Dr. Guadalupe X. Ayala

Dr. Guadalupe X. Ayala is an Associate Professor in the Division of Health Promotion in the Graduate School of Public Health, San Diego State University. She is Co-Principal Investigator of the San Diego Prevention Research Center (a CDC-funded research center focused on increasing physical activity among Latinos) and a Co-Investigator on the Hispanic Community Health Study (Proyecto SOL). One of Dr. Ayala’s primary areas of research examines determinants of Latino health status and health behaviors with a specific focus on understanding the influence of acculturation and migration history on diet, physical activity, and risk for overweight and obesity. A second line of research involves the development and evaluation of family- and community-based interventions to promote Latino health. Dr. Ayala has received over 9 grants as a PI, including funding from the National Cancer Institute, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the American Cancer Society, and the United States Department of Agriculture. Her research activities have produced 35 manuscripts and 9 book chapters. She teaches health behavior theory to doctoral students and intervention methods to health promotion masters’ students.