Eastern's TRIO McNair Program Meets or Exceeds Outcome Objectives for the 2019-2020 Department of Education Annual Performance Report

Congratulations and thank you to all the EWU McNair scholars, faculty mentors, staff and other supporters who continued to work hard together throughout the challenges of 2020. Although our program went completely virtual in March 2020, our EWU scholars still benefited from faculty-mentored research experiences, workshops, seminars and other scholarly activities (Zoom meetings and conferences and other digital interactions), that allowed us to meet or exceed the objectives set out in the Eastern McNair grant proposal. We just submitted our Annual Performance Report (APR) to the Department of Education in February 2021 (highlights below), which shows that EWU McNair continues its ongoing success. This is accomplished through a carefully designed Plan of Operation informed by research, best practices, and years of successfully preparing first-generation, low-income and/or underrepresented scholars to succeed in doctoral programs. And we try to make it fun!

 

On this page, you will see numbers that quantify our program's success, but more importantly, you will have a chance to celebrate our scholars and their remarkable accomplishments over the last year. We're in challenging times, and yet we still have so much to celebrate!

 

Clicking on an icon or "Read More" link in any of the slideshows allows you to navigate to the students' individual pages where you can read more about their research and plans for graduate school.

EWU McNair alum Dr. Laura Zamudio earns PhD; Serving as Winter/Spring 2020 Eastern McNair Interim Academic Advisor before joining Heritage University as an Assistant Professor of Math and McNair Program Coordinator

By Dukich, Cynthia | 12/06/2020

Dr. Laura Zamudio is an Eastern Washington University TRIO McNair alum who earned her bachelor’s degree from Eastern with a major in math education and a minor in Spanish. As an EWU McNair Scholar research intern, she completed two McNair research projects in math education with Dr. Gayle Milsaps in the summers of 2014 and … Read more

2020 Eastern McNair Scholar
Graduate School Acceptances

EWU McNair Scholar Marixza Torres Accepted into PhD and Masters Programs

By Jaeger, Corinne | 02/03/2020

EWU McNair Scholar Rachel Silverthorn Accepted by Two Masters Programs!

By Jaeger, Corinne | 02/04/2020

EWU McNair Scholar Marcos Monteiro Accepted into Indiana University School of Medicine

By Jaeger, Corinne | 02/05/2020

EWU McNair Alumna Veronica Albrecht Accepted into Michigan State University PhD Program

By Jaeger, Corinne | 02/06/2020

EWU McNair Scholar Halim Acosta Accepted into NC State University PhD Program in Computer Science

By Jaeger, Corinne | 02/07/2020

EWU McNair Alumna Christina Ramelow Accepted into Multiple PhD Programs

By Jaeger, Corinne | 02/10/2020

EWU McNair Scholar Angelica Garcia-Macias Accepted into Multiple PhD Programs

By Jaeger, Corinne | 02/13/2020

EWU McNair Scholar Maria Rivera Diaz Accepted to Masters Program at Oregon State University

By Jaeger, Corinne | 02/18/2020

EWU McNair Scholar Abdulrazik Mohamed Accepted to Masters Program at American University

By Jaeger, Corinne | 02/20/2020

EWU McNair Scholar Madelyn Brown Accepted into Multiple Masters Programs

By Jaeger, Corinne | 02/21/2020

EWU McNair Scholar Lily Ann Long Accepted to Point Park Psy.D. Program

By Jaeger, Corinne | 02/24/2020

EWU McNair Scholar Rachel Silverthorn Accepted by Multiple Graduate Programs!

By Jaeger, Corinne | 02/25/2020

EWU McNair Scholar Marcos Monteiro Accepted into Multiple PhD Programs

By Jaeger, Corinne | 02/27/2020

EWU McNair Scholar Halim Acosta Accepted into Two More PhD Programs

By Jaeger, Corinne | 02/28/2020

EWU McNair Alumna Christina Ramelow Accepted into 4 Additional PhD Programs

By Jaeger, Corinne | 03/02/2020

EWU McNair Scholar Madelyn Brown Accepted into Three Additional Masters Programs

By Jaeger, Corinne | 03/03/2020

EWU McNair Scholar Alex Lopez Accepted into MS in Biology at WSU

By Jaeger, Corinne | 03/12/2020

EWU McNair STEM GSA Accepted into Immunology and Infectious Disease PhD Program at WSU

By Jaeger, Corinne | 03/13/2020

EWU McNair Scholar Abdulrazik Mohamed Accepted to 2 Additional Masters Programs and FLAS Fellowship

By Jaeger, Corinne | 03/14/2020

EWU McNair Scholar Angélica Garcia-Macias Accepted into Additional Graduate Program

By Jaeger, Corinne | 03/16/2020

EWU McNair Scholar Madelyn Brown Accepted into Additional Masters Program

By Jaeger, Corinne | 03/17/2020

EWU McNair Alumna Raquel DeLeon Accepted into PhD Program at Texas Tech

By Jaeger, Corinne | 03/18/2020

EWU McNair Scholar Marcos Monteiro Accepted into Two Additional PhD Programs

By Jaeger, Corinne | 03/19/2020

EWU McNair Alumna Christina Ramelow Accepted into 3 Additional PhD Programs

By Jaeger, Corinne | 03/19/2020

EWU McNair Scholar Miriam Carlson Accepted to Gonzaga’s Education Specialist in School Psychology Program

By Jaeger, Corinne | 04/09/2020

EWU McNair Scholar Marixza Torres Accepted into Additional PhD Program

By Jaeger, Corinne | 05/01/2020

EWU McNair Scholar Abdulrazik Mohamed Accepted to PhD Program at FIU

By Jaeger, Corinne | 05/18/2020

EWU McNair Scholar Leanne Allen Accepted to Masters in History Program at EWU

By Jaeger, Corinne | 05/18/2020

EWU McNair Program Logic Model
Objective Targets and Percentages Achieved

Logic Model

The Logic Model above was created as an overview of the Plan of Operation that was submitted in the last Department of Education TRIO McNair grant competition. Eastern's McNair Director, Dr. Christina Torres García, is uniquely qualified to guide this plan, as she brings a valuable leadership and experience to supporting students through the many stages of the program. Coming from a Mexican farm-working background, and holding a PhD in Cultural Studies and Social Thought in Education as well as an MBA, Dr. Torres García is a first-generation college graduate, and the first person in her family to attend graduate school. She is a walking testimony that McNair programs do work since she is a McNair scholar alumna from EWU. Her lived experiences along with her formal training in equitable education give her skills to rethink existing structures and organizations. In imagining how to assist scholars navigate "what is," she is also able to define what might be changed to better serve all students, and to create a plan to involve McNair scholars in this change.

 

To carry out, assess and improve the year-round program services, Dr. Torres García works closely with the McNair program Assistant Director, Cynthia Dukich, MFA, who has been with EWU McNair for more than twenty years. Assisting in all areas of the program, she has focused writing and editing skills she gained in her creative writing background to improving students' writing skills and confidence. This last year, she was assisted in this by Interim Academic Advisor Dr. Laura Zamudio (see story at left) and Graduate Student Assistant Cori Jaeger.

 

The McNair staff together, with outstanding groups of students, faculty, staff and others continues to show that education can indeed transform lives!

 

Below is a summary of Eastern's 2019-2020 Department of Education Annual Performance Report (submitted February 2021) that shows the actual percentage achieved with the approved target number in parentheses.

 

Statistics of 2020 Annual Performance Report!

              • Percent of Current Scholars Engaging in Research and Scholarly Activities: 100% (Target 85%)
              • Percent of New Scholars Majoring in STEM: 30% (Target 30%)
              • Enrollment in Graduate School in Fall after EWU Graduation: 73% (Target 60%)
              • Continued Enrollment in Graduate School: 83% (Target 70%)
              • PhD Attainment within Ten Years of EWU Graduation: 31% (Target 10%)

McNair Scholars Earning Eastern
Bachelor's Degrees in 2020!

Halim Acosta

Halim Acosta graduated from Eastern Washington University in 2020 with a major in Computer Science. He was selected as an EWU McNair Scholar in March of 2018 and completed his 2019 summer research Application of Space Filling Curves to The Dynamic Mobility on Demand Problem with faculty mentor Dr. Yun Tian. This research focused on … Read more

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Leanne Allen

Leanne Allen graduated from Eastern Washington University in 2020 with a major in History. She was selected as an EWU McNair Scholar in March of 2018 and completed an independent research project with faculty mentor Dr. J. William Youngs. Her research focus was on the Nez Perce tribe of the Columbia River Plateau in the … Read more

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Erik Almaguer

Erik Almaguer graduated from Eastern Washington University in 2020 with a major in Computer Science. He was selected as an EWU McNair Scholar in March of 2018 and completed his 2018 summer research A Novel Approach Towards Visualizing Weather Data on the Web with faculty mentor Dr. Shamima Yasmin. 2018 McNair Faculty Research Mentor: Dr. Shamima Yasmin … Read more

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Kianna Baker

Kianna (Key) Baker graduated from Eastern Washington University in 2020 with a major in Science of Public Health and a minor in African Studies. She was selected as an EWU McNair Scholar in March of 2018 and completed her 2018-19 summer research A Study of Food Insecurity for Eastern Washington State Colleges with faculty mentors Dr. … Read more

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Madelyn Brown

EWU McNair Scholar Madelyn Brown, 2019 Madelyn Brown graduated from Eastern Washington University in 2020 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in history with an emphasis in American Indian Studies. Madelyn’s research interests focus on traditional Indigenous knowledge and its historical influence on ecological-care techniques utilized by Pacific Northwest tribal communities. She was the recipient … Read more

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Angélica García-Macías

Angélica García-Macías graduated from Eastern Washington University with a major in Political Science with an emphasis in Pre-Law. In addition, she received her minor in Spanish and Chicano Studies. She would like to study the Latinx community involvement in politics and research to find solutions to increase Latinx political participation. Her goal is to focus … Read more

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Lily Ann Long

Lily Ann Long graduated from Eastern Washington University in 2020 with a major in Psychology, minoring in Applied Developmental Psychology with a certification in suicide assessment, treatment, and management. She was selected as an EWU McNair Scholar in March 2018 and completed her 2019 summer research A Thematic Analysis of First-Generation Students’ Experiences of Shame … Read more

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Alex Lopez

Alex Lopez graduated from Eastern Washington University in 2020 with a major in Biology. He was selected as an EWU McNair Scholar in March of 2018 and completed his 2019 summer research Ungulate Activity: Effects of Season, Hunting Pressure and Plant Type with faculty mentor Dr. Margaret O’Connell and Dr. Paul Spruell. This research focused on … Read more

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Marcos Monteiro

Marcos Monteiro graduated from Eastern Washington University in 2020 with a major in Biology and a minor in Chemistry. He is interested in understanding how microbes cause infectious diseases at the molecular level and in understanding the relationship between the human microbiome and diseases. He received the Barry Goldwater Scholarship and worked on research in … Read more

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Rachel Silverthorn

CV Rachel Silverthorn graduated from Eastern Washington University in 2020 with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology. She is interested in judicial proceedings and treatment of defendants and offenders within the criminal justice system. She has completed research examining whether pregnancy has any effect on the jury’s perception of a female defendant. Rachel plans to … Read more

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Marixza Torres

Marixza Torres graduated from Eastern Washington University in 2020 with a bachelor’s degree in Applied Developmental Psychology with a minor in Chicano studies. For her 2018 EWU McNair Summer Research Internship, Marixza conducted research on the cultural obstacles faced by families of Latinx young adults with autism. In 2019, she completed the Summer Research Opportunities … Read more

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(Click on names or "Read More" above to go to graduating scholars' individual pages where you can learn more about their McNair research projects, faculty research mentors and graduate school plans)

EWU McNair Assistant Director Joins TRIO McNair Professionals from Across the Nation to Share Best Practices at the 6th Annual McNair Promising Practices Institute (MPPI)

By Jaeger, Corinne

At the beginning of February 2020, the EWU McNair program’s Assistant Director, Cynthia Dukich, joined over 150 people representing 89 McNair Scholars programs from around the country as they came together at the 6th Annual McNair Promising Practices Institute (MPPI) at the University of Central Florida to learn and share about the most innovative practices … Read more

Our Dedicated McNair Faculty Research Mentors are
Key to EWU McNair's Continued Success

Our McNair faculty mentors are the core of the program, as they are the primary guide in research and design, assisting students with graduate programs within specific fields, and introducing scholars to faculty members in graduate programs.

 

The carefully monitored process of matching McNair scholars with faculty research mentors starts when the student is accepted into the program. The Director, Dr. Torres Garcia gives each participant assistance in identifying supportive and appropriate mentors and in initiating professional connections. The participant’s involvement begins in the pre-application process with the requirement to interview three faculty members. Information from the interviews provides a starting point for the Director to discuss with the new participant the potential faculty mentors in the major field of study. Following the discussions with participants, the Director talks with the department chair and the potential faculty mentor before determining a match.

Click on the "THANK YOU! " box at the left to find our more about our fabulous 2018-2019 faculty research mentors.

 

Click on the "THANK YOU! 2019-2020 McNair Faculty Mentors" box at the left to find our more about our outstanding mentors.

 

New McNair Scholars Selected Spring 2020 and Continuing Scholars

Analisea Araya

Analisea Araya graduated from Eastern Washington University in 2022 with a major in philosophy. She is interested in various philosophical fields, including social and political philosophy, feminist philosophy, philosophy of education, and philosophy for children. As a research scholar, Analisea is interested in the way women’s voices have been left out of the western canon and … Read more

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Lizeth Banuelos

Lizeth Bañuelos graduated from Eastern Washington University in 2021 with a majori in Applied Developmental Psychology and two minors, one in Race and Culture Studies, the other in Chicana/o/x Studies. Her research interests surround the psychology of the Latinx community and discovering best practices for serving underserved populations. Lizeth completed an EWU McNair Summer Research … Read more

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Gloria Bravo

Gloria D. Bravo graduated in 2022 from Eastern Washington University with an International Affairs major with a socio-economic concentration, as well as minors in Chicano Studies and Spanish. Gloria is a first-generation student originally from Brewster, WA, where she obtained her Associate of Arts and Sciences from Wenatchee Valley Community College. Gloria’s research is centered … Read more

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Alexandria Coronado

Alexandria Belen Coronado graduated from Eastern Washington University in 2021 with a major in Political Science and an emphasis in Pre-Law with a minor in Anthropology. Prior to attending EWU, she graduated from Columbia Basin College with an Associate of Arts degree. She was involved in the Honors Program at EWU as well as the … Read more

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Ashley Destin

Ashley Destin graduated from Eastern Washington University in 2022 with a major in Biology. Her passion is animal care with a focus on domestic house cats. In the past, she volunteered in a small veterinarian clinic, working closely with surgeries and animal husbandry. Dr. Judd Case mentored Ashley for both of her Summer Research Internships … Read more

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Shawn Dufrane

Shawn Dufrene was a senior at Eastern Washington University in Interdisciplinary Studies with focuses on Africana Studies and History. She was studying African American History as well as what it means to be white in America. She has presented historical research for the Phi Alpha Theta regional conference and the EWU Symposium, both in 2019. … Read more

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Alexis Guizar-Diaz

Alexis Lisandro Guizar-Diaz graduated in the spring of 2021 with a degree in Sociology and a minor in Philosophy. His key research interests are political economy, rural & agrarian communities, and Latina/o/x populations. He is a member of the American Sociological Association and a recipient of a 2020 Eastern Washington University Summer Research Internship through … Read more

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Luis Martinez Antillo

Luis A. Martinez is pursuing majors in Psychology and Social Work, with a certification in suicide assessment, treatment, and management. He is interested in studying the ways traumatic experiences interfere with everyday life. In the 2019-2020 academic year, Luis interned at an organization that works with those who are low-income and have faced homelessness. He wants to … Read more

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Aulane Mpouli

Aulane Mpouli graduated from Eastern Washington University in spring 2021 with a bachelor’s degree in chemistry. Her research interests include analytics, biological chemistry, and catalysis, and at EWU, Aulane worked on a biochemical research project analyzing the successful ways in which the substrate Inosine Triphosphate (ITP) binds to the enzyme Inosine Triphosphatase in order for … Read more

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Rachael Pentico

Rachael Pentico graduated from Eastern Washington University in 2021 with a BS in Biology. Previously, she spent time at Spokane Falls Community College where she focused on economics, with an emphasis on environmental policy. Her research interests focus on ecology and how invasive species and anthropogenic climate change will affect different ecosystems. She wants her education … Read more

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Julianna Pruneda-Martinez

Julianna Pruneda-Martinez graduated in 2022 from Eastern Washington University with a bachelor’s degree in Math Education (K-8). She has been a College Assistant Migrant Program and Washington State Opportunity scholar. She also volunteered as a Peer Mentor for the Chicanx Peer Mentor Program at EWU. Her research interests are on Latinx students learning Mathematics. For … Read more

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Zoë Romero

Zoë Romero Becker graduated from Eastern Washington University in 2021 with a Literacy Education and Mathematics Education double major. She also pursued courses in the English as a Second Language program. Through the TESOL program, Zoë has studied abroad in Passau, Germany and in Oaxaca, Mexico, where she volunteered as a teacher’s assistant in an … Read more

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Sami Sanchez-Garcia

Samantha Sanchez-Garcia graduated from Eastern Washington University with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with an emphasis in communication, sociology, and industrial/ organizational psychology. She participated in Eastern’s Inclusion and Diversity certificate program and was co-president of Psi Chi, an international honor society in psychology. Samantha was a research assistant in Dr. Jillene Seiver’s clinical … Read more

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Hope Sands

Hope Sands graduated in 2021 with a major in Anthropology with a focus in Archaeology and Artifact Conservation, as well as a major in Philosophy. As an Honors student and a member of Phi Eta Sigma and Phi Kappa Phi, honor societies at EWU, Hope was selected to present at the Western Regional Honors Conference … Read more

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Mori Williams

Mori Starr graduated from Eastern Washington University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Science with an emphasis in Chemistry and a minor in Japanese. He worked in the Organic Chemistry lab, which involved saponification, NMR readings, and reflux methods. For his 2020 EWU McNair Research Internship, he worked with Dr. Camille McNeely in … Read more

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Representation Matters: McNair Chemistry Research Intern Aulane Mpouli

By Dukich, Cynthia | 10/22/2020

Aulane Mpouli understands from experience why representation matters in STEM fields. As an EWU McNair Scholar and Chemistry and Biochemistry major, Aulane is currently applying to chemistry PhD programs with the goal of conducting bench to bedside translational cancer research. Interested in mechanisms to evaluate protein-ligand interactions, as well as chemical biology, and enzyme dynamics … Read more