The Albert W. Johnson University Research Lectureship is awarded annually to an SDSU faculty member for outstanding achievement in research and scholarship. Its purpose is to recognize such achievement, foster its continuation, and enable a distinguished resident faculty scholar to share their knowledge more broadly with and beyond the academic community.

This year's recipient is Guadalupe X. "Suchi" Ayala.

Public health professor Guadalupe X. “Suchi” Ayala has designed and measured effective nutrition interventions in grocery stores, schools, and gardens. These system-level, rather than individualized, efforts have increased consumption of fresh produce and helped reduce childhood obesity rates in surrounding communities.

Taking what she learned from these community-based collaborations, Ayala now leads additional evidence-based health programs to address health disparities and chronic diseases. She is the director of SDSU’s Institute for Behavioral and Community Health (IBACH) and co-director of the HealthLINK Center for Transdisciplinary Health Disparities Research. Through these roles, Ayala aims to improve health outcomes among underserved, primarily Latino, populations in San Diego and Imperial Valley, giving back to her childhood community.

The 2024 Albert W. Johnson University Research Lecture and Outstanding Scholar Awards Ceremony will be held on Wednesday, March 13th at 3:00 PM in the Tula Community Center.

If you plan to bring additional guests, please have them RSVP independently.