Alberto Cifuentes Jr. received $5000 from the Proctor & Gamble/Hispanic Scholarship Fund (HSF) to support his dissertation research. He will be focusing his research on the direct and indirect effects of stigma on the health outcomes of commercial sex workers.

“I am very grateful to Procter & Gamble/Hispanic Scholarship Fund for this scholarship that will help me fund my living, travel, and research expenses. As a doctoral student that focuses on the relationship between stigma and the health outcomes of vulnerable populations, my ultimate goal is to expand access to social services for people that experience bias, discrimination, and violence on a daily basis, especially commercial sex workers. As an advocate for sex workers and a sex-positive social worker, I seek to engage vulnerable populations in community organizing and policy advocacy that empowers them to improve the quality of their lives and increase the sociocultural capital of their communities,” said Alberto.

Dr. Cristina Wilson, Alberto’s academic mentor stated “Alberto is a wonderful fit for the Hispanic Scholarship Fund. He is a Hispanic male working towards health equity for diverse populations. Participation and completion of doctoral level education by Hispanics is proportionally small and this scholarship will assist in funding the completion of Alberto’s doctoral degree.”

Alberto’s ultimate goal is to create and direct a non-profit organization that specializes in empowering and providing vital programs and services to stigmatized and marginalized gender and sexual minority groups, especially young men who have sex with men of color, transgender and genderqueer individuals, and sex workers.