California State University, Monterey Bay
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Advocacy at the Front Door
No full textThis capstone project examines how integrating social work practices into the jail intake process can strengthen support for clients represented by the Public Defender’s Office. The project focuses on understanding the challenges clients face at the earliest point of contact often marked by trauma, instability, and limited access to services and how a social-work-informed approach can improve outcomes. Through direct observation, interviews with staff, and review of intake procedures, the project identifies key gaps in assessment, communication, and referrals. Findings highlight the need for more holistic intake practices that address clients’ social, mental health, and resource needs alongside their legal concerns. The project proposes a model that incorporates trauma-informed interviewing, needs assessments, and stronger collaboration between public defenders and social service providers. Implementing these strategies can enhance client advocacy, reduce barriers to services, and support more equitable and effective defense representation
Improving Reading Strategies in Middle Childhood
No full textChildren’s early literacy skills are crucial for reading and comprehension to achieve academic success. Immigrant Parents, whose English is not their primary spoken language, are unable to support their children in this developmental step. Because of this gap in support, schools play a critical role in providing structured opportunities for literacy development. Emphasizing the need for ongoing support for children to improve their literacy skills. Research shows that structured literacy programs can strengthen children’s reading outcomes over time, emphasizing the need for consistent support to help them develop strong literacy skills. To address this issue, I created a one-day lesson for fourth-grade children at Arroyo Seco Academy Elementary in Greenfield, California
Aligning Capacity with Community Needs: A Comprehensive Donor Assessment System for Sunnyvale Community Services
No full textSunnyvale Community Services (SCS) is an independent nonprofit organization serving as one of Santa Clara counties designated emergency assistance network agencies. It’s located in Sunnyvale, California, in the heart of Silicon Valley, where they operate a high-demand food program to prevent hunger in the local community. Due to the program’s limited resources, strategic donor engagement is essential for sustaining and expanding services to ensure the community needs are met. This project works to develop a comprehensive donor assessment, tool, integrated database, and administrative report to support SCS in evaluating current and prospective donors with greater consistency, efficiency, and insight. The project utilizes qualitative data collected through phenomenological interviews with the chief programs officer who was able to provide critical perspective on donor relationships, operational challenges, and informational needs for effective screening and stewardship. Currently results remain undiscovered, but SCS is excited to roll out the program in January 2026
Effects of Depth, Substrate, and Wave Energy on Nearshore Demersal Fish Community Structure off Central California
No full textFish species are not randomly distributed across space and changes in fish assemblages often occur in response to environmental variation, habitat characteristics, and species interactions, which are often scale-dependent. Understanding fine scale habitat associations can contribute to marine spatial planning, modeling efforts, and marine resource management. While habitat associations have been observed and studied on a variety of different scales, there is a distinct lack of information about how these factors influence fish assemblages in mesophotic depths in temperate ecosystems. In this study, I investigated species-habitat associations of demersal fish communities within an intermediate depth zone (20 60 m) and identified the importance of different habitat variables in shaping these communities. Using remote underwater video platforms equipped with stereo-video, I examined how abundance, size, diversity, species richness, and community composition changed at three different sites, with respect to three different habitat and environmental variables: depth, habitat complexity, and wave energy/exposure. Overall, fish communities did not differ significantly across the depth range examined, although fish abundance was positively associated with depth at one site, suggesting its importance is likely site specific. Certain habitat characteristics, such as relief and rugosity, singularly contributed to changes in diversity and species richness. Others, such as vector ruggedness measure and topographic position index worked in combination with depth, to explain observed differences in fish abundance and fish body size, with both abundance and size increasing along a depth gradient in areas of high habitat complexity. Wave energy negatively influenced fish abundance at the more exposed site, and wave exposure may also have driven overall differences in body size. This work highlights how environmental and habitat characteristics influence fish communities differently at different locations, despite similar species and close proximity. Future research should aim to include more environmental variables to further our knowledge regarding specific habitat associations. This knowledge can be used to inform future species distribution modeling efforts, along with future marine spatial planning. With the growing use and implementation of marine spatial protections, accurate species-habitat models are important to help reduce survey efforts and cost, and ensure spatial protections are appropriately designated
Unveiling Dynamics of the Monterey Bay Upwelling Shadow Front: Insights From Dorado AUV Time Series
Full text linkThis thesis investigates the fine-scale dynamics of the Monterey Bay upwelling shadow front by integrating autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) observations with environmental DNA (eDNA) analysis. Using a clustering technique on temperature-salinity profiles from 29 missions, I identified distinct water masses that consistently reflected seasonal and spatial hydrographic structure. Phytoplankton communities, resolved via eDNA and robust Aitchison Principal Component Analysis (PCA), exhibited clear seasonal transitions-from diatom-dominated assemblages during peak upwelling to dinoflagellate-enriched communities in warm, stratified shadow waters in the fall. Case studies during sustained upwelling revealed front-associated differences in community composition, supported by ordination and statistical testing. Notably, t-tests comparing taxonomic correlation matrices show significant divergence in internal community structure between water masses, with transitional clusters exhibiting distinct co-occurrence patterns. These findings underscore the tight coupling between ecological structure and hydro graphic gradients, and highlight the value of integrating physical clustering with eDNA to inform real-time ecosystem monitoring and Harmful Algal Bloom (HAB) forecasting. This work advances our understanding of upwelling systems and contributes to the development of scalable, high-resolution tools for coastal ocean management
Phylogenomics of African Labeo (Cypriniformes: Cyprinidae) Emphasizing Central African Species
Full text linkLabeo constitutes the largest genus within the cyprinid tribe Labeonini with over 110 recognized species in Africa and Asia. The clade comprises a major component of the herbivore/detritivore guild with considerable socio-economic importance to artisanal and commercial fisheries. A pan-African distribution and wide variety of habitat occupancy make the group a model to investigate diversification patterns, eco-phenotypic variation, and biogeographical events underpinning their radiation at a continental scale. However, previous attempts to elucidate Labeo systematics using either molecular or morphological data have failed to produce congruent and robust results, and much taxonomic and nomenclatural confusion remains. Here we present the first phylogenomic analysis of the genus using 2,187 ultraconserved elements from 85 taxa, including 56 recognized species, 27 cryptic (candidate) species, and outgroups from the Asian Labeonini. Both concatenated and coalescence-based phylogenetic analyses strongly support monophyly of African Labeo and recover three major clades comprising at least nine species groups. Two main clades are pan-African, while the third is restricted to four ichthyofaunal provinces. With the single exception of the L. umbratus group, none of the previously proposed morphological groupings are resolved as monophyletic, suggesting rampant morphological convergence across the radiation. In this study, interspecific relationships are well resolved and time calibration results corroborate the key role of the Miocene in the radiation of African freshwater fishes. We identify numerous previously unrecognized taxa, and our study provides a much-needed framework for the taxonomic revision of Labeo, a task critical for the development of sound management of these important food fishes
Parent Involvement in Elevating Elementary Children\u27s Educational Success
Full text linkIn many elementary schools, a common problem lies in the lack of overall and consistent parental involvement at home and communication with the child’s teacher. This creates challenges because if a child is not receiving extra support at home- whether due to parents\u27 beliefs about their responsibility for education, their relationship with teachers, or barriers they may face, such as language- it can lead to gaps in the child’s educational success and may cause them to struggle in their academic journey. This project\u27s purpose and focus are to assist parents and teachers in understanding the different implications of parent involvement. In addition, this research project provides critical information about the various ways parents can be involved in their child\u27s education and how this involvement might influence their child. Teachers can benefit from this project by understanding how parents support their children and recognizing that parents are involved in their children\u27s education, even if not seen in the actual classroom. I utilized a literature review, surveys, and interviews to gather information primarily from elementary teachers and parents in the Monterey County area. Based on my research questions, the literature review findings aligned with the data results that the local community expressed and considered essential regarding the relationship between teachers and parents. The results also indicated that language barriers can present challenges, but there are ways to overcome them. In conclusion, the information gathered through surveys and interviews reflects the views of local participants in the districts within Monterey County and aligns with the research collected from the literature review
Healthy Food, Healthy Future: Equitable Nutrition Access
Full text linkWhile homelessness is a major global health issue, those without a place to live should have easy access to nutritional foods and medical care; otherwise, they risk developing long-term physical and mental health effects caused by circumstances beyond their control. The Community Action Board of Santa Cruz builds bridges to ensure everyone has access to resources and opportunities, regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, identity, immigration status, and other aspects of one’s identity. The capstone project enhances physical health by coordinating a weekly food distribution event for unhoused individuals in partnership with Second Harvest Food Bank. This allows us to reduce the stress on their health and economic consequences. However, many people are unaware of the free services and resources that are accessible to them in their community. A quantitative survey concluded that individuals in need of food assistance do not receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits
Raising Awareness of Digital Resources
Full text linkThere is a lack of access to technology services in Monterey County, specially among low income individuals, marginalized communities, and elderly. This project mission is to increase awareness, inform the community, and increase engagement with Loaves, Fishes & Computers, a non-profit organization located in Monterey County dedicated to bridge the digital divide by providing technology services such as computer classes, tech support, low cost computers and repairs to low income families and individuals. This project was an educational video about Loaves, Fishes, and Computers. Surveys were conducted before and after people watched the video. Results provided valuable insights about how Loaves, Fishes & Computers can improve services such as the kind of applications people are interested to learn about, what language they prefer for workshops, how they feel about using a device, and if they already have a device at home. Recommendations for the organization include, increasing community awareness by sharing more videos and distributing flyers that highlight its mission and services. Additionally, sending text message reminders about upcoming workshops and events could help improve engagement. It may also be beneficial for Loaves, Fishes & Computers to explore new and creative ways to promote the services it offers, as many people in the community are still unfamiliar with the agency
Building Motivation and Confidence In Elementary School Students
Full text linkThis capstone project aims to explore how growth mindset, motivation, and self-confidence are key components to student success, especially during elementary school years. My capstone results highlight that consistent encouragement, a proactive classroom environment, and self-efficiency skills significantly contribute to improved student attitudes and engagement