The Civil Grand Jury Lab at Cuyamaca College is an undergraduate student research lab focused on fostering the next generation of leaders and scholars by researching California’s 58 county civil grand juries and utilizing jury reports to promote civic engagement.
Vision
The vision of the Lab is to advance the scholarship and practice of civil grand juries at the local, state, and federal level.
Mission
The mission of the Lab is to scholastically, socially, and professionally mentor undergraduate students conducting original research on California’s civil grand juries, develop a database of California civil grand jury reports, findings, and recommendations, and local government responses to these reports, develop and disseminate teaching and learning resources on civil grand juries, and advance civic engagement and public policy based on civil grand jury reports.
Motto
The motto of the Lab is shared with the Political Science program at Cuyamaca College: “With you every step of the way”.
Lab Advisory Committee
The Lab Advisory Committee consists of individuals with knowledge, skills, and abilities that can help the Lab fulfill its Mission and Vision.
Visit the Advisory Committee page to learn more.
Lab Team
Lab Founder: Josh Franco, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Political Science
Greetings! I am a full-time, tenure-track Assistant Professor of Political Science at Cuyamaca College. As a first-generation college graduate, introducing political science to the next generation of leaders and scholars is my mission.
I earned my Ph.D. and M.A. in Political Science and B.A. in Public Policy from UC Merced. I also hold A.A. degrees in Economics and Political Science from Cerritos College.
My pedagogical focus is on pioneering “integrative political science”. My integrative political science courses merge lectures, journal articles analysis, public policy project, and simulation in a single course to facilitate a dynamic, active learning experience for students.
I founded the Civil Grand Jury Lab because I believe 2-year community college students should have the opportunity to learn about research, conduct research, and decide for themselves if research is a career they want to pursue.
Steven Soto
Steven Soto is currently enrolled at the University of California, Santa Barbara to pursue a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science.
Alex Alcantara
Alex Alcantara is currently enrolled at the University of California, Davis to pursue a Bachelor of Arts in History with a minor in Political Science. Their main areas of interest include U.S. historical relations with the Philippines, the history of sexuality in the U.S., and political theory. Alex previously attended Grossmont College and Cuyamaca College, where they earned Associate of Arts degrees with Honors in History, Political Science, English, and French. Apart from academics, Alex likes to roller skate, cook Filipino dishes, and hang out with their pets Luna, the mini rex rabbit, and Frankie, the red-eared slider.