Contact Us
Cynthia Dukich, MFA
Interim Director of the EWU McNair Postbaccalaureate Achievement Program
107 Monroe
Phone: 509.359.6523
Fax: 509.359.2420
Email: cdukich@ewu.edu
Cynthia Dukich is dedicated to living the positive change she hopes to see in the world, and seeks to use her experience to inspire and support others as they gain the vision and education needed to realize their dreams. By facilitating experiences for scholars that enhance academic growth, her goal is to create a rigorous, but supportive and welcoming community of scholars. She is dedicated to the TRIO McNair mission of providing opportunities that prepare McNair participants for success at the doctoral level, and has worked full-time for Eastern's McNair Program since 2004.
She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Dartmouth College in Asian Studies: Chinese Language and Culture and a Master of Fine Arts degree from Eastern Washington University in creative writing with a secondary emphasis in literary editing. A former California State Park docent, Cynthia has also worked as a proofreader, a freelance editor, a ski instructor and art teacher. Ever exploring her relationship to people, places and cultures, she has travelled to China, Egypt, Southeast Asia, Europe, and most of the National Parks of the western U.S. She lives in Cheney, Washington with her husband, son, ill-mannered Quaker parrot named Dudley Do-Right, and a little green lovebird named Puff.
Cori Jaeger, MEd, MFA
Academic Advisor and Coordinator at the Ronald E. McNair Scholar Program
107 Monroe
Phone: 509.359.2465
Fax: 509.359.2420
Email: cjaeger3@ewu.edu
Cori Jaeger completed her Master of Fine Arts in Fiction at Eastern and two years as a McNair GSA. She is thrilled to be coming on in a year-round role to support students through the research and application processes! She has followed a meandering path to get here - from managing a children’s toy store, to an MEd in Elementary Education, to running a summer camp for LGBTQ youth and youth of LGBTQ families, to wholesaling scarves to boutiques, and then back to teaching. She also did community organizing for racial justice for over 6 years in Seattle and is starting to make connections with the racial justice work here in Spokane. She is excited to support McNair students however possible and is always down to talk about great TV, teaching/facilitating, young adult novels, summer camp and youth work, sci-fi/fantasy, or just how you are doing.
Bryn Tennyson, BS
Graduate School Assistant, Ronald E. McNair Scholar Program
107 Monroe
Phone: 509.359.2465
Fax: 509.359.2420
Email: btennyson1@ewu.edu
Bryn Tennyson was born and raised in a rural town in Southwest Alaska. She now spends her winters attending school in Washington and returns home each summer to commercial fish with her family. Bryn received her AA from Clark College while playing basketball for the penguins. Afterwards, she transferred to Fort Lewis College where she did a semester abroad in Germany. She then transferred to Eastern Washington University where she completed her BS in biology pre-med. Bryn is now a first year graduate student working under her mentor, Dr. Andrea Castillo. Her research is focused on the antimicrobial properties of manuka honey and the ability of pathogenic bacterial species to persist when exposed.
As a McNair STEM GSA, her focus will be recruiting new McNair Scholars and to help guide them throughout their journey of academic success. She encourages students like herself to reach out, ask questions and to always follow their curiosity. We are all adapting to this new world together, and if you need advice, her inbox is always open.
Liina Koivula, BA
Graduate School Assistant, Ronald E. McNair Scholar Program
107 Monroe
Phone: 509.359.2465
Fax: 509.359.2420
Email: ukoivula@ewu.edu
Liina grew up in Olympia, Washington and returns there between living in other cities with their partner, Kaden. Liina is looking forward to doing this meaningful work, helping McNair scholars build confidence by witnessing their own academic improvement, growth, and achievement.
We wish former McNair Director Dra. Torres García the best of luck at her new position at Central Washington University! Click here to read more about Dra. Torres García's 12 year legacy at EWU and what she's up to now.