CORE COMPONENTS

Half Days

The STAR Program’s Half Days are four-hour sessions held twice each month. Each Half Day offers exciting discussions and interactive activities, empowering Scholars with the essential knowledge and skills to be impactful researchers and advocates in tobacco control and prevention.

Expert guest speakers lead discussion sessions and explore topics such as:

• Designing, conducting, and presenting original research
• Tobacco control, prevention, advocacy, and community engagement
• Social justice and health equity issues related to the tobacco industry and its marketing practices
• The history of the anti-tobacco movement and the tobacco industry

Activities are designed to help STAR Scholars practice new skills and apply concepts learned during the discussion sessions.

Mentors

After scholars become acquainted with the program and the available opportunities, they have the exciting chance to select their mentor(s) for the year. These mentors provide valuable guidance as they assist the scholars with their projects, as outlined below. At minimum, STAR Scholars will have the following lifelong mentors: 

• Co-PIs: Dr. Kristen Emory and Dr. Laura Crotty Alexander
• Program Director: Samantha Perera
• Research mentor 
• Advocacy mentor

Projects

Tobacco Control and Prevention Research Project

Scholars will thoughtfully select a population significantly affected by the tobacco industry and delve into the existing scientific literature to identify gaps or controversies. This exploration will help them define a meaningful research question they are eager to pursue. Whether through qualitative or quantitative methods, they will engage in a comprehensive research project and present their findings during the final presentation event in May. Additionally, STAR Scholars are encouraged to extend their research beyond the program, and several have successfully drafted publications based on their original work.

In the past, STAR Scholars have conducted original research on a wide range of tobacco-related topics, including, but not limited to:

• Using AI to examine adverse experiences reported by nicotine pouch users on Reddit
• Exploring lifetime trauma exposure and tobacco cessation behaviors among adult cannabis consumers in California
• Investigating location-based factors that influence tobacco use initiation and continuation among Black adults
• Assessing the proximity of tobacco retailers to middle and high schools in San Diego and identifying differences based on socioeconomic factors

These projects reflect the diverse research interests and real-world impact of STAR Scholars.

Tobacco Control and Prevention Advocacy Project

Scholars will connect with their advocacy mentors to design a dynamic action plan to promote tobacco control and prevention within their chosen communities. In the past, STAR Scholars have delivered impactful speeches at town hall meetings, written letters to the editor, created attention-grabbing infographics, hosted booths at local fairs, contributed to the CA State of Tobacco Control Report, and drafted letters of support for policy changes directed at policymakers. Scholars’ advocacy efforts will also be showcased at the final presentation event in May.

STAR Cohort Project

The STAR program values teamwork and dependability. To nurture these values, each cohort undertakes a meaningful and creative group advocacy project. We encourage STAR scholars to connect regularly and collaborate, bringing their unique ideas to life.  Examples of past and potential projects include podcasts, STAR social media content, blog series, educational videos, TikToks, cartoons, books, and student-led panel discussions. Cohort meetings may also be used to complete STAR Program assignments, share progress updates, and support one another both personally and professionally.

See for yourself how STAR Scholars are driving change through innovative tobacco control prevention research and powerful advocacy initiatives! Explore their projects on the STAR Scholars Projects page.

Experience-Through-Engagement

The STAR program opens doors for STAR Scholars to collaborate with experienced professionals and public health leaders, allowing them to gain valuable real-world experience. Scholars actively participate in at least two tobacco-focused advocacy meetings each semester, including ALA Mission Committee meetings, city council meetings, and CHEST coalition gatherings, and volunteer at three tobacco-related advocacy events each year, such as the ALA Lung Force Walk and VA Lung Cancer Screening Day.  Through these experiences, STAR Scholars build professional networks and incorporate their personal experiences into existing frameworks for creating tobacco-free communities.

SESSIONS

Topics

• Foundations in Research
• Foundations in Community Advocacy
• History and Important Background 

Past Speakers