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

自1988年加入加州州立大学北岭分校以来，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名代表性不足的少数民族和81名女性，主要来自没有大学入学史的家庭。 在Zavala博士的指导下，学生们分析和介绍期刊文章，并学习撰写应用程序并积极介绍自己。 Zavala博士陪同他们参加国家会议，在那里他们在科学论坛上介绍他们的研究，并会见来自不同机构的科学家。 在她令人放心的指导下，学生们很快就获得了自信，因为他们学习了作为科学家对他们的期望以及如何像科学家一样思考。 到目前为止，70%的Zavala博士的学员已经开始研究生学习，其中52%继续攻读博士学位。 Zavala博士还进行大学预科科学教学推广。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的全国影响力。

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.