.

Taylor James earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing after completing the Mayo Clinic/ ASU nursing program. She completed her honor’s thesis, “Heart-Focused Breathing and Perceptions of Burden in Alzheimer’s Caregivers: An Online Randomized Controlled Pilot Study,”under the guidance of Drs. Linda Larkey and Dara James. Taylor looks forward to beginning her nursing career in an inpatient orthopedic or oncology unit.

Jillian Jone earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing with a Personal Health Minor. She has been a member of Dr. Linda Larkey's Recovery and Rejuvenation research team and completed her Barrett Honor's Thesis, “The Public Knowledge of Acne Scar Prevention,” under the mentorship of Drs. Rebecca Lee and Tamara Redden. She will begin her career as an adult acute or critical care nurse and hopes to transition into neonatology in the future.

Neeku Navabi completed a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. Her Barrett Honor’s Thesis, “Relationship between Physical Activity, VLDL Lipoproteins, and T2DM risk in Obese Latino Youth,” was conducted under the mentorship of Drs. Gabe Shaibi and Erica Soltero. Neeku plans to obtain a position as a pediatric nurse in a cardiovascular intensive care unit and to pursue a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner degree in the future. 

Alicia O'Neal earned a Master’s degree in Higher and Post-Secondary Education. She worked this past year with Dr. Rebecca Lee as a research technician and completed her final applied project, titled "Self-Inflicted Peer Pressure and Alcohol Consumption: An In-Depth Look at First- and Second-Year ASU Student Behaviors.” She will pursue a PhD in Population Health, Health Policy and Management, at the University of Kansas School of Medicine beginning this fall, and plans to conduct clinical research on chronic disease and cancer.

Halima Osman completed a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. Under the guidance of Drs. Elizabeth Reifsnider and SeungYong Han, her Barrett Honor’s Thesis, titled “Consistency in Childhood Temperament,” focused on how consistently parents rated their child’s temperament when asked characteristic and temperamental questions. Halima plans to obtain a job as a pediatric nurse in the emergency department and further her education to become a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner.

Jiwon Park completed a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. His Barrett Honor's Thesis, "Linguistic Content of Stories Told by Caregivers of Hematopoietic Cell Transplant Recipients," describes the language use of caregivers of transplant recipients when talking about the transplant experience relative to norms. His mentors include Drs. Shelby Langer and Sunny Kim. Jiwon plans to work as an operation room or intensive care unit nurse.

Blair Puleo earned a Master’s degree in Counseling Psychology. Her thesis, "Laboratory-derived, Coded Communicative Behaviors among Individuals with Cancer and their Caregiving Partners," was completed with the guidance of co-advisors Drs. Shelby Langer and Frank Dillon. Blair plans to pursue a doctorate in counseling beginning this fall through ASU’s Counseling Psychology program.

Noelle Williams earned a Bachelor of Science in Nutrition under the mentorship of Dr. Rebecca Lee. She plans to pursue her master’s degree in the future.

Congratulations from all center faculty, staff and students! Thank you for all of your hard work. We wish you the best in your future endeavors.