Presidential Awards For Excellence In Science, Mathematics, & Engineering Mentoring

自1988年加入加州州立大学北岭分校（California State University, Northridge）以来，扎瓦拉博士为112名本科生提供了深入的研究经验，其中包括89名未被充分代表的少数族裔和81名女性，这些学生主要来自没有大学入学史的家庭。在扎瓦拉博士的指导下，学生们分析和发表期刊文章，并学会写申请和积极地展示自己。Zavala博士陪同他们参加国家会议，在那里他们在科学论坛上展示他们的研究，并与来自不同机构的科学家会面。在她令人放心的指导下，学生们很快就获得了自信，因为他们学会了作为科学家应该做什么，以及如何像科学家一样思考。迄今为止，扎瓦拉博士的学员中有70%已经开始研究生学习，其中52%继续攻读博士学位。扎瓦拉博士还开展大学预科科学教学推广活动。作为奇卡诺人和美洲原住民科学促进会（SACNAS）的当选主席，扎瓦拉博士进一步扩大了她在全国的影响力。

Since joining the faculty at California State University, Northridge in 1988, Dr. Zavala has afforded intensive research experiences to 112 undergraduate students, including 89 underrepresented minorities and 81 females, primarily from families with no history of university attendance. Under Dr. Zavala's tutelage, students analyze and present journal articles, and learn to write applications and favorably present themselves. Dr. Zavala accompanies them to national conferences where they present their research in a scientific forum, and meet scientists from different institutions. Under her reassuring guidance, students quickly gain self-confidence as they learn what is expected of them as scientists and how to think like scientists. To date, 70% of Dr. Zavala's mentees have begun graduate studies with 52% of them continuing in doctoral programs. Dr. Zavala also conducts pre-college science teaching outreach. As president-elect of the Society for the Advancement of Chicanos and Native Americans in Science (SACNAS), Dr. Zavala further extends her national influence.