Staff

mirna troncoso-sawyer

Mirna Troncoso Sawyer, PhD, MPH

Director

Dr. SawyerÌýis an Associate Professor in Â鶹AV’s (Â鶹AV) Public Health program, Department of Health Sciences. She currently serves as Director of the Â鶹AV Institute for Community Health and Wellbeing. Her research has primarily been focused on Latino/a health and college student health—from nutritional knowledge among diabetes patients, to food decisions among families, to the role of food insecurity in student success.

Recognizing the role of stress in relation to many health behaviors and health outcomes, Dr. Sawyer is on a teacher training pathway to become certified to teach mindfulness based stress reduction (MBSR). Since May 2024 she has been a qualified level 1 MBSR teacher via Brown University's School of Professional Studies. She has a PhD in Community Health Sciences from UCLA’s Fielding School of Public Health; a Master of Public Health degree in Health Education from Emory University’s Rollins School of Public Health in Atlanta, GA; and a Bachelor's degree in history from Stanford University. She has published in peer reviewed journals such as the Diabetes Educator and the Journal of Family and Consumer Sciences.Ìý

±Ê³ó´Ç²Ô±ð:Ìý818-677-7709

·¡³¾²¹¾±±ô:Ìýmirna.sawyer@csun.edu

LinkedIn:Ìý

Academia:Ìý

Hema Kapil 900 x 900_v2

Hema Kapil

Department Coordinator

Hema Kapil is the Department Coordinator for the Institute for Community Health and Wellbeing and also the Student Services Center/EOP, both within the College of Health and Human Development. She is a College of the Canyons alumna where she earned an AA in Philosophy, and is now currently enrolled as a Â鶹AV student to earn a BA in Philosophy.Ìý

Phone: Ìý818-677-7715

·¡³¾²¹¾±±ô:Ìýhema.kapil@csun.eduÌý

INTERNS

Anaisabel Saravia

BSPH InternÌý(Summer 2025)

Ìý Â鶹AV Anaisabel

EmailÌýAnaisabel.saravia.988@my.csun.edu

Ìý

Breanna Delgado

BSPH InternÌý(Summer 2025)

Â鶹AV Bre

PAST INTERNS

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A picture of Intern Aneesah Ali next to the ICHWB sign

Aneesah Ali

MPH Student (Fall 2024 - Spring 2025)

Aneesah Ali is the ICHWB’s Fall 2024 MPH intern. Her educational journey started with a Bachelor's degree in Healthcare Administration. Currently, AneesahÌýis completing her second year in the Master’s in Public Health program, with a concentration in Community Health Education. At Â鶹AV, she has been given the opportunity to be actively involved in various outreach programs focused on improving health literacy and tackling public health issues in the community. At the ICHWB, sheÌýhopes to further contribute to a team that enhances Â鶹AV’s and the San Fernando Valley’s health outcomes by ensuring equitable access to resources for all. She is very excited to continue developing her skills and making a meaningful impact with the institute.Ìý

Intern Erica and Dr Sawyer and Hema ICHWB

Erica Lopez

Undergraduate public health intern (Spring 2025)

Erica's main role at the Institute in her internship was on our emergency preparedness subcontract with Dignity Health--on the LISTOS initiative.

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A picture of Intern Nathalie Kustak next to the ICHWB sign

Nathalie Kustak

BSPH Student (Fall 2024)

Nathalie Kustak is currently doing her undergraduate internship at Â鶹AV’s Institute for Community Health and Wellbeing. Nathalie is currently pursuing herÌýBachelor’s degree in Public Health and will be graduating in the Winter 2025. Nathalie’s specific interestsÌýinvolve mental health, which she hopes to pursue in the future. As an intern with the ICHWB, Nathalies looks forward to working with likeminded people while working to strengthen community partnerships and promote wellbeing among both Â鶹AV and San Fernando Valley community members. Ìý