Áٴ Program at Named 2025 Example of Excelencia
California State University, Long Beach’s Advancing Nutrition Development through Alliance for Education and Leadership (Áٴ) Latino Research Training Program has been named a by Excelencia in Education.
This recognition places Áٴ among four programs across the nation selected for demonstrating intentional, measurable impact in advancing Latino and all student outcomes.
“We are honored to receive this recognition that highlights the excellence and potential of our Latino students and the commitment to student success of our administration, staff and faculty mentors,” said Melawhy Garcia, principal investigator and director of the Center for Latino Health.
Excelencia in Education leads a national network of results-oriented educators and policymakers transforming higher education to tap the talents of the Latino community and address the U.S. economy’s needs for a highly educated workforce and engaged civic leaders. Examples of Excelencia is the only national, data-driven effort to recognize programs with evidence of effectiveness in increasing Latino student success amongst all served, and by doing so, facilitating access to excellence for all students.
About Áٴ
Launched in 2014 and housed in ’s Center for Latino Community Health, Evaluation, and Leadership Training, the Áٴ Program was designed to address a gap in research opportunities for students in fields related to food, agriculture, natural sciences, and human sciences. The second cycle of funding by the United States Department of Agriculture began in 2020. In this second cycle, Áٴ aimed to train 50 underrepresented undergraduate students in Latino nutrition and disease prevention, enhance their professional development, and engage them in research with a faculty mentor to prepare them for graduate school or the workforce.
Key features of Áٴ include:
- A one-week intensive training to provide students with an understanding of community-based participatory research as it relates to nutrition and Latino health, responsible and ethical conduct of research, and professional development.
- Nine weeks of student conducted research for 10 hours per week, with a faculty mentor in the College of Health and Human Services.
- After 10 weeks, students presented on their experience, including the research project, skills and knowledge gained, and future goals. Students also had the opportunity to submit an abstract and attend a professional conference with all expenses paid.
Outcomes and impact:
- Between 2021 and 2024, 100 percent of Latino Áٴ participants have graduated or remain on track to graduate in a health-related field.
- Participants maintained strong academic performance, with cumulative GPAs ranging from 3.56 (in 2021) to 3.77 (in 2024).
- The program exceeded its recruitment goal, engaging 53 underrepresented undergraduate students from majors including nutrition, health science, kinesiology, healthcare administration, and psychology – and achieved a 100 percent program retention rate.
“Witnessing Áٴ scholars’ personal and professional growth throughout their academic journey while applying their strengths and talents to research projects at is a highlight and point of pride. We are incredibly proud of the students’ efforts and accomplishments, and their readiness to serve the Latino community in the workforce,” said Natalia Gatdula, associate director for the Center for Latino Community Health.
What “Examples of Excelencia” Means
Excelencia in Education selects Examples of Excelencia by reviewing programs on their ability to intentionally serve Latino and all students through evidence-based practices with measurable outcomes. It’s not a competition or award; rather, it serves to highlight programs that offer models and insights others can learn from and replicate.
Áٴ’s inclusion in the means its practices and results are accessible to other institutions, policymakers, funders, and community partners seeking successful approaches to supporting Latino student success.
Congratulations to all the students, faculty, and staff whose efforts have made this possible.
For more information, visit the Áٴ Latino Research Training Program.
