Cal State San Bernardino’s College of Social and Behavioral Sciences will recognize Sam Worrall as its Outstanding Graduate Student and Nathaly Beltran as its Outstanding Undergraduate Student during the college’s commencement ceremony at Citizens Business Bank Arena in Ontario on Saturday, June 16, at 8 a.m.

Worrall, who will be graduating with his master’s degree in clinical/counseling psychology, was first inspired to pursue the subject when a professor encouraged him to look at it from a different angle.

“A professor at Crafton Hills College told me that psychology was the study of behavior — but beyond that, it is the betterment of humankind,” he said. “After looking at psychology in that way, I had to be a part of it.”

Since then, Worrall has conducted numerous research projects on the topic and has presented seven posters at various conferences related to trauma, post-traumatic stress disorder, empathy and psychopathy. He was even part of two research groups as an undergrad.

Worrall was able to accomplish all of his academic goals while working two to three jobs. He credits CSUSB faculty members for his motivation, particularly Christina Hassija, assistant professor of psychology, as his mentor. “CSUSB’s faculty have pushed me to be better and continue to strive for bigger and greater things,” he said.

After graduation, Worrall hopes to work as a therapist. He plans to study for the GRE and eventually obtain his doctorate in clinical psychology.

The Outstanding Undergraduate Student, Nathaly Beltran, will graduate with her bachelor’s in social work.

“Growing up, I aspired to live a life filled with purpose and pursue a career that can give me the opportunity to work with people and strive for the common good,” she said. “For me, it was important to choose a profession that requires a high level of education, skills and values because I wanted to help people create meaningful change in their life.”

One of her first research projects required her to survey residents in the city of Fontana and identify the problems that were impacting them. The results were used to help the community express their concerns at city council meetings and resolve them at a community event. She also surveyed Latino caregivers and provided her findings to San Bernardino County’s Department of Aging and Adult Services in order to reduce barriers in the care of aging adults and meet the needs of caregivers.

As a full-time student in an impacted major who completed 160 internship hours every quarter during her senior year at San Bernardino County’s Department of Behavioral Health, in addition to working part time and volunteering in the community, Beltran says earning her bachelor’s is the accomplishment she is most proud of completing.

Beginning this summer, Beltran will attend the University of Chicago School of Social Service Administration for the Advanced Standing Master’s Program.

“My desire is to continue to develop a strong educational and professional foundation that combines social work practice with policy development, interdisciplinary research and social science theory in order to become an outstanding macro-level social worker and positive agent of change,” she said.

Beltran hopes to pursue a career in policies, social service administration, and/or in a research-related field.

“Through the financial, social and educational support CSUSB provided me with, I was able to succeed in the classroom and profession,” she said. “I also became inspired to continue pursuing my educational and professional aspiration to live a life filled with purpose and help others create meaningful change in their lives. Most of all, the university gave me the tools and confidence to define my future.”

Visit the College of Social and Behavioral Science website at csbs.csusb.edu to learn more about its programs.