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At Dominican University of California, every undergraduate has the opportunity to engage in faculty-directed research.

For psychology major Vanessa Morales ’26, that experience began in the spring semester of her first year—and it hasn’t stopped since. In fact, the research Vanessa conducted at Dominican helped her secure a competitive summer internship that has profoundly shaped her future plans.

Over the past two years, Vanessa has worked as a research assistant for psychology professor Dr. Afshin Gharib, contributing to his ongoing study on humane education and self-empathy in youth. Through this work, she gained valuable skills in data analysis and synthesis, which she recently showcased by presenting findings at the Western Psychological Association conference.

This past summer, Vanessa brought those skills into a clinical setting during her internship at Sutter Health California Pacific Medical Center in San Francisco.

Throughout the summer, she observed complex kidney and liver transplant surgeries and participated in clinical rounds, visiting patients before and after their procedures.

“We were able to enter the surgery room with the surgeon, sometimes standing right at the table with a clear view of the operation,” Vanessa recalls. “Then, we’d visit the patients during rounds.”

“It was incredible to witness how lives were transformed after surgery—I really enjoyed seeing the patients’ improvements.”

Toward the end of her internship, Vanessa prepared and presented a detailed case report on Thrombotic Microangiopathy (TMA) following kidney transplant. This required synthesizing complex clinical data to highlight critical diagnostic and therapeutic considerations. She presented her findings to the hospital board in a meeting attended by surgeons and medical professionals.

Not only did the internship enhance Vanessa’s skill set, but it also inspired a new career path.

Originally drawn to psychology after taking AP Psychology in high school, Vanessa found herself invigorated by the hands-on medical experience. Despite a two-hour daily commute to San Francisco, she never felt burnt out.

“I looked forward to going to San Francisco every day of the internship,” she says. “I started to think about why—and realized it was because I was doing something I truly enjoyed and was passionate about.”

This realization prompted Vanessa to rethink her post-graduation plans, which now include pursuing either physician assistant studies or medical school.

Now entering her final year at Dominican—graduating a year early—Vanessa has built a strong academic and leadership foundation.

Alongside her psychology major, she is pursuing minors in biological sciences and experimental cognitive science.

On campus, Vanessa serves as Senator at Large for student government and as an orientation leader, roles that help foster an inclusive environment for new students.

Off campus, she has worked as a youth mental health mentor with Marin’s nonprofit Youth Transforming Justice, supporting elementary school students facing emotional or behavioral challenges. She has also contributed to harm-reduction efforts supporting LGBTQ+ and HIV-positive communities through the Spahr Center.

Currently, Vanessa is a member of Dr. Ben Rosenberg’s Health and Motivation (HAM) Lab, assisting research that applies social psychological theories of persuasion and motivation to health-related issues. The lab studies how emotional and motivational states affect people’s responses to persuasive health messages and why people sometimes engage in unhealthy behaviors despite the risks.

“I’ve had so many great experiences here at Dominican, and I feel truly seen,” Vanessa reflects. “Every professor and staff member wants to get to know the students.”

“The word ‘community’ means something here. I don’t think I would have landed this internship—which has changed the course of my life—without all the opportunities I’ve received at Dominican.”

Photo courtsey of Vanessa Morales