The EWU McNair community is thrilled to announce that Ryan Finner, one of our outstanding scholars, has been accepted into the PhD program in Sociology at the University of New Mexico, with a specialization in Race and Ethnicity.
Ryan’s academic journey is truly inspiring. As a first-generation college student, Ryan will graduate in Spring 2026 with a Bachelor of Arts in Africana Studies (Interdisciplinary Studies) and minors in Anthropology and Psychology. Throughout his undergraduate career, Ryan has demonstrated a passion for research, mentorship, and advocacy. Serving as an Academic Coach at PLUS, he has worked tirelessly to foster inclusive environments for marginalized students, reflecting his deep commitment to equity and social justice.
Ryan’s research interests are wide-ranging and impactful, focusing on race and ethnicity, social inequalities, housing policy, environmental justice, and urban sociology. His current work utilizes a DuBoisian perspective to explore how Black communities in Chicago revitalize cultural spaces in response to gentrification. During Summer 2025, Ryan completed his McNair Research Project, “Academic Navigation: The Lived Experiences of Bilingual and Multilingual College Students,” under the guidance of Dr. Julia Smith. This qualitative study centered student voices, examining how linguistically diverse college students navigate academic, social, and institutional spaces in U.S. public universities, and proposing more inclusive policies for higher education.
Beyond his research, Ryan has been instrumental in founding the “Research to Pathways Club,” a student-run organization that provides undergraduate students with research opportunities, connections, and resources. Ryan’s long-term goal is to become a university professor, using community-focused research and education to make a meaningful impact on society. We at McNair are incredibly proud of Ryan’s achievements! Congratulations, Ryan!
For more information visit: https://inside.ewu.edu/mcnair/ryan-finner/
