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About Soma Sen

Dr. Sen was hired in 2007 to teach in the Masters program. She teaches the foundational theory classes for the incoming Masters students. She is also one of the faculty members supervising the capstone project for the graduating Masters students. Dr Sen’s overall research interest lies in the area of minority health and related issues, particularly among Asian Americans and Asian Indians. Her specific area of interest is HIV/AIDS. Her scholarly activities include: role of gender, culture and poverty on health seeking behavior and access to health care services among underserved population; sexwork and sex trafficking and HIV/AID; immigration and human trafficking; social networks, social capital and their health impacts among migrant populations. Several of Dr. Sen’s completed and ongoing research projects were funded by the College of Applied Science and Arts and by the Silicon Valley Center for Global Innovation and Immigration. Dr. Sen was also awarded a fellowship by the Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Francisco. She has presented her scholarly activities at local, national and international venues. Her completed/ongoing research projects include: (1) Impact of Migration and Social Capital on HIV risk among migrant men in Sub-Saharan Africa,(2) Role of gender and culture on sexwork in India, (3) HIV/AIDS and sex-trafficking within the Indian context, (4) Role of gender and culture on Condom Use Self Efficacy among substance users enrolled in community based substance abuse treatment programs, (4) Barriers and facilitators to accessing substance use treatment among Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders and implications for intervention, (5) Exploring the role of stigma on HIV testing behavior and on accessing HIV related services among Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in the Bay Area, (6) Social Capital and HIV risk among Indian H1-B visa holders in the Bay Area, and (7) Exploring Anti-human trafficking collaborations in the Bay Area.

Positions

Present Assistant Professor, School of Social Work, San Jose State University
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Curriculum Vitae


Disciplines



Grants

2009 "Role of gender identity, gender role and cultural factors in sexwork in India"
California State University
Pair Grant
$7,383
2009 "Social Justice and Child-Sex Tourism in India"
San José State University
College of Science and Arts Development Grant
Colleague(s): R. Bandyopadhyay
$25,000
2009 School of Social Work Professional Development Grant
San José State University
2008 "Tourism and HIV/AIDS in India: Sustainable Tourism as a possible solution"
San José State University
Global Studies Fellow
$4,000
2008 Migration, HIV and Social Capital in Sub-Saharn Africa
San José State University
Junior Faculty Career Development Grant
$4,571
2007 - 2008 Evaluation of HIV/AIDS Education & Prevention Program
San José State University
Program Evaluation Grant
$11,000
2007 Identity in Classroom :Threat or Safety in SJSU
San José State University
Learning Productivity Program Grant
Colleague(s): S. Kil and M. Han
$11,071
$
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Professional Service and Affiliations

2011 - Present Member, Institute for Collaborative Response for Victims of Family Violence, San José State University
2011 - Present Member, Committee for Enhancement of Equity and Diversity, San José State University
2009 - Present Faculty Member, Graduate Student Association, San José State University
2008 - Present Volunteer Reviewer, Admission Committee, San José State University
2008 - Present Faculty Member, Graduation Committee, San José State University
2008 - Present Academic Advisor, San José State University
2008 - Present Sequence Chair, Human Behavior & the Social Environment, San José State University
2007 - Present Member, Future of Minority Studies Research Project, San José State University
2011 - 2012 Member, Director Search Committee, San José State University
2010 Member, Committee to Elect Director, San José State University
2008 - 2010 Member, Curriculum Committee, San José State University
2008 Member, Department Curriculum Committee, San José State University
2007 - 2008 Member, Faculty Field Liaison Committee, San José State University
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Honors and Awards

  • Post Doctoral Scholar – Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco – 2010-2011
  • Dean’s Outstanding Professor Award (Nominated) – 2009

Courses

  • Human Behavior & Social Environment
  • Research (Thesis Project)
  • Field Practicum

Education

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2007 Ph.D., Arizona State University ‐ Social Work
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1999 MSW, University of Minnesota ‐ Social Work
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1997 M.A., Iowa State University ‐ Economics
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1997 MCRP, Iowa State University ‐ Community & Regional Planning
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1994 B.A., Jadavpur University ‐ Economics
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Contact Information

soma.sen@sjsu.edu

Email:


Publications (19)

Book and Article Reviews (1)