Center Director and Members
Archana McEligot, Ph.D.
Center Director
Professor, Dept. of Health Science
Telephone: (657)278-3822
Email: amceligot@fullerton.edu
Dr. Archana J. McEligot is the director of the Center for Cancer Disparities Research and a professor at the California State University, Fullerton. Her primary research interests include examination of the association between dietary intake and cancer control and prevention. Specifically she has examined dietary intakes in women diagnosed with breast cancer and in special populations, including Pacific Islanders. She is also interested in assessing the relationship between dietary circulating biomarkers in blood such as folate and carotenoids in conjunction with genetic polymorphisms on cancer risk. Dr. McEligot has over 50 research presentations, published 20 peer-reviewed manuscripts, 12 of which are first authored, and is the PI on NIH and USDA externally funded projects. Her research has been cited in major peer-reviewed journals such as the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), and has been featured in several popular magazines.
Laura Chandler, Dr.PH., MPH
Full Time Lecturer, Dept. of Health Science Phone:
(657)278-7995
Email: lchandler@fullerton.edu
Dr. Laura Chandler is a full-time lecturer in the Department of Health Science at California State University, Fullerton. She received her B.A. in psychology at California State University, Long Beach and her master’s in Public Health at Loma Linda University. Before becoming a teaching professional, Ms. Chandler worked in the field of health education as Director of Program Services with Camp Fire, USA, a youth development organization for four years and then spent five years as the director of health education and promotion with CSUF's Student Health Center. She recently completed her Doctorate in Public Health with an emphasis in Health Education & Promotion from Loma Linda University, School of Public Health.
Jasmeet Gill, Ph.D.
Professor, Dept. of Health Science
Telephone: (657)278-8657
Email: jasmeetgill@fullerton.edu
Dr. Jasmeet Gill is an assistant professor in the Department of Health Science at California State University, Fullerton, where she teaches epidemiology and chronic disease epidemiology. Her research is focused on behavioral and genetic risk factors for cancer. She is especially interested in breast cancer and cancer risk profiles in minority populations.
Danny Kim, Ph.D.
Professor, Dept. of Health Science
Telephone: (657)278-5649
Email: dannykim@fullerton.edu
Dr. Danny Kim is an assistant professor in the Health Science Department at California State University, Fullerton. He received his B.S. degree in chemistry from University of California, Berkeley, and his Ph.D. and postdoctoral training in Environmental Health Science (emphasis in Toxicology) from University of California, Los Angeles.
Michele Mouttapa, Ph.D.
Professor, Dept. of Health Science
Telephone: (657)278-8436
Email: mmouttapa@fullerton.edu
Dr. Michele Mouttapa is an assistant professor in the Health Science Department at California State University, Fullerton. She has extensive research experience in psychosocial factors related to adolescent health. Dr. Mouttapa has published peer-reviewed manuscripts and presented conference posters on topics including adolescent smoking initiation, alcohol consumption among college students, violence among preadolescents in inner cities, and HIV and substance use prevention among incarcerated juvenile offenders.
Tu-Uyen Nguyen, Ph.D., MPH
Professor, Dept. of Asian American Studies
Telephone: (657)278-4157
Email: tunnguyen@fullerton.edu
Dr. Tu-Uyen Nguyen is an assistant professor in the Asian American Studies Program at California State University, Fullerton. She has taught and conducted research on Asian Pacific American community health issues for several years, particularly focusing on community-based participatory research on breast and cervical cancer disparities.
Sora Park Tanjasiri, Dr.PH., MPH
Professor, Dept. of Health Science
Telephone: (657)278-4592
Email: stanjasiri@fullerton.edu
Dr. Sora Park Tanjasiri is a professor in the Department of Health Science and Director of the Health Promotion Research Institute at California State University, Fullerton. Her research focuses on the community health needs of diverse populations, particularly Asia-Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPIs). Dr. Tanjasiri is the Principal Investigator of the five-year, NCI-funded Community Network Program called WINCART: Weaving an Islander Network for Cancer Awareness, Research and Training.
Lenny Wiersma, Ph.D.
Professor, Dept. of Kinesiology
Telephone: (657)278-3806
Email: lwiersma@fullerton.edu
Dr. Lenny Wiersma joined the faculty in the Department of Kinesiology at California State University, Fullerton in 2001. He is co-director of the Center for the Advancement of Responsible Youth Sport, and serves as the Sport Psychology consultant on the High Performance Network of the United States Swimming Sports Medicine and Science Network, working with developmental and elite swimmers on psychological skills training, biofeedback, and competitive preparation. In addition, Dr. Wiersma is currently serving as the Measurement and Evaluation section editor for the Research Quarterly in Exercise and Sport.
Diana M. Tisnado, Ph.D., MPA
Associate Professor, Dept. of Health Science
Telephone: (657)278-3140
Email: dtisnado@fullerton.edu
Dr. Diana Tisnado is an associate professor at the California State University, Fullerton. She received her Ph.D. in Health Services Research from the University of California, Los Angeles. She teaches courses in aging, theory of determinants of health behavior, and research planning and evaluation. Dr. Tisnado conducts research addressing access to and quality of healthcare services for cancer prevention, treatment, survivorship, and end-of-life care, with a special interest in underserved populations, using both quantitative and qualitative research methods.
