TRIO Ronald E. McNair Postbaccalaureate Achievement Program

Eastern Washington University

Wendolyn Martinez

EWU McNair Scholar Wendolyn Martinez Accepted by Third Masters Program

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Wendolyn Martinez Graduate School Acceptances 2021 AU

Congratulations to EWU McNair Scholar Wendolyn Martinez! Wendolyn has by the International Relations Masters program at American University. This is in addition to being accepted by the Masters in Public Policy program at Pepperdine University with a full tuition scholarship and by the dual Masters degree from the Middlebury Institute of International Studies and Moscow State Institute of International Relations where she also received a substantial scholarship rewarding her excellent academic background and specialization in the field. Wendolyn is double majoring in Political Science and International Affairs at Eastern and is dedicated to following her family's tradition of serving their country. In her case, she plans to go into foreign service where she hopes to decrease nuclear proliferation and increase peace and security in the world. In her 2019 EWU McNair Summer Research Internship, under the mentorship of Dr. Dorothy Zielser-Vralsted, Wendolyn studied interwar propaganda within the US and USSR relating to public works projects. Then in the fall of 2019 she studied abroad, with the help of the Gilman International Scholarship, at the prestigious Moscow State University in Moscow, Russia where she studied Russian language, history, and political economy. In the summer of 2020 she participated in the Public Policy & International Affairs Junior Summer Internship (PPIA JSI) through the University of Michigan.

The EWU McNair staff are so excited for Wendolyn and we know she'll do amazing things at whichever program she decides to attend! Click here to read more about Wendolyn or her research.

EWU McNair Scholar Wendolyn Martinez Accepted by Pepperdine Masters Program

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Wendolyn Martinez Graduate School Acceptances 2021 PEP

Congratulations to EWU McNair Scholar Wendolyn Martinez! Wendolyn has been accepted by the Masters in Public Policy program at Pepperdine University with a scholarship to cover all tuition expenses. This is in addition to her acceptance for a dual Masters degree from the Middlebury Institute of International Studies and the Moscow State Institute of International Relations. Middlebury also awarded her with a scholarship recognizing her excellent academic background and specialization in the field. Wendolyn is double majoring in Political Science and International Affairs at Eastern and is dedicated to following her family's tradition of serving their country. She plans to go into foreign service where she hopes to decrease nuclear proliferation and increase peace and security in the world. Click here to read more about Wendolyn or her research.

In her 2019 EWU McNair Summer Research Internship, under the mentorship of Dr. Dorothy Zielser-Vralsted, Wendolyn studied interwar propaganda within the US and USSR relating to public works projects. Then in the fall of 2019 she studied abroad, with the help of the Gilman International Scholarship, at the prestigious Moscow State University in Russia where she studied Russian language, history, and political economy. In the summer of 2020 she participated in the Public Policy & International Affairs Junior Summer Internship (PPIA JSI) through the University of Michigan. Last fall, Wendolyn presented her McNair research at the 2020 Baylor McNair Research Conference.

 

The EWU McNair staff are so excited for Wendolyn and we know she'll do amazing things at whichever program she decides to attend!

EWU McNair Scholar Wendolyn Martinez Accepted to the Middlebury Institute Masters Program

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Wendolyn Martinez Graduate School Acceptances 2021 MID

Congratulations to EWU McNair Scholar Wendolyn Martinez! Wendolyn has been accepted by a dual degree program which includes a master’s in Nonproliferation and Terrorism Studies from the Middlebury Institute of International Studies and a master’s in International Affairs from Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO), one of Russia’s most prestigious and internationally respected educational institutions. In addition, to reward her excellent scholarship and fit for the program, Wendolyn received a substantial scholarship from Middlebury.

 

Wendolyn is double majoring in Political Science and International Affairs at Eastern and is dedicated to following her family's tradition of serving their country. In her case, she plans to go into foreign service where she hopes to decrease nuclear proliferation and increase peace and security in the world. In her 2019 EWU McNair Summer Research Internship, under the mentorship of Dr. Dorothy Zielser-Vralsted, Wendolyn studied interwar propaganda within the US and USSR relating to public works projects. Then in the fall of 2019 she studied abroad, with the help of the Gilman International Scholarship, at the prestigious Moscow State University in Moscow, Russia where she studied Russian language, history, and political economy. In the summer of 2020 she participated in the Public Policy & International Affairs Junior Summer Internship (PPIA JSI) through the University of Michigan.

 

The EWU McNair staff are so excited for Wendolyn and we know she'll do amazing things at whichever program she decides to attend! Click here to read more about Wendolyn or her research.

Nine EWU McNair Scholars Present at Baylor McNair Research Conference

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Nine EWU McNair Scholars Present at Baylor McNair Research Conference

From looking at community perceptions of reentry barriers to formerly incarcerated people to the impact of chemical weathering from Mount St. Helen’s on streams, EWU McNair Scholars have been hard at work researching all summer under the guidance of their mentors. On October 1st and 2nd. Nine of these scholars presented at the 2020 Virtual Baylor McNair Research Conference! This conference brought together over 350 students, staff, and faculty from McNair programs across the country. Presenting at the conference gives student practice for the future, as well as the opportunity to network with graduate programs across the country. Congratulations to our amazing student presenters and huge thanks to their mentors for ongoing support! Click on the student’s name below to learn more about them and their research.

 

Malachi Chukwu – Poster Presentation

Mentor: Dr. Majid Sharifi, International Affairs and Political Science

Assessing Developmental Approaches Since the Mid-20th Century and its Outcomes for the Underdeveloped Countries

 

Ashley  Destin – Poster Presentation

Mentor: Dr. Judd A. Case, Biology

Size Scaling in the Skull of North American Felids as Adaptations for Prey Acquisition

 

Darlene Gilroy – Oral Presentation

Mentor: Dr. Carmen Nezat, Geology

Chemical Weathering of Deposits from the 1980 Mount St. Helens Eruption and its Effect on Stream Water Chemistry

 

Theresa Lee – Poster Presentation

Mentor: Dr. Lindsey Upton, Criminology

Prisoner Reentry: College Perceptions of Reentry Barriers in a Northwest Community

 

Wendolyn Martinez – Poster Presentation

Mentor: Dr. Dorothy Zeisler Vralsted, International Affairs

Propaganda: USSR and US Comparing Propaganda from the US and USSR Produced for the Advancement of Public Approval for Hydro-projects in the 1930s

 

Aulane Mpouli – Oral Presentation

Mentor: Dr. Yao Houndonougbo, Chemistry

Molecular Docking Study of ITPA Protein Substrate Complex

 

Rachael Pentico – Poster Presentation

Mentor: Dr. Rebecca Brown, Biology

Differences in Plant Soil Feedbacks with Respect to Slope Aspect

 

Samantha Sanchez-Garcia – Poster Presentation

Mentor: Dr. Jillene Seiver, Psychology

PsychologyTraumatic Experiences and Mental Health Among College Students

 

Hope Sands – Poster Presentation

Mentor: Dr. Brian Buchanan, Archaeology/GIS

Understanding the Historical Past of Fort Spokane through Landscape Archaeology

 

EWU McNair Scholars Continue Summer Research Despite COVID-19

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Summer Research Continues Despite COVID-19

Soon after the shelter in place began in Washington state, EWU McNair started hearing reports from our colleagues that summer research internships were being cancelled across the country. We cringed knowing that several of our students had received prestigious summer research internships or were still waiting to hear back from those they'd applied to. Fortunately, through innovation and flexibility, all of our EWU McNair Scholars will be able to engage in summer research!

 

EWU McNair Scholar Malachi Chukwu was accepted by Laney Graduate School Summer Opportunity for Academic Research (LGS-SOAR) Program at Emory University. EWU McNair Scholar Wendolyn Martinez was accepted into the Junior Summer Institute in Public Policy and International Affairs (PPIA) at the University of Michigan. Both will both do virtual research internships at these institutions this summer! In addition, new McNair Scholar Aulane Mplouli was accepted into the Ohio State University (OSU) research internship, which was cancelled due to COVID-19; however, she was invited to a summer webinar series by OSU to help prepare her for graduate school. She will also complete a summer research internship at EWU. In addition 16 other EWU McNair Scholars (new and continuing) will participate in the EWU McNair Summer Research Internship through online learning and coaching.

EWU McNair is grateful to all of the professors willing to continue to mentor students and support them through their summer research internship despite these harrowing times. Mentors for the summer of 2020-2021 include: Dr. Rebecca Brown, Dr. Brian Buchanan, Dr. Judd Case, Dr. Kevin Decker, Dr. Edwin Elias, Dr. Yao Houndonougbo, Dr. Camille McNeely, Dr. Gina Mikel Petrie, Dr. Susan Ruby, Dr. Jillene Seiver, Dr. Majid Sharifi, Dr. Lindsey Upton, Dr. Michael Winer, and Dr. Aryn Ziehnert. Check out our Spring Gathering page to learn more about our scholars and mentors!

 

18 EWU McNair Scholars Present at EWU Virtual Symposium

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18 Scholars Present at 2020 Symposium

EWU McNair is proud to announce that 18 EWU McNair Scholars presented at this year’s Virtual Symposium. In the midst of regular reminders of the suffering from COVID-19, in particular its disproportionate effect on communities of color, as well as recent police murders, we hope that lifting up our scholars will continue to support their work and the ultimate goal of McNair – which is to increase diversity in academia. Every McNair Scholar at EWU has powerful story. It is our goal that scholars use their powerful knowledge, experiences, and voices to develop research and actions that contribute to shifts in systemic racism, economic inequality, and overall building a more just world. Read below to learn more about the research presented, including links to each student’s poster or oral presentation. A huge thank you to all of the mentors that helped make this possible. We’re so proud of all of our students’ hard work and look forward another summer research in just a few weeks!

Four of our new scholars presented posters with their research proposals for the summer of 2020. Alexandria Coronado presented, “Research Proposal: Housing and Food Insecurity Among College Students” with the mentorship of Dr. Lindsey Upton. Ashley Destin presented, “Size Scaling in the Skull of North American Felids as Adaptations for Prey Acquisition” with the mentorship of Dr. Judd Case. Aulane Mpouli presented, “Molecular Docking Study of ITPA protein substrate complex” with the mentorship of Dr. Yao Houndonougbo. Hope Sands presented, “Exploring the Archaeological and Geographical Past of Fort Spokane: A Proposal” with the mentorship of Dr. Brian Buchanan.

 

Meanwhile, four new McNair scholars Analisea Araya, Gloria Bravo, Alexis Guizar-Diaz, and Rachael Pentico presented on completed or ongoing research. Analisea presented, “An Analysis of Early Modern Philosopher Mary Astell and a Critique of the Western Canon” with the mentorship of Dr. Kevin Decker. Gloria presented, “Economic Sanctions Reproduce State Sponsored Repression, Human Rights Violations and Violence: A Case Study of Venezuela” with the mentorship of Dr. Majid Sharifi. Alexis presented on, “Machismo, Marianismo, and The Ethics of Care” with the mentorship of Dr. Mimi Marinucci. He will continue this research in the summer of 2020 with Dr. Edwin Elias. Rachael Pentico presented, “A Review of Plant-Soil Feedbacks and Their Importance For Palouse Prairie Restoration and Management” with the mentorship of Dr. Rebecca Brown. 

 

Four additional continuing McNair scholars presented on their research from their 2019 EWU McNair Summer Research Internship. Darlene Gilroy presented “Chemical Weathering of Deposits from the 1980 Mount St. Helens Eruption and its Effect on Stream Water Chemistry” in collaboration with Dr. Carmen Nezat. Theresa Lee presented “Understanding Prisoner Reentry: Public Perceptions of Reentry Barriers Among College Students” with the mentorship of Dr. Lindsey Upton. Both Darlene and Theresa have also presented this research at other conferences around the country this last school year. Malachi Chukwu presented “Projects of Economic and Social Development in the Global South: The 20th and 21st-century developmental trends and their impacts” with the mentorship of Dr. Majid Sharifi. And Wendolyn Martinez presented “Propaganda: USSR and US – Comparing Propaganda from the US and USSR Produced for the Advancement of Public Approval for Hydro-projects in the 1930s,” with the mentorship of Dr. Dorothy Zeisler-Vralsted. Malachi and Wendolyn had hoped to present at a McNair conference in the early spring; however, the conference was cancelled due to COVID-19.

 

Also, four graduating McNair Scholars presented their current research at the Virtual Symposium. Abdulrazik Mohamed presented “Darfurians in the Diaspora: Perceptions of the Conflict in Darfur, Sudan’s Past and the Future of Darfur Under International Response” with the mentorship of Dr. Dorothy Zeisler-Vralsted. Abdu has also presented additional research this school year at the Annual International Symposium on Women and Genocide in the 21st Century: The Case of Darfur and the Black Doctoral Network Conference in the fall of 2019. Angélica García-Macías presented “Eat the Poor” under the mentorship of Dr. Thomas Hawley. Last academic year, Angélica presented research from her work with EWU McNair Mentor Dr. Martín Meráz García at several conferences as well as her research with Dr. Charles Stewart III at MIT at an MIT symposium last summer. Madelyn Brown presented “Maintaining Our Land: Traditional Ecological Knowledge and Wildfire Prevention” with the mentorship of Dr. Christina Torres García and PhD candidate SimHayKin S. Jack. Rachel Silverthorn presented “Gender differences in confidence in jury decision making” under the mentorship of Dr. Kayleen Islam-Zwart. She also presented this research at the 31st Association for Psychological Science Annual Convention. Washington, D.C. in 2019. All four of these scholars will attend Masters or PhD programs in the fall of 2020!

 

Finally, two EWU McNair Alumni, current EWU graduate students, also presented their current research. Christina Ramelow presented “Oral Farnesol Administration Protects Against Inflammatory Demyelination,” research done with mentorship from Dr. Javier Ochoa-Reparaz and in collaboration with multiple other graduate students and faculty. Veronica Albrecht presented “Characterizing Two cagPAI Located Small RNAs in Helicobacter pylori” in collaboration with Dr. Andrea Castillo and “Gene Expression Regulation of sRNA Hpnc2525 in the Clinically Relevant Helicobacter pylori cagPAI Genomic Region” in collaboration with EWU McNair STEM GSA and fellow graduate student Brandon Flatgard, under the mentorship of Dr. Andrea Castillo. Christina and Veronica will both attend fully funded PhD programs in the fall of 2020.

 

To learn more about our new and continuing scholars and all the other amazing work and presentations they have done, check out our Spring Gathering page celebrating scholars, mentors, and alumni. EWU McNair is incredibly proud of the hard work of all of our scholars and we look forward to seeing their research impact higher education and the wider world.