MSW Student Selected as Sally Casanova Pre-Doctoral Scholar
Yailanis Cruz is a MSW student in the Child and Family Well-being specialization and PPSC program. She has been selected as a Sally Casanova Pre-Doctoral Scholar for the 2026-2027 academic year. This award allows recipients to gain mentorship, hands-on research experiences, and professional development opportunities in preparation for enrolling in a Ph.D. program. As a first-generation Latina college student, Yailanis is passionate about understanding how culture, spirituality, and identity shape the mental health experiences of marginalized students. She has gained hands-on opportunities working with youth with disabilities and their families within schools, therapy clinics, and her local church. These experiences and her educational background in Disability Studies have encouraged her to pursue research that amplifies the voices of minoritized youth and centers in culturally and spiritually relevant frameworks. Yailanis is currently serving as a student researcher at the Kultura Advancing Pathways to Wellbeing & Abundance ( K.A.P.W.A.) Lab. Under the guidance and mentorship of Dr. Lalaine Sevillano, CSULB, School of Social Work Assistant Professor, she is supporting ongoing research related to how culture and socio-historical factors shape the identity, lived experiences, and holistic well-being of Pilipina/o adults and youth.
Honorable Mention - Marina Medwid, MSW student specializing in Child and Family Wellbeing and a graduate research assistant with the K.A.P.W.A. Research Lab, was recognized as a 2026–27 Sally Casanova Pre-Doctoral Program Honorable Mention in recognition of her academic accomplishments and strong potential for doctoral study. She plans to continue participating in research activities that support youth mental health and the ways public systems—including education and child welfare—shape child and adolescent development.
