B.A. in Humanities & Communication
Minor in Environmental Health Policy
ABOUT
Hi! I am a senior majoring in Ethnic & Gender Studies as well as Journalism & Mass Media and am minoring in Environmental Health Policy.
​
My research interests in organization and rhetorical communication, misinformed ideals of professionalism, and Foucauldian power modalities are shaped by my experience working with the Otter Cross Cultural Center (OC3). I participated in the OC3’s social justice internship as a freshman, and now hold the role of the Internship Development Student Coordinator in the center. Activism is central to my research and academic interests, and I plan on teaching in higher education and social justice curriculum development. In my own writing and as a UROC Writing Fellow, I value storytelling and authenticity. I have applied to a mix of Ph.D. and Masters' programs in Communication, Social Justice, American Studies, and Women and Gender Studies.
As a sophomore, I was selected as a Dewar Scholar and have since had the opportunity to extensively research crisis communication concerning COVID-19 at CSUMB alongside my research mentors Dr. Sam Robinson, Dr. Shantel Martinez, and Dr. Kelly Medina-Lopez. With our research, we have been invited to speak at many conferences, including the Global Communication Summit, as a CSUMB Delegate for the 35th Annual CSU Student Research Competition hosted by Cal Poly Pomona, and CSUMB’s Graduate & Undergraduate Research, Scholarship, & Creative Activity Showcase, in which we won first place. We have also written for and received two grants from the Arts and Humanities Division of the Council on Undergraduate Research (CURAH) to continue our research.
​​
ASPIRATIONS
I believe that the first step in advocacy is education.
​
This disconnect between the potential social media has on all online users and our ability to overcome it will be the deciding factor in how online engagement will be utilized in the upcoming years. Media literacy is absolutely required to be able to use social media to our advantage to organize and participate democratically in this country. Those that flourish on their online platforms were privileged enough to be educated on social media consumption.
​
EDUCATION
-
CAL STATE MONTEREY BAY
August 2018 - May 2022
Majoring in Humanities and Communication with concentrations in Journalism and Mass Media & Gender and Ethnic Studies and minoring in Environmental Health Policy.
Seaside, CA
-
NORTHCOAST PREPARATORY ACADEMY
August 2014 - May 2018
Along with my high school diploma, I received my International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma. The IB Programme is an internationally accepted qualification for entry into higher education and is recognized by many universities worldwide.
Arcata, CA
RESEARCH EXPERIENCE
UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCHER
-
Project Title: Higher Education is Not Immune to Messaging Mishaps: A Qualitative Rhetorical Analysis of COVID-19 Messaging on U.S. Campuses​​
​
Universities across the nation faced an unprecedented challenge of transitioning to remote instruction due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Our research explores the rhetoric used by universities while communicating the changes resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic.
​
Assessing these messages through rhetorical analysis included examining factors such as accessibility, quality, the inclusion of resources, reading level, diction, and appropriateness for the target audience.
​
Analyzing and comparing demographic information for the campuses and communities helps us to determine if the communication style matches the audience’s needs. By studying how different campuses handled their emergency communication, we can begin to develop recommendations of best practices for a university to be more accessible, diverse, equitable, and inclusive, regardless of the emergency.
UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCHER
-
Project Title: Vaccine Hesitancy in Seaside and Monterey County in Black and Latinx communities
​
Under the mentorship of Dr. Vanessa Lopez-Littleton, I supported the research team with the creation and distribution of a survey to collect information from Black residents on vaccine hesitancy to aid the Seaside Action Team to increase vaccinations. I experienced firsthand the research process from the beginning of a project, community collaboration, and survey creation and distribution.
PRESENTATIONS
-
“Higher education is not immune to messaging mishaps: A qualitative rhetorical analysis of COVID-19 messaging on U.S. campuses” (virtual oral presentation).
-
​Amelia Parker, Jesus Sanchez Orozco, and Dr. Sam Robinson. CSU/UROC Monterey Bay Graduate and Undergraduate Research, Scholarship, & Creative Activity Showcase, November 12th, 2020.
-
-
“Higher education is not immune to messaging mishaps: A qualitative rhetorical analysis of COVID-19 messaging on U.S. campuses” (virtual oral presentation).
-
Amelia Parker, Dr. Sam Robinson. Undergraduate Research Opportunity Center (UROC), 2019-2021 Cohort. October 29, 2020.
-
-
“Higher education is not immune to messaging mishaps: A qualitative rhetorical analysis of COVID-19 messaging on U.S. campuses” (virtual poster and oral presentation).
-
Amelia Parker, Dr. Sam Robinson. Society for Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans in Science (SACNAS), Virtual. October 19-23, 2020.
-
-
Social Justice Dialogue: Election 2020: Call to Action When Democracy is At Risk. (virtual event)
-
Otter Cross Cultural Center, CSUMB. September 9, 2020.
-
-
“Higher education is not immune to messaging mishaps: A qualitative rhetorical analysis of COVID-19 messaging on U.S. campuses” (virtual oral presentation).
-
Amelia Parker, Jesus Sanchez Orozco, and Dr. Sam Robinson. 7th Annual Monterey Bay Summer Research Symposium, CSUMB, Seaside, CA. August 7, 2020.
-
AWARDS
-
CSU Monterey Bay Graduate and Undergraduate Research, Scholarship, & Creative Activity Showcase
-
Placed First in the 2020 CSUMB/UROC Fall Competition for the research project “Higher education is not immune to messaging mishaps: A qualitative rhetorical analysis of COVID-19 messaging on U.S. campuses”. Presented with research partner, Jesus Orozco on November 12th, 2020
-
-
Suzanne Dewar Memorial Undergraduate Research Scholarship
-
Scholarship for UROC Scholars committed to pursuing research in the Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences, funded by a private donor, 2-year recipient.
-
-
Florence C. & Alwin Krause Scholarship
-
Eligible for incoming juniors and seniors pursuing a degree in Humanities and Communication (HCOM) at California State University, Monterey Bay.
-
-
International Baccalaureate Diploma
-
Recipient of the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma after two years of study. The IB Programme is an internationally accepted qualification for entry into higher education and is recognized by many universities worldwide.
-
-
Best Magazine
-
Recognized by Humboldt State University’s Department of Journalism as Creator and Editor of NPA Travel Magazine.​​
-
-
Full Scholarship - American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU)
-
Received to attend the ACLU’s Summer Advocacy Institute in 2017, and again for their College Advocacy Institute in 2019.
-
LEADERSHIP & SERVICE
-
Student Representative
HCOM Student Council Advisory Committee, CSUMB-
Meets with the chair of the department twice a month to discuss suggestions, issues, and ideas for the major of Humanities and Communication (HCOM)
-
Created and manages the HCOM Monthly Newsletter and complies student work, resources, and deadlines for those either with a major or minor
-
Establishes and coordinates the HCOM Peer Mentorship Program, in which HCOM majors and minors are paired with peers for support and guidance; also serves as a Mentor.
-
-
Student Representative
Student Fee Advisory Committee, CSUMB-
Participates in a weekly meeting that deliberates and makes recommendations on student fee funding allocations, course fee requests, and student fee requests to CSU, Monterey Bay’s president, Eduardo Ochoa.
-
Works alongside different student leaders, staff, and faculty members to come to a consensus about the distribution of Materials, Services, and Facilities (MSF) funds to offices that request.
-
Analyzes one-time MSF proposals and course-fees for the fiscal year.
-
-
Internship Coordinator Intern
Otter Cross Cultural Center, CSUMB-
Engaged in dialogue around social justice issues.
-
Coordinated an event, titled “Do They Deserve Your Money?” which examined companies’ and monopolies’ environmental impact, efforts to improve, and techniques for event participants to research companies independently.
-
Acquired skills of Office Administrative work, social justice experience, tabling and student engagement, and initiative.
-
CONTACT

Mentors: Dr. Sam Robinson, Dr. Shantel Martinez, and Dr. Kelly Medina-Lopez
Relevance: My first research experience, I learned about coding manuals, inductive methodology, collecting, and coding messages. I also have the opportunity to present this research three times and counting, one of which we were awarded 1st place in the competition.
Skills: Presentation skills, communication, data collection and analysis, rhetorical analysis
​
Mentors: Dr. Vanessa Lopez-Littleton
Relevance: My second research experience gave me an opportunity to explore
Skills: Presentation skills, communication, data collection and analysis, rhetorical analysis
​