CRC Student Scholars

We are committed to creating applied learning experiences in community-engaged and applied research for undergraduate students.  We are thrilled to announce the 2025 Ted Bradshaw Student Engaged Scholars and the Isao Fujimoto Research Award. 

Ted Bradshaw Student Engaged Scholars

Alexi Espinosa

My name is Alexi Espinosa and I am a fourth-year student at UC Davis, majoring in Sociology and Design. I am passionate about sustainability and creating a harmonious relationship between a community’s built environment and the people who inhabit it. 

Driven by my commitment to conscious consumption and a love for second-hand fashion, I run a vintage clothing reselling business. Additionally, I am writing an honors thesis exploring how shared spaces—such as local parks, libraries, and recreation centers—foster social engagement in master-planned communities compared to traditional cities. 

As a Bradshaw Scholar, I am excited to be working with Dr. London, founder of the Center for Regional Change. We will research the implementation of Senate Bill 1000, which requires cities with disadvantaged communities to develop an environmental justice element in their General Plans.

Itzel Ugarte 

Hi, I’m Itzel Ugarte, a 4th Human Development major passionate about public health. I’m especially interested in finding ways to improve access to healthcare for women and minority groups who often face systemic barriers and challenges. I’m excited about opportunities to learn, collaborate, and work on solutions that make healthcare more equitable for everyone.

Isao Fujimoto Research Scholars

Audrey Jacobs

Audrey Jacobs (she/they) is a third-year undergraduate double majoring in Asian American Studies and Gender, Sexuality, and Women's Studies. They are passionate about increasing access to education to empower historically-marginalized communities. Thanks to the Isao Fujimoto Award, she is excited to continue her research on the effect of Asian American Studies on Asian American college students' civic engagement under the mentorship of Dr. Ga Young Chung. Outside of the CRC, she serves as the Student Advocate in the ASUCD Student Advocate Office, a Community Advisor for the freshmen dorms, the Student Observer to the UC Regents Academic and Student Affairs Committee, an intern with SA&PIRI, and as a Teaching Intern at Davis Senior High. In their free time, they enjoy crocheting, sewing, and all sorts of crafty hobbies.

Emma Nguyen 

Emma Nguyen is a 3rd-year undergraduate student majoring in Community and Regional Development and Asian American Studies. She holds research interests in Asian American agricultural histories in addition to urban infrastructure and planning impacts on ethnic communities. Her current research project explores community self-determination and the displacement of urban ethnic communities in transportation development. She also serves as a Bonnie Reiss Climate Action Fellow at the UC Office of Sustainability, a Global Impact Fellow at UC Davis Global Affairs, and an Intern at the UC Davis Student Farm. Her future career goals are in urban and community-centered agriculture.