Arcata Elementary After School Program

College of Professional Studies

All together we volunteered over 60 hours at Arcata Elementary After School Program where we had to chance to interact with the staff and students. During this experience we were able to work one on one with some children as well as work/play with larger groups during "clubs". Being able to give our time to these children and focus on them for the few hours we were there was a very rewarding experience that we would like to share.

Arcata Marsh Fun Run/5K

College of Professional Studies

Arcata Fun Run/5K benefiting the Center Activities Outdoor Access Fund

Art is Culture, Culture is Medicine

College of Professional Studies

The aim of this project was to address the lack of Indigenous representation in the Boys & Girls Club in Klamath, which operates on the Yurok Reservation. We were tasked by the Yurok Tribe and the Boys & Girls Club of the Redwoods to create a culturally appropriate mural.

Assessing BDNF Levels over 30 Days via Capillary Blood

College of Professional Studies

Brain health, and the benefits of physical exercise, have been linked to a biological signaling molecule called brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). Numerous studies have investigated BDNF levels before and after exercise. Some benefits of increased BDNF concentration have been associated eith better cognitive functioning, memory and neuronal support. Decreased BDNF levels have been linked to poorer cognitive functioning, poorer memory recall, and apoptosis (cell death). This study investigates BDNF variability over a longer duration (30 days) through capillary-drawn blood and will do a correlational analysis to see if recent physical exercise increases circulating BDNF concentrations.

Assessing BDNF Levels over 45 days via Capillary blood

College of Professional Studies

Brain health, and the benefits of exercise, have been linked to a biological signaling molecule called brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). Results have been inconsistent especially in human studies, which may be attributed to incomplete information about normal variation in BDNF levels over time. This study aims to assess BDNF measurements (3 x a week) from human participants under normal life conditions over a span of up to 45 days, a longer span than has been reported in any other study to our knowledge. We will also collect their exercise activity during the study to see if there is a correlation.

Assessing The Effectiveness of Latinx Center for Academic Excellence & Cultural Space Model Mentorship

College of Professional Studies

We will be assessing the newly implemented programming model used by the LCAE in order to understand where improvements are needed and where we can identify strengths to establish best practices at the center. We will also be looking at how many people use the center and how we can focus outreach efforts in the future. This assessment is being done for internal programming purposes and to support HSU in its larger mission to improve outcomes for students of color, particularly Latinx students at HSU.

Assessing The Effectiveness of Latinx Center for Academic Excellence & Cultural Space Model Mentorship

College of Professional Studies

We will be assessing the newly implemented programming model used by the LCAE in order to understand where improvements are needed and where we can identify strengths to establish best practices at the center. We will also be looking at how many people use the center and how we can focus outreach efforts in the future. This assessment is being done for internal programming purposes and to support HSU in its larger mission to improve outcomes for students of color, particularly Latinx students at HSU.

Autonomy Support Promotes College Student Engagement Through Mastery-Approach Goals and Self-Esteem

College of Professional Studies

COVID-19 brought about unprecedented difficulties for college students. Challenges associated with online learning, such as one-way interactions, presented obstacles to college engagement. We explored the role that instructors play in fostering greater academic involvement. Specifically, we examined the effects of autonomy support. Autonomy support involves encouraging students to explore their own interests and self-regulate. We posited that autonomy support would predict, respectively, greater self-esteem and mastery-approach goals for students. In turn, we expected that these effects would predict greater engagement. Our findings highlight the importance of autonomy support.

Bake the World a Better Place: 501(c)3 Development

College of Professional Studies

Bake the World a Better Place is a non-profit organization based out of Denver, Colorado that aims to holistically improve the community. Presently, the organization engages in job training and job placement of marginalized populations such as those experiencing homelessness. Additionally, continuing collaborations are being made with local hotels to assist with housing individuals during the job training process. Products made during the classes are shared with individuals living on the streets. Through building community partnerships between business, social service agencies, and vulnerable populations, each entity is taking an active role in helping improve their community.

Balance and Wellness in First Responder Agencies

College of Professional Studies

This project fulfills the requirements for the Masters degree in Social Work. The design of the project is informed by a relational worldview, specifically the work of Terry Cross who suggests that a circular experience of the world intersects with more linear representations of reality. It is at the places of intersection that opportunities for dialogue occur and the intent of the project is to make the experiences of first responders visible to those who do not have access to this knowledge and experience. The creative work is the construction of an empathic bridge between the community and first responders through poetry in honor of the belief that we are all connected.