Rate My Professor Fernando Soriano

Fernando Soriano, Ph.D., serves as a Professor in the Human Development Department at California State University, San Marcos, and is recognized as an expert in psychology areas including youth violence, delinquency, substance use, and prevention program development, particularly with multicultural youth. He earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of California, Riverside, followed by a master’s degree and Ph.D. in social-personality psychology from the University of Colorado, Boulder. Dr. Soriano has progressed through academic ranks at CSUSM, serving as Associate Professor and Director, and later as Professor and Chair of the department within the College of Education, Health and Human Services. He received Fulbright U.S. Scholar awards, lecturing at the University of Ulster from September 2004 to December 2004 in Psychology, and at the University of Guanajuato from August 2012 to May 2013 in Social Sciences.

Dr. Soriano’s research centers on adolescence, delinquency, violence prevention programming, community needs assessments, and professional skill development among graduating seniors. He develops innovative, developmentally and culturally appropriate prevention programs, such as surfing and culinary initiatives for at-risk multicultural youth. His work examines the role of culture in behavior and cognition related to social problem behaviors, including the prevalence, risk, and protective factors for intimate partner violence among Latina populations. Ongoing projects include a study on early developmental exposure to violence among college students, where 89 percent of 272 participants reported experiencing at least one form of community violence before age 18; the Youth University Mentorship and Food Culinary Skills Training Program, pairing Human Development and business undergraduates with alternative high school students to build culinary skills, entrepreneurship, self-esteem, and positive identities to prevent violence and delinquency; and the Surfing Youth Prevention Program (SYPP), collaborating with the Kinesiology Department and Murray High School to integrate low-income multicultural youth through surfing, enhancing self-concept, academic achievement, and reducing violence. Dr. Soriano authored the books Survival Guide for College Graduates During Economic Trends and Conducting Needs Assessments: A Multidisciplinary Approach.