Nadia Merino
email: nadia_merino@yahoo.com

CAREER OBJECTIVE

To obtain a PhD in Anthropology with an emphasize in the U.S.-Mexican border immigration.  

EDUCATION

2003-Present  San Diego State University 
Double Major: Political Science and Chicana/o Studies
Minor: Latin American Studies
GPA: 3.45
Major GPA: 3.61
Expected Graduation: May 2008 

2007-Summer Independent Research
McNair Scholar Program, San Diego State University
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Isidro D. Ortiz 

My research project is an exploratory investigation of Mexican immigrant women from the “new” sending region in Mexico, the state of Oaxaca. It seeks to interrogate the reasons, tools, nature, work, and consequences of migration for Oaxacan female migrants in San Diego County. Data was obtained from Mexican immigrant women through interviews. In so doing, my project seeks to assess the applicability of recent findings of scholarly research to female migrants from Oaxaca. Women from this state have not been the specific foci/subjects of extensive research. The potential benefits of this study include contributing to the basic knowledge about immigrant women from Mexico and the feminization of migration.

2006-Present   Research Assistant
San Diego State University
Primary Investigator: Kristen Hill Maher

The purpose of this study is to examine the experiences and perceptions of San Diego residents toward the border region and Tijuana. Participants are selected from communities chosen to represent a diverse range of demographics.

• Translate documents from English to Spanish
• Participate in the interviewing process of Spanish speaking participants
• Specialized in the Escondido/San Ysidro Communities
• Performed Analysis
• Recruited potential participants

2006-Summer  Research Assistant
San Diego EXPORT Center/Project Salsita
San Diego State University/San Ysidro Health Center
 Primary Investigator: Katherine Keir, MPH

The goal of this study is to analyze patients 5-12 years who are at risk of diabetes and cardiovascular diseases and provide health education to better their eating habits.

• Assisted in delivering tailored health education to children and parents, specifically nutrition and physical activity modifications as well as individual and environmental assessments
• Conducted preliminary clinical assessments of patients (e.g. Body Mass Index and blood pressure measurements)
• Administered surveys and performed data entry
• Developed a protocol for Latino 5 a Day health education workshop and its implementation
• Attended Public Health research seminar

RESEARCH INTEREST

CONFERENCES 

Merino, Nadia. The Migration of Mexican Indigenous Women from Oaxaca. Presented at the UCSD Summer Research Conference, University of California, San Diego. August, 2007.

Merino, Nadia., Vaquero, Juana., Merino, Nidia., Edmundo, Garcia. Opreration Gatekeeper: Claiming Lives. Presented at the Pacific Southwest Women's Studies Association Conference, Borders and Battlefields: Feminist Action Across Boundaries, Cal State University, Los Angeles. April, 2007.

Attendee at The California Forum for Diversity in Graduate Education (2007, April) UC, Santa Barbara

Attendee at The Claremont Graduate University’s McNair Scholars Day ( 2007,March). Los Angeles, CA

COMMUNITY SERVICES

2007-Present    Volunteer, Ronald McDonald House of Charities, San Diego
2007-Present    Community Volunteer, Nazareth Institución de Niños (Orphanage in Tecate, Mexico)
2006-Summer  Volunteer, Reach Out & Read Program, San Ysidro Health Center
2006-Spring      Intern, AFL-CIO UNITE H.E.R.E. Local 30 union hotel & restaurant workers
2003-2004         Community Volunteer, Raza Rights Coalition
2003-2004         Community Volunteer, Chicana/o Mexicano Prison Project

SKILLS  

HONORS AND AWARDS

2007-August              Robert Garcia Memorial Scholarship, Recipient
2007-June                 Sally Casanova California Pre-Doctoral Program, Scholar
2007-Spring               Dean’s List, San Diego State University
2007-Spring               Cesar E. Chavez Commemorative Scholarship, Recipient
2006-Fall                   Dean’s List, San Diego State University
2006-Spring               Dean’s List, San Diego State University
2006 May                   SDSU Ronald E. McNair Scholars Program
2006-May                   Student Appreciation Award, Dean of Student Services
2005-December          Student Appreciation Award, Career Services
2003-May HEEF         Scholarship of Excellence, Recipient
2002-Summer            Participant/Alumni, Chicano Latino Youth Leadership Project

MEMBERSHIP

2007-Fall         Society for the Advancement of Chicanos and Native Americans in the Science, Historian/Webpage designer
2007-Present   Society for the Advancement of Chicanos and Native Americans in the Science, member
2006-Present   Robert E. McNair Scholars Program, Scholar
2006-Present   Latin American Studies Student Organization, member
2006-Spring     Immigrants Rights Coalition, SDSU, member
2003-2004        Movimiento Estudiantil Chicana/o de Aztlan, Secretary, Spring 2003