Meet the Principal Investigator
Dra. Dina Tamar Garcia (she/her/ella) is a public health scholar that was born in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico and raised in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA. She currently serves as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences at the VCU School of Population Health and is a faculty affiliate with the VCU Office of the Provost's Convergence Lab focused on oral health equity transdisciplinary research (formally iCubed). She is formally trained in community-based participatory research, qualitative and quantitative methods as well as science communication. Her freelance work has appeared in popular publications such as CNN Español. Dra. García is the appointed Chair of the Committee on Diversity and Inclusion for the American Association for Dental, Oral and Craniofacial Research and serves as a Deputy Editor for the international journal Teaching and Learning in Medicine. At VCU, she serves as the advisor for the Society for the Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans in Science (SACNAS) at VCU student chapter. As an advocate for racial and gender equity, she co-founded Cientificas de Milwaukee, which provides bilingual and bicultural STEAM education to Latina students 2nd to 8th grade. In her spare time, Dra. García enjoys printmaking and spending time with her fur baby.
Connect with her via LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/dra-dina-garcia/
Kalpulli Research Group Trainees
2025-2026
Anelsy Valencia (she/her/ella) is a fourth-year student and McNair scholar at the University of Maryland, Baltimore Countt (UMBC) where she majors in Psychology and minors in Sociology; with a specialization in Diversity, Inclusion, & Multicultural Psychology. She is a social justice advocate and is passionate about exploring migrant health equity. As a proud descendent of Mexican immigrants, Anelsy strives to serve and center the stories, needs, and voices of communities of color and marginalized communities (such as her own) who frequently experience social/legal violence, trauma, and exclusion within society. In her spare time, Anelsy enjoys spending time with family/friends, listening to music, traveling, trying new foods, and playing with her dog, Bombón.
McNair Scholars Program
Research Assistant
Anelsy Valencia
Brittany Cazares Luna
Research Assistant
Hello! My name is Brittany (she/her/ella), and I am a third-year student at VCU, majoring in Chemistry with a concentration in biochemistry on the pre-dental track. One of my aspirations is to attend dental school so I can use my skills to give back to my community. As a first-generation student, I see my education as a privilege and strive to make the most of it to support my parents and grow personally and professionally. In my free time, I enjoy listening to music, solving puzzles, and spending quality time with my family and friends.
Hello! My name is Hannah and I'm a biology student at Virginia Commonwealth University with interests that bridge both health sciences and oral health. My experiences range from being a dental assistant at a Pediatric office to engaging in research and leadership through student organizations like CHAARG. I volunteered to lead the department to teach immigrants and refugees through IROC (Immigrant and Refugee Outreach Center). I aspire to become a dentist while also continuing to explore the intersections of science, health, and community. Beyond academics, I enjoy fitness, cooking new recipes, and capturing stories through photos and media projects.
Hannah Mansuri
Research Assistant
Hi, I’m Mariah Cropp (she/her), a Health Science major with the goal of becoming an orthodontist one day. I’ve always loved the idea of helping people feel confident in their smiles. When I’m not studying, you can usually find me crocheting something cozy or singing my heart out—it’s how I relax and express myself.
Mariah Cropp
McNair Scholars Program
Research Assistant
Hi, I'm Stacey Alvarado (She/her), a fourth-year Psychology student focusing on addiction studies, with plans to pursue a career in Dental Hygiene. My interest in addiction studies coincides directly with my dental aspirations. Those struggling with substance-use disorder often face barriers to accessing adequate dental care, which can impact their self-esteem and recovery process. I'm passionate about making a positive impact in these communities in anyway I can!
Stacey Alvarado
Research Assistant
My name is Aashka (she/her)! I am a second-year student at VCU majoring in Biology on a pre-med track. I want to pursue a future career as a physician but am not sure about what specialty I am interested in yet. In my free time, love hanging out with my friends and family, being outdoors, and traveling!
Aashka Patel
Research Assistant
Jennifer Rodriguez
Graduate Research Assistant
Holis! :) I’m Jennifer (She/Her/Ella), a VCU MPH student concentrating in Epidemiology and a proud first-gen Salvadoran-American. I'm passionate about community-based research and how policy impacts eye and neurodegenerative diseases, especially in immigrant, refugee, and student populations. I have a big heart for mentorship and love empowering youth—especially through spaces that celebrate culture and identity. When I’m not diving into research, you’ll find me café-hopping, hiking with my pittopotamus, or planning my next trip to El Salvador! :)
Kalpulli Research Group Alumni
Name
Current position
Dr. Nixon Arauz Postdoctoral Fellow at VCU
Dra. Laura Armijos Pediatric Dentistry Fellowship
Kashaf Baig Student at VCU
Tatiana Brown University of Washington MPA/MPH student
Ayana Carter M.H.A. student
Dra. Natalia Chavez Choque Dentist
Dra. Laura Choque Pediatric Dentistry Fellowship
Smirthi Chikkala Virginia Department of Health
Wayne Coleman Residence Life Coordinator, Cal Poly Humboldt
Marcelo Coronado Dental Assistant & Applying to Dental School
Sara Debab Duke-Margolis Center for Health Policy
Jocelyn Espinoza M.P.H student at VCU
Bashar Hauter Applying to Dental School
Ashley Koo VCU School of Nursing
Elizabeth McCarty VDH Epidemiologist
Sania Pullen Dental Hygiene Student at VCU
Dr. Bahar Boroumand Rad Dentist
Hannah Roberson Dental Student at VCU
Tirzah Rao M.P.H. student
Anyi Rodriguez Inova Health System
Stacey Ruiz M.S. Global Health student at Harvard
Kimberly Siles Pursing a career in healthcare
Matt Tessema Capital Hill Intern
Htet Htet Wrigley Epidemiologist
