News Corner

Scholar Spotlight!

Check back here as we highlight the achievements of a current and alumni scholar each month

2020 Research Proposal Symposium

Tuesday May 19, 2020 5-7pm CST on Zoom

Even during this unprecedented time, research is still occurring! Please join our newest cohort of McNair Scholars as they present their planned projects for this upcoming summer. From researching the chemistry behind extracting food dyes to Bachata, our scholars present on a variety of topics in a multidude of disciplines (Click here to see all presenters and topics). All our welcome to listen and engage our students. They have worked incredibly hard over the entire academic year refining, preparing, and adapting their proposals to current circumstances, and we are excited for them to begin their projects and data collection in June.

Link to the Zoom Meet

Program Welcomes New Executive Director and Director of Research

Last summer, the leadership of the McNair Program was restructured. Risa Lopez is now the Executive Director of TRIO and McNair Programs. With 19 years of experience in college access and success work in Federal TRIO Programs, her role is handling the budget, administrative reporting, and government compliance. Dr. Jonathan Anderson serves as the Director of Research in addition to his role as Visiting Assistant Professor of International Studies. Previously a faculty mentor and the McNair Writing Specialist, Dr. Anderson will now also work with sophomore scholars, oversee research projects at all levels, and coordinate with faculty mentors. Samantha Leinbach continues her work with junior and senior scholars, primarily involved with graduate school preparation, under the new title of Associate Director. As a McNair alumna from Penn State and a graduate mentor for McNair at the University of Wyoming, she brings unique perspectives to programs and operations. The team will work collaboratively to move the McNair Program to new heights and better serve the students that participate.

Current Scholar Accomplishments

Jada Bishop accepted her offer to Princeton for a Doctorate in Classics

Soko Cheng accepted her offer to the University of Wisconsin Madison for a Doctorate in Asian Languages and Cultures

Yasmine Davila accepted her offer to the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign for a Master's in Social Work

Judith Espinoza was extended offers for a Master's in Political Science at Columbia and a Master's of International Relations at the University of Chicago

Jelani Givens II was extended an offer for a Master's in Physics at Western Illinois University

Reese Reed was selected for the Newman Civic Fellowship

Katana Smith was extended offers for an MFA at the University of Minnesota and Northwestern

Trish Turner accepted her offer for a Master's in Exercise and Rehabilitation Science at Marquette University

Dianell Vega accepted her offer for a Doctorate of Psychology at the Chicago School of Professional Psychology

Alumni Scholar Achievements

Alexis Bell '18 entered a Master’s Program in Social Work at the University of Texas Austin

Jayel Gant '18 received a Master’s of Arts from New York University and currently works as a Junior College Coach in Chicago

Jelisa Powell '18 accepted her offer to Northwestern University for a Masters in Counseling

Jose Guevara '17 received an offer of admission to the University of Tennesee's Master's of Social Work

Chigozie Jesse Okwu '17 earned a Master’s degree from the University of Michigan in Public Policy & Environmental and Natural Resources

Crystal Singletary '17 earned an MA in Psychology from American University

Stefan Torralba '17 earned an MA in English from the University of California Riverside

Tawni Sasaki '16 earned a Master of Arts in Law and Diplomacy from Tufts University

Natalie Baldino '15 earned a Master’s degree from the University of Maryland

Noah Baldino '15 earned an MFA from Purdue

Allison Fabino '14 earned her PhD in analytical chemistry from Northern Illinois University

Maricruz Osorio '14 earned an MA in Political Science at the University of California Riverside

Gabrielle Rajerison '14 earned a Master’s degree in Literature from the University of Pittsburgh

Christopher Holland '13 joined Knox College as a Visiting Assistant Professor of Psychology

Alejandro Muzzio '08 earned his PhD in Anthropology from the University of Iowa

Winter 2020 Newsletter