Asian American Studies Program at California State University, Fullerton (CSUF)

Tu-Uyen Nguyen, PhD, MPH is an Associate Professor in the Asian American Studies Program at California State University, Fullerton (CSUF).  She has taught and conducted research on Asian Pacific American community health issues for over 15 years, particularly focusing on community-based participatory research, cancer disparities, and currently, youth empowerment, health, and wellness.  Dr. Nguyen's research focuses on reducing health disparities by understanding the socioecological influences of culture and ethnicity on the health-related behaviors of diverse communities.  Her current and past work includes research on effective cancer education strategies for diverse Asian and Pacific Islander communities; program evaluation using qualitative and mixed research methods; nutrition and obesity issues in Asian American communities; community-based patient navigation; community and organizational capacity building strategies; linguistic-cultural competency in health promotion programs and health services delivery; women’s sexual health and reproductive justice; and youth health and educational empowerment. Dr. Nguyen is currently partnering with the Orange County Asian and Pacific Islander Community Alliance (OCAPICA) and the Anaheim Union High School District in Orange County, California to conduct an innovative youth tutoring, mentoring, and leadership program through an Office of Minority Health Youth Empowerment Program grant.

She feels very fortunate and happy to have worked for the last decade with numerous inspiring leaders and advocates from diverse Asian and Pacific Islander American communities nationwide to develop, implement, and evaluate collaborative, community-based participatory programs that produce profound and positive health and social justice outcomes.