Midwifery training programs, cybersecurity infrastructure, public health equity research, and community storytelling and preservation — these are just some of the projects recognized at this year’s CSUF Research Week awardee ceremony, hosted by the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs, honoring faculty and staff who secured external grants and contracts across disciplines throughout the university.
The celebration follows a milestone year for the university. In fiscal year 2024-25, CSUF secured more than $35 million in grants and contracts, the third highest total in campus history.
“External funding expands what is possible for our students, our research and our region,” said Binod Tiwari, associate vice president for research and sponsored programs. “This recognition is about the people doing that work and the impact they are making across and beyond the university.”
Among the projects recognized was “Preserving and Protecting Southern California Asian American Voices,” a $37,626 grant supported by the Council on Library and Information Resources, a nonprofit organization focused on strengthening library and archival work.
Led by co-principal investigators Natalie Fousekis, director of the Lawrence B. de Graaf Center for Oral and Public History and professor of history, and Natalie Navar Garcia, archivist for the center, this project will digitize currently unavailable Asian American oral histories in COPH’s archive and make them accessible to the public. The Center for Oral and Public History is housed in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences.
Jessica Stern, dean of College of Humanities and Social Sciences, said that Fousekis and Navar Garcia’s work is an example of scholarship that connects research with lived community experience.
“The faculty in our college are deeply engaged with communities and the pressing social issues of our time,” Stern said. “Work like this reflects a commitment to preserving community voices while strengthening connections between the university and the communities we serve.”
Navar Garcia, who was honored at the awardee ceremony, said the recognition underscores the importance of documenting and preserving community histories and making sure they are readily available to students, scholars and community members.
“This recognition reflects the work that went into securing funding for projects that expand opportunities for students and the community,” Navar Garcia said. “It’s rewarding to see that effort acknowledged.”
Fousekis noted that Navar Garcia has been an essential member of the center’s team, helping secure funding that has made it possible to support multiple projects and advance important community-based work.
Leaders in the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs said the event celebrates the hard work and collaboration happening behind the scenes in securing external funding.
“It’s great to see these projects come to fruition and to recognize the hard work that goes into making them possible,” said Yolanda Uzzell, manager of development for research and sponsored programs. “Behind every project is a great deal of effort to develop ideas into strong proposals that can compete for funding.”
Joshua Bilbrew, associate director of sponsored programs, pointed to the breadth of work being advanced across disciplines.
“It’s exciting to see the variety of projects recognized at the ceremony and how these efforts connect students, faculty and community partners in meaningful ways,” Bilbrew said.
Tina Tranilla, associate director of grants and contracts, added that the success of funded projects reflects a shared effort across campus and the purpose of the event is to honor that work.
“When proposals are funded, it really feels like a win for everyone involved,” Tranilla said. “We work closely with faculty and staff throughout the process, so it’s rewarding to see those efforts come together and make an impact. That’s why we host this event — to celebrate and recognize that work.”
Awardees recognized at the ceremony received grant or contract awards between April 1, 2025 and March 31, 2026. More information about Office of Research and Sponsored Programs resources and research support can be found on the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs website.
Photos from the ceremony, featuring this year’s awardees and celebrants, are available in the CSUF Research Week photo gallery.