Former Research Assistants
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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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"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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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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Cat 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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Sunny Nordmarken | Sunny Nordmarken is a M.A. candidate in Sexuality Studies at San Francisco State University. At RISE, Sunny works on the Relations project. Prior to arriving at SFSU and RISE, Sunny worked at a therapeutic group home for foster children, coordinated a transgender and gender variant speaker’s bureau, and founded a transgender curriculum project. Sunny's research interests include inequality and justice in interpersonal relationships and in society, the sociology of emotions, race, whiteness, the politics of age and young people, and alternative embodiment. Sunny’s master’s thesis focuses on the emotional experiences of queer and transgender individuals in lasting polyamorous triad (three-way) relationships. Ultimately, Sunny would like to see the emotional well-being of students and teachers prioritized in the educational system at all levels, and especially in sexuality education. |
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RISE Team with Jessica Fields |