CSUF program gives Black women the chance to explore their passions through research ...Middle East

On Feb. 6, seven Cal State Fullerton student researchers who are part of the Bolstering Black Undergraduate Student Creative Activities and Research program, or BUSCAR, will present their research projects, explaining their research questions and how they came to their conclusions.

Their presentations are part of a campus Black History Month event that will also include an evening screening of the film “Black Barbie,” and talks by CSUF professors and noted psychology experts.

BUSCAR is an acronym, but also a Spanish word meaning to seek, which is the essence of the program, said Terri Patchen, its director. She initiated BUSCAR to increase the number of Black undergraduates participating in research at CSUF. Patchen received funding from a Scott-Jewett grant that enables students and their faculty mentors to receive a stipend for their work. The program began in spring 2024.

None of the students had previous research experience, and each was paired with a mentor who helped them choose a research topic. In some cases, students expanded on research that their mentors had already begun.

“BUSCAR is really about a mentored research experience,” Patchen said, adding that it is the only campus program that specifically focuses on Black women. “All of the faculty mentors are Black, and all the students identify as Black — and all the students that applied happen to identify as women,” she said.

“It’s a phenomenal program that gives Black students the chance to engage in meaningful research on topics they’re passionate about,” said Amirah Saafir, assistant professor in the Department of Child and Adolescent Studies, who is a BUSCAR mentor and is coordinating the Feb. 6 event. “Our BUSCAR mentees have done everything from conceptualizing projects to presenting their research at national conferences, which is huge for their academic and professional growth.”

Students Leilani Rains and Trinity Jack partnered on a research project called “Pynk & Curly: Centering Narratives of Black Queer Femmes in the Contemporary Natural Hair Movement.”

Their research explored the natural hair movement which began on social media in 2000, when Black women started deciding to stop using chemical hair relaxers. Rains and Jack researched the subject by reading articles and books and then interviewing women about their feelings about their hair. Their faculty mentor is Kristin D. Rowe.

Their research found that “The natural hair movement has opened up more spaces of haircare and styling across sexuality and gender expression,” among other conclusions.

Rains said her experience with the BUSCAR program has been positive. “I want to become a physician, and doing this research is allowing me to build my resume with something I’m passionate about. I think the program is good for students — it allows them to gain more professional experience and gives them more confidence to speak with people.”

Another BUSCAR student, Sumiayah Etchison, who is majoring in communications with a concentration in journalism, said, “I liked the hands-on experience of research, learning how to read the history, then reporting and meeting the deadline,” she said.

“I’m really enjoying this program,” she said. “It’s helped me in terms of discipline.”

Etchison also appreciated having access to her faculty mentor, Shanara Reid-Brinkley, for guidance.

Etchison’s research project, entitled “The Effects of the Oversexualization of Black Women in Black Media,” focused on representations of Black women in rap music videos and how these representations affect Black women and girls.

Patchen is proud of the BUSCAR students and how well they’ve presented their research at conferences. “They’re wonderful students,” she said. “To turn the lens on students who haven’t been apprenticed into research — that is what’s super exciting and super motivating. I think the BUSCAR program really shows how far we can go if we just pay attention to students who haven’t received that kind of attention in the past.”

Saafir, the assistant professor, is excited about the upcoming event. “The ‘Black Barbie’ documentary is such a powerful commentary on how representation impacts identity development and psychosocial well-being, especially for Black women and girls,” she said. “We saw this event as an opportunity to not just celebrate the documentary but also shine a light on the amazing work happening at CSUF. Our students and faculty are doing incredible research to better understand and support Black families and communities of color, and we wanted to create a space to highlight that.

“This feels especially important because Black students and faculty are underrepresented at CSUF, which means opportunities to showcase work centering on Black experiences can be limited,” she said. “Events like this are a way to fill that gap and make sure those voices and perspectives are seen, heard and celebrated.”

IF YOU GO

WHAT: Black Barbie: Film Screening & Research Day

DATE: Thursday, Feb. 6

LOCATION: Titan Student Union Pavillions

TIME: Afternoon Research & Resource Day 1-3 p.m. Evening Film Screening & Panel Discussion 6-9 p.m.

The event is free and open to the public. To become a sponsor or receive more information, contact Janna Kim by email at [email protected].

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