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RISE Student Interns
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Margaret Rhee |
Margaret Rhee is a graduate student in the
Ethnic Studies Program at San Francisco State University
and a project manager with Kathleen Hentz for RISE—Research
on Inequality, Sexuality, and Education. In RISE, Margaret
works on Jailed Women and HIV Education. She has received
an SFSU Graduate Equity Fellowship, Associated Students
Scholarship, and a McNair Scholarship. Her article, "Towards
Community: KoreAm Journal and Korean American Cultural
Attitudes on Same-Sex Marriage" was published in
Amerasia’s special issue on Same-Sex Marriage. Margaret’s
essay on white privilege and Asian American representation
was included in the anthology “Crash Course: Reflections
on the Film ‘Crash’ for Critical Dialogues
About Race, Power and Privilege.” Margaret earned
her BA in English/ Creative Writing from the University
of Southern California. She is an alum and scholarship
recipient at the Kundiman Asian American Emerging Poets
Retreat and the Voices of Our Nation Foundation Writers
of Color Workshop. |
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Kathleen Hentz |
Kathleen Hentz is a M.A. candidate in Human Sexuality
Studies at San Francisco State University (expected matriculation,
Spring 2008). Most recently, she worked with the San Francisco
Department of Public Health on Project T, a phase II clinical
trial that studied the safety of an HIV drug, among HIV
negative men who have sex with men. In this capacity,
she worked directly with participants, conducting HIV
pre/post test counseling and organizing all aspects of
their two year participation in the study. In addition
to her research experience, Kathleen comes to CRGS with
relevant teaching experience. She has taught comprehensive
sexual education to high school students and is currently
teaching Health at Life Learning Academy, a charter high
school on Treasure Island. Kathleen received her BS at
the University of California at San Diego; she doubled
majored in Biology and Music and minored in Psychology.
Kathleen's research interests include: adolescent sexual
identity and gender development; HIV prevention; and comprehensive
health education. At CRGS, Kathleen is working with incarcerated
women on a participatory action research project involving
HIV prevention and health education. |
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Kendra Bloom |
Kendra Bloom is a M.A. candidate in Human Sexuality
Studies at San Francisco State University (expected graduation,
Spring 2009). In 2005, she graduated with a B.A. in Gender
Studies from UC Berkeley, where she completed a senior
thesis entitled, “A Healthy Dose of Skepticism:
The Connection of Health, Thinness and Femininity in Popular
Culture.” Most recently, Kendra worked as a Prevention
Educator doing self-defense trainings and classroom presentations
for Community Violence Solutions, the rape crisis center
for Marin and Contra Costa Counties. Kendra’s research
interests include comprehensive sexuality and health education
as means for social change, identity formation, queer
theory, youth and popular culture, minority health disparities,
theories of embodiment and feminist strategies of resistance.
Currently, Kendra is working on the Relations project
with RISE at the CRGS. |
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Catherine White |
Cat White is a research assistant with RISE—Research
on Inequality, Sexuality and Education and works on
the Jailed Women and HIV Education project. As part
of that work, Cat is co-authoring a research article
on the “lessons learned” in the early stages
of that project. As a graduate of the RISE workshops
in the San Francisco jails, Cat brings unique perspectives
and knowledge to the group’s research for social
change for women of color. Cat is also a member of the
FREE Women Coalition, which advocates for reentry support
for formerly incarcerated women in San Francisco. Cat’s
writings have been presented at meetings sponsored by
the National Sexuality Resource Center and Centerforce.
Cat feels it is vital to advocate for women on health,
sexuality, and empowerment. She is eager to contribute
to the RISE team and continue to study issues around
women of color and imprisonment. |
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Christina Monroe |
Christina Monroe is an undergraduate student at San
Francisco State University studying Sociology. She is
a first-year scholar in the Career Opportunities in Research
(COR) Program funded by the National Institute of Mental
Health (NIMH). Through COR, Christina has had the research
opportunity to work at the Center for Research on Gender
and Sexuality and RISE—Research on Inequality, Sexuality,
and Education. In RISE, Christina works as a research
assistant with Jailed Women and HIV Education project.
Previously, she was an active participant with Girls Justice
Initiative, serving as a mentor for at-risk youth. Her
interest in juvenile justice and the criminal justice
system informs her current work as a research assistant
with Jessica Fields, who also serves as Christina’s
COR mentor. Christina’s research interests include
minorities’ experiences of higher education, gender-
and culture-sensitive juvenile probation programs, and
racial and ethnic identity formation. Her inspiration
is rooted in social justice. |
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"L" Lemercier |
“L” is an international student from Singapore
in her senior year, majoring in sociology. A self-driven
individual, she sometimes forgets [her own] boundaries
when motivated to achieving her goal(s). She is a new
member of RISE—Research on Inequality, Sexuality
and Education and works on the Jailed Women and HIV Education
project. Her role in the project is currently focused
on grant writing, under the mentorship of Jessica Fields.
Her responsibilities include seeking funding to support
research and future phases of the Jailed Women and HIV
Education project. She hopes to pursue graduate studies
in sociology after she completes her bachelor’s
degree in spring 2008 |
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Lanice Avery |
Lanice Avery is a senior at San Francisco State University,
double majoring in Black Studies and Psychology. The first
in her family to attend college, she has a deep commitment
to advocating for marginalized youth. Having experienced
firsthand the impact of discrimination based both on race
and sexual orientation, Lanice has devoted her energy
to serving as an educational advocate for her peers. Building
on these experiences and commitments, Lanice has worked
for many years with various HIV/AIDS organizations helping
LGBT youth gain access to higher education. Lanice is
a member of a number of select honor societies and scholarship
programs, including the New Leader Scholars of the Goldman
Family Fund. Lanice is also a first-year student in the
Career Opportunities in Research Program (COR) at San
Francisco State University. Through COR, Lanice is a research
assistant with Jessica Fields and RISE—Research
on Inequality, Sexuality and Education. |
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G. Samuel Ruiz J. |
Sam is a second-year Career Opportunities in Research
(COR) student with senior standing at San Francisco State
University. He was born in the city of Guanajuato, capital
of the state by the same name in central Mexico but has
resided in the San Francisco Bay Area for over 16 years.
He finished elementary and middle-school in Marin County
and graduated from Pinole Valley High School in the East
Bay. He is currently working with his mentor, Jessica
Fields, as part of RISE—Research on Inequality and
Sexuality Education. He works on the Relations project,
an international ethnographic study of young adults. He
is interested in the process of how diverse young adults
negotiate an identity and how this process informs health
behaviors and outcomes. Other areas of interests include
the Internet as a public health and research tool and
public health policy and immigrant communities. |
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Allyse Grey |
Allyse Grey is a research assistant for RISE Research
on Inequality, Sexuality and Education working on the
Jailed Women and H.I.V. Education project. She is
a graduate of the RISE workshops in the San Francisco
jails and a member of the graduates group that advocated
with jail medical staff on behalf of women's needs and
rights. Allyse is also a Rising Voices intern, a
creative writing and performance group. She has
performed her creative writing at Intersection for the
Arts and the Women's Reentry Center. Allyse is excited
to contribute in the many ways she can to RISE and to
be a part of the research team. She knows that women being
able to speak up for health needs is very important and
looks forward to advocating for women through her work
in the arts and with RISE. |
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RISE Team with Jessica Fields |
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