Chico State and Butte County Health Assessment Research Program​

The Chico State and Butte County Health Assessment Research Program, led by Principal Investigator Ryan Perkins and Co-Principal Investigator Katie Mercurio, addresses the critical need for improved health and fitness education in underserved communities while directly addressing barriers that hinder student success in higher education. Through interdisciplinary collaboration between the Kinesiology and Marketing departments, our program proposes an innovative framework for community health assessments and targeted marketing campaigns, emphasizing student involvement and community partnerships. By leveraging preliminary data and existing resources, our proposed program emphasizes student-centered, experiential learning thereby increasing access and reducing financial burden for all participants. Furthermore, the no student-cost nature of this program supports its novelty, sustainability, and ability to scale both locally and at other institutions. Our program seeks to serve as a model for replication within and beyond the California State University (CSU) system by offering training to faculty on initiating and sustaining multidisciplinary community-based research projects, fostering a culture of impactful research and service throughout higher education.