Petrona Gregorio-Pascual, MA

Petrona Gregorio-Pascual, MA, is a dedicated PhD student in Public Health at San Diego State University and the University of California, San Diego. With a strong foundation in psychology, she earned her Master’s degree in Experimental Psychology from California State University San Marcos in 2018, after completing her Bachelor’s in General Psychology in 2016. As the first in her family to obtain a degree, Petrona has been recognized for her academic excellence, receiving the Graduate Dean’s Award for Social & Behavioral Sciences at CSUSM.

Petrona’s research focuses on community health promotion, with a particular interest in understanding risky health behaviors, such as excessive consumption of unhealthy foods, and exploring the factors that influence major public health issues like Type II diabetes and obesity. As a doctoral researcher, she has contributed to multiple studies and projects, including interventions to reduce sugar-sweetened beverage consumption and examining home food environments in food-insecure populations. She is committed to translating research into actionable strategies and aspires to mentor students while building her own research program in academia.

Beyond her professional work, Petrona values family, outdoor activities, and living life fully, often enjoying walks on the beach or time spent with loved ones. She is also passionate about giving back, volunteering with organizations like AVA Association to provide translation support for underserved communities. Her dedication to both her field and her community reflects a deep commitment to improving the health and well-being of others.

• California State University San Marcos - M.S.

• University Graduate Fellowship
• Graduate Dean's Award Nominee
• Graduate Student- Partnership Fellowship
• 2018 Symposium Finalist - Symposium on Student Research, Creative Activities, & Innovation
• 2017 CSUSM Symposium Statewide Finalist
• Dean's List 2016
• RISE Graduate Scholarship
• California State University San Marcos' 2016 Outstanding Student -President's Award Nominee
• Undergraduate Library Research Award, Scholarship and Creative Activity; Empirical Research Awardee (First author)
• Verne Walter Travel Scholarship
• 2016 CSUSM Statewide Finalist
• 2016 Outstanding student- Dean's Award Recipient
• Travel Award to attend SACNAS 2015 Conference in Washington, DC
• NIGMS- Research Initiative for Scientific Enhancement (RISE) Fellowship

• Society of Behavioral Medicine
• Society for Personality and Social Psychology (SPSP)
• Western Psychological Association (WPA)
• Psi Chi International Honors Society -CSUSM Chapter
• SACNAS
• Golden Key Honours Society-CSUSM Chapter

• California State University San Marcos
• Step Up
• Because I Care Fair