2018-2019

Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellowship Cohort

2018 Mellon Mays Cohort Cal State Fullerton


 

Zakyi Ibrahim

 

 

 

 

Zakyi Ibrahim, Ph.D.

Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellows Program
Faculty Coordinator

Professor and Chair, Religious Studies Department

 

 

 

 


 

Daniella Camacho

 

Daniella Camacho Mellon Mays Fellow 2018 Cal State Fullerton

Daniella Camacho is a sophomore pursuing a degree in American Studies with a minor in History. “I became an American Studies major in order to educate myself more about the history and culture of our society,” Daniella says. It is her hope that she can take that knowledge and eventually integrate it into some of her other creative outlets.

 

Daniella’s academic interests include exploring race representation of Asian Americans in film, the evolution of the internet and social media as a societal tool, and American swing dance culture. Her goal is to earn a PhD in American Studies and then become a professor so that she can reach and inspire students in the same way that so many of her professors have inspired her.

 

In addition to teaching, Daniella aspires to write and produce both stage and screenplays to help further increase diversity in popular media and the performing arts. “My ultimate life goal is to settle down in a nice house by the ocean, grade papers with dogs at my feet, and try not to knock over the Academy Award sitting on my desk.”

Susie-Woo

 

Mentor: Susie Woo (American Studies)

 

 

 

 

 


 

Ileana Perez

Ileana Perez MMUF 2018 Cal State Fullerton

Ileana Perez is a sophomore majoring in Spanish. The subject first piqued her interest as a senior in high school when she took an AP Spanish Literature course. “I realized I enjoyed reading literature in Spanish and connecting the literature to themes and historical moments,” she says, adding “I also realized I loved literature because I was one of the few students that wouldn’t complain about all the reading we were required to do.”

 

Ileana’s research interest remains closely tied to what she had learned in that AP course. More specifically, she would like to focus on authors Juan Rulfo, Julia de Burgos, and Ana Maria Matute, exploring the ways in which their literary works relate to history and the times in which they were published.

 

Going into high school, Illeana thought that she was fluent in Spanish, but soon realized that she wasn’t, “I knew how to speak Spanish, but I did not know how to read, write, or speak it properly,” she recalls. And this is one of the main reasons that getting her PhD and ultimately teaching the Spanish language, culture, and literature is so important to her. “I don’t want to ever lose my connection to the language. I think it’s important, and I want to help others to make that connection” Ileana says, “that is why I want to become a Spanish professor.”

james hussar

 

Mentor: James Hussar (MLL)

 

 

 

 

 


  

Vivian Ngo

Vivian Ngo Mellon Mays Fellow 2018 Cohort Cal State Fullerton

Vivian Phong Ngo is a sophomore majoring in Comparative Literature, with a particular interest in English, Vietnamese, and Spanish literature. “I became passionate about the field as a means to help me explore my heritage, and to learn more about other cultures” Vivian says.

 

Vivian believes that literature, simple or complicated, is a great aide to individuals learning to speak a language. “You can see how people converse in the pages of a novel;” she explains, adding “growing up, I always had a book in my hand… it taught me so much about the way people talk, and really helped me to get by and make friends.

 

Growing up in Garden Grove, California, Vivian always a dreamed to someday live and study in New York City.  And so, her goal is eventually to attend Columbia University for her Master’s and PhD. She hopes to conduct research and study the effects of literature on young children who are learning a second language. Beyond that, she would also like to carve out some time to volunteer to teach English abroad.

E. Pinuelas

 

Mentor: Edward Pinuelas (Comp. Lit: English)

 

 

 

 


 

Danielle Narciso

Danielle Narciso 2018 Cohort Mellon Mays Fellow Cal State Fullerton

Danielle Rieza Narciso is a sophomore majoring in Linguistics. “I became interested in linguistics after taking four years of French in high school,” she says, “I was intrigued by language acquisition, as French was my second language.”

 

Danielle plans to earn her PhD in Linguistics and hopes that she will make contributions to the research of the discipline and continue to learn in perpetuity. Her academic interests are in studying language acquisition and the effects of language on personality.

 

Additionally, Danielle is interested in exploring opportunities to do volunteer work in areas surrounding art and culture.

Franz Mueller

 

Mentor: Franz Mueller (Linguistice: English)