Dr. Jillene Seiver

EWU McNair Scholar Darlynne Khayesi Completes Summer Research Internship

11/23/2021 by Liina Koivula Leave a Comment

EWU McNair Scholar Darlynne Khayesi worked with Dr. Jillene Seiver in her Summer Research Internship on Mental Health Challenges in College Students which focused on the experiences of immigrant students.

Darlynne’s study aimed to test the hypothesis that there is a higher prevalence of mental health issues among immigrant college-attending students compared to their native counterparts. In a multicultural context, all immigrants, regardless of their paperwork status, face psychological stress—or acculturative stress—when confronted with both risks and opportunities with regards to their cultural and individual identities upon arrival in a new nation.

She recruited survey participants through a random selection of college students who volunteered to participate in the online survey. The human volunteers’ identities could not be traced back to them.

The survey used questions based on The Perceived Stress Scale, Taylor Manifest Anxiety Scale, and the Trauma History Questionnaire, in randomized order. These were followed by demographic questions, such as age, sex, marital status, family or household income level, parents’ highest level of education, participant highest level of education, employment status, and immigrant status. For immigrants, further questions involve family situation (e.g. whether moved to US with family) and living situation (e.g. with family, roommates, etc.). Following data collection, groups will be investigated and compared based if they are immigrants or native born, with data reflecting the sample population.

Darlynne is a senior at EWU majoring in Applied Developmental Psychology and minoring in Communications Studies as well as Gender and Women’s Studies. She is currently finalizing the analysis and related research paper for this research project while applying to graduate programs at several schools. We look forward to seeing what Darlynne does next!

EWU McNair Scholar Ian Campuzano Completes Summer Research Internship

11/22/2021 by Liina Koivula Leave a Comment

EWU McNair Scholar Ian Campuzano worked with Dr. Jillene Seiver in his Summer Research Internship on Returning Back to Campus After COVID-19: Neuroticism and it’s Correlated Attitudes.

Ian first reviewed literature with an annotated bibliography of academic articles related to his research study. He created a survey and gathered data via SurveyMonkey. The online survey had a total of 62 questions with 3 parts. The first part included pictures with masked, unmasked, social distanced and crowded scenarios. The second part was a questionnaire about views on the COVID vaccine. The third part inventoried the Big Five personality traits to discover whether patterns of neuroticism were generated by the answers to the first two sections.

Ian’s goal was to find correlations between these data points with regard to personality traits and attitudes towards mask and vaccine mandates on university campuses as in-person classes resumed.

Data collection for Ian’s project continued into the fall, and he is currently finalizing the analysis and related research paper while applying to graduate programs at several schools. We look forward to seeing what Ian does next!

Dr. Jillene Seiver: A Positive Mentor Dedicated to Preparing the Next Generation of Psychology Researchers

11/03/2021 by Jaeger, Corinne Leave a Comment

EWU McNair Faculty Mentor Spotlight: Dr. Jillene Seiver

by Cori Jaeger, EWU McNair Program Academic Advisor

Senior Lecturer Dr. Jillene Seiver first became involved with McNair in 2020. After teaching Psychology 100 to College Assistance Migrant Program (CAMP) students, one of those students EWU McNair alumna Samantha Sanchez-Garcia – approached Dr. Seiver to be her faculty mentor. Dr. Seiver accepted the role with enthusiasm. The EWU McNair faculty mentor's goal is to support scholars in conducting their EWU McNair Summer Research Internship and moving towards their goal of becoming graduate students. Dr. Seiver guided Samantha through the Institutional Review Board (IRB) process, which approves, monitors, and reviews research involving human subjects, so that Samantha could conduct a survey and use the findings to better understand trauma and its impact on the mental health of college students.

Samantha presented her research at the Baylor McNair Research Conference and at the Western Psychological Association conference. She also applied to over ten graduate programs. After being accepted by three programs, Samantha decided to attend the Industrial and Organizational Psychology PhD Program at Depaul University where she was selected as one of just three students out of 80 applicants! Not only do McNair faculty mentors provide invaluable support and graduate school preparation through research, they are such meaningful connections for scholar that they often forge life-long collegiate relationships. When I interviewed Dr. Seiver in early October, Samantha had already been in touch with her to check-in regarding the experience so far at DePaul.

Dr. Seiver had heard about the McNair program previously from Dr. Kayleen Islam-Zwart, the Chair of the School of Psychology, who mentored EWU McNair alumna Rachel Silverthorn in 2019-2020 and Acea Sands in 2017. In fact, EWU McNair has had over ten mentors from the Psychology department in the last twenty years! Dr. Seiver noted that in the absence of graduate students, in addition to the joy of mentoring, it’s been really helpful to have engaged students to support her research:

McNair students are similar to grad students in their desire and ability to get the work done.”

She sees mentoring as a part of her work as faculty and as a way to give back to the community – to prepare the next generation of psychology researchers. When I asked why she would recommend mentoring to other faculty she said:

McNair may well introduce you to students who you haven’t really connected with prior. Whether they were busy working or were a bit more shy in approaching faculty, you didn’t see them and yet they have all of this potential. I got as much out of the experience as I think my scholars did. I learned a lot.”

She sees McNair as an opportunity to help talented young people by providing the support and lift they need to be successful in graduate school.

Darlynne Khayesi McNair Scholar Announcements 2021

Ian Campuzano McNair Scholar Announcements 2021

EWU McNair faculty mentors do so much for their scholars even beyond the research experience—such as having meaningful conversations, sharing insight into academia, offering feedback on applications and research writing, and writing letters of recommendation—and yet Dr. Seiver found the workload was not overwhelming. In fact, for the 2021 Summer Research Internship, Dr. Seiver took on two mentees: Darlynne Khayesi and Ian Campuzano. She met with students weekly, directing them towards articles, discussing research, and outlining the steps they needed to take. She pointed out, “It’s not your project; your job is to facilitate the student generating and carrying through their own project.” This aligns with what EWU McNair alumnus Dr. Frank King said in his interview for our Social Justice in Research panel at the EWU CSTEM and McNair Symposium June 2021:

Dr. Frank King Social Justice Panel 2021 WSU

Remember that it is the student's project. We have to find a way to help the student find their voice. We can challenge them. But we have to let them find their way." - EWU McNair Alumnus Dr. Frank C. King Jr.

I met with all of our McNair Scholars regularly during the summer and both Ian and Darlynne noted Dr. Seiver provided a clear process they could follow to research their specific interests and that she was always there for them when they had a question or a difficulty. All in all, Dr. Seiver spent an hour or two a week to support each student throughout summer quarter, with an exception of a bit more time when helping students analyze data through methods they have not been introduced to yet as undergrads. Both students' projects have continued into the fall as they finished collecting surveys and finalizing their research papers. Dr. Seiver continues to be available to her students so they have whatever support is needed to finish their projects. While mentors do often review and support mentees in developing their research papers, Dr. Seiver said the McNair program also helps students know what to do and how to do it, so it is not all on the mentor. We also connect students with the Writer’s Center for additional support. Once their research papers are finished, students can submit them as an example of academic writing with their graduate school applications, most often alongside a strong letter of recommendation from their mentor. Both of these elements are a large part of what makes McNair Scholars competitive, in particular if they go directly from undergraduate school to a PhD program.

It is clear through her generous support of McNair Scholars that Dr. Seiver is committed to serving Eastern students. McNair is deeply appreciative of Dr. Seiver and all of our EWU McNair faculty mentors. Without them, this work would not be possible. Mentor support and encouragement is crucial to McNair Scholars’ belief that they belong in academia as well as their acceptance into graduate school and ultimate success in achieving their PhD’s. To date, over 41 EWU McNair Scholars have earned their PhD’s since its inception in 1995. We are grateful to Dr. Seiver for continuing the tradition of great faculty support of McNair Scholars and hope to continue to work with her and many other faculty in the years to come.

Ian Campuzano Selected as an EWU McNair Scholar and Awarded Summer Research Internship

05/13/2021 by Tennyson, Bryn Leave a Comment

Congratulations Eastern Washington University student Ian Campuzano! Ian has been selected as an EWU McNair Scholar and awarded a summer research internship. McNair Scholars must have a GPA of 3.0 or higher, are first generation college students and low-income and/or underrepresented students, and are selected for their promise as scholars and commitment to attaining a PhD. Ian is majoring in Psychology as well as a minor in Criminal Justice. He is interested in studying criminal behavior and the multiple mental aspects that come into play when deciphering the reasoning behind criminal acts. For his 2021 McNair summer research internship, he will be working under the mentorship of Dr. Jill Seiver on social media platform interpretations and how a first impression of an individual’s social media page can widely affect other’s perspectives and emotions pointed at that individual.

We're so excited to have Ian join us as a McNair Scholar!

Welcome The EWU McNair 2020-2021 Cohort

05/07/2021 by Tennyson, Bryn Leave a Comment

New Scholars!

The EWU McNair Scholars Program is excited to welcome our new 2020-2021 cohort of McNair scholars!

Operating in a cohort model, these scholars will make connections while acquiring the knowledge, skills, and capacities necessary to successfully navigate the diligence of doctoral studies through immersion in mentored research experiences and scholarly activities.

This year we have an additional 6 scholars with a variety of majors including Psychology, Mathematics, English, Africana Studies and Environmental Biology!

Lucia Roussa Summer Research Acceptance 2021

EWU McNair Scholar Lucia Roussa Awarded CICOES Internship at UW

By Jaeger, Corinne | 04/16/2021

Seth McCullough McNair Scholar Announcements 2021 (1)

Seth McCullough Selected as an EWU McNair Scholar and Awarded Summer Research Internship

By Tennyson, Bryn | 04/22/2021

Lucia Rousa McNair Scholar Announcements 2021

Lucia Roussa Selected as an EWU McNair Scholar and Awarded Summer Research Internship

By Tennyson, Bryn | 04/23/2021

Christina Hudson McNair Scholar Announcements 2021

Christina Hudson Selected as an EWU McNair Scholar and Awarded Summer Research Internship

By Tennyson, Bryn | 04/25/2021

Nyibol Thareek McNair Scholar Announcements 2021

Nyibol Thareek Selected as an EWU McNair Scholar and Awarded Summer Research Internship

By Tennyson, Bryn | 04/27/2021

Green back drop (lime to jade), with title of article, names of scholars and an image of each

EWU McNair Scholars Lucia Roussa and Mori Williams Present at NCUR

By Jaeger, Corinne | 04/27/2021

Darlynne Kahyesi Selected as an EWU McNair Scholar and Awarded Summer Research Internship

By Tennyson, Bryn | 04/29/2021

7 EWU McNair Scholars Participate in Gabriel E. Gallardo Research, Student Leadership, and Advocacy Symposium

By Jaeger, Corinne | 04/29/2021

Welcome The EWU McNair 2020-2021 Cohort

By Tennyson, Bryn | 05/07/2021

Ian Campuzano Selected as an EWU McNair Scholar and Awarded Summer Research Internship

By Tennyson, Bryn | 05/13/2021

The Trio Ronald E. McNair Scholar program is federally funded by the U.S. Department of Education and searches for ambitious students who are first-generation and low-income, and/or a part of an underrepresented minority group, to introduce them to academic research and offer them effective strategies for entering and completing a PhD program.

The EWU McNair program was first implemented in 1995, and since then has helped mentor 41, and counting, students to obtaining their PhDs. Each fall EWU McNair will recruit students who are interested in attending graduate school and enrolls them into a non-credit "Is Grad School For You" canvas course to help guide them through the application process on becoming a McNair Scholar. Applications are reviewed by the EWU Selection Committee, which consists of EWU professors who volunteer their time to review applications and select the next cohort of EWU McNair Scholars. This years committee consisted of Dr. Judd Case and Dr. Margaret O'Connell from the Biology department, Dr. Miguel Novella and Dr. Martin Meráz-García from the Chicana/o/x studies program, Dr. Stephen Tsikalas from the Geology department, and Dr. Kayleen Islam-Zwart from the Psychology department. EWU Mcnair extends a huge thank you to the behind the scenes Selection Committee. Our work would not be possible without you!

Working with and supporting this years applicants through the process of applying to the EWU McNair Scholar program has been an absolute pleasure. Watching these students adapt and persist through the difficult times inflicted by Covid-19 has been an inspiring experience. Not only have these students maintained their academic achievement through rapid change, but they strive and crave more. We look forward for whats to come for this years McNair Scholars!

What the Gilman Scholarship for Studying Abroad Can do for You

04/20/2021 by Jaeger, Corinne Leave a Comment

2019's McNair Flyer about the Oaxaca Study Abroad Opportunity

Written by EWU McNair Scholar Samantha Sanchez-Garcia

When I knew I wanted to pursue a Ph.D., I decided to take on many research projects. I joined the McNair program and sought study abroad opportunities. The four-week immigration and language-focused international program in Oaxaca Mexico led by Dr. Nydia Martinez and Dr. Gina Mikel Petrie was an ideal program for majors in Spanish, Teaching English as a Second Language, and History. At first, I was hesitant because my major is psychology. But, after consulting with my psychology professor Dr. Seiver, we decided that it would be beneficial to add a psychology-directed study credit, along with the 6 EWU credits I would earn. For the psychology-directed study, I wanted to research the differences in experience between battered women in the U.S and Mexico. I was particularly interested in Latina women because domestic violence is not often addressed in Latinx communities. Before my trip, I arranged to meet with an organization called Mujeres in Action (M.I.A) that focused on Latina domestic abuse survivors in Spokane. I was hoping to administer anonymous surveys to their clients so I could better understand their situations. For my study abroad, I planned to work with an organization in Oaxaca that also supported domestic violence survivors and administer the same survey there. I hoped to analyze data from both groups to try to determine difference in needs and best strategies for support.

Although I was set on international research, I needed help with funding. Fortunately, the Gilman Scholarship, sponsored by the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, provides funding to undergraduate U.S. citizens of limited financial means to enable them to study abroad. I was hesitant to reapply, as on a prior application I had not been accepted, but I decided to reapply and got accepted. Ultimately, my dedication and passion to study abroad and conduct international research helped finance my program.

After completion of my study abroad experience, I planned to promote the Gilman Scholarship to future cohorts in the McNair program. McNair provides academic and professional development opportunities for first-generation, low-income, and/or underrepresented students committed to attaining a Ph.D. I choose this population to share my study abroad experience because all these scholars meet the eligibility criteria (e.g., 3.0 GPA). In addition, I thought it would be a great opportunity for scholars to acquire cultural perspective before entering graduate school, since it can be difficult to do so.

Unfortunately, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, my study abroad program was canceled. Despite this, the Gilman Scholarship offered options to use our award for virtual learning opportunities. I decided to look for programs through International Studies Abroad (ISA), which had many virtual learning choices. I was excited to find a program that aligned with my major in San Jose, Costa Rica that focused on health psychology.

Through virtual learning, I engaged with a diverse team from different nations including my Costa Rican professor which broadened my general understanding of health psychology, social context, influence, health, and illness from a cultural perspective. For instance, I presented a case study about the issues of child labor in the U.S and Costa Rica. I discovered that child labor was outlawed in both countries at different times; the U.S in 1938 and Costa Rica not until 2020.The main reasons for the time gap were poverty, lack of education, and lack of healthcare in Costa Rica. Fortunately, there is now a program to coordinate efforts from several government agencies to eliminate child labor. Although, child labor is not a predominate issue in the U.S and Costa Rica, it remains to be a global issue. I found that the psychological effects of child labor included bullying, sexual exploitation, and working unfavorable hours include mental health trauma and disorders. This can change if all countries band together to campaign against child labor, refuse to buy from companies that profit from child labor, and donate to charities that reduce the incidence of child labor.

Digital image San Jose Costa Rica, several tall sky scrapers and a stadium, on a blue day with a white streak of clouds

San Jose, Capital of Costa Rica

Ultimately, what I valued most about this experience was learning the differences in cultures between two countries. As a future psychologist, it is important to recognize the differences in cultures since it plays in important roles in influencing human behavior. I believe that studying abroad is crucial for education because it allows you to gain a cultural perspective that you can apply to your professional journey, no matter your field. I especially appreciate that the Gilman Scholarship, despite COVID-19, managed to fund our experience through virtual learning because they recognize the importance of studying abroad, even though a computer screen. Although, I would prefer to study in Costa Rica in person, it was certainly a cultural exchange and a great opportunity to meet individual from different nations who are interested in the same issues I am.

Samantha Sanchez-Garcia is an EWU McNair Scholar majoring in Psychology. She works as a research assistant in Dr. Jillene Seiver’s clinical psychology lab and completed her 2020 EWU McNair Summer Research Internship under the mentorship of Dr. Seiver where she studied traumatic experiences and mental health among college students. Samantha has been accepted by 3 graduate schools and will attend the Industrial and Organizational Psychology PhD Program at DePaul University, with full funding, where she was selected as one of three out of 80 applications! Click here to read more about Samantha and her research.