TRIO Ronald E. McNair Postbaccalaureate Achievement Program

Eastern Washington University

Dr. Jillene Seiver

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

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Ian Campuzano McNair Scholar Announcements 2021

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

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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!

EWU McNair Scholar Lucia Roussa Awarded CICOES Internship at UW

By Jaeger, Corinne | 04/16/2021

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

By Tennyson, Bryn | 04/22/2021

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

By Tennyson, Bryn | 04/23/2021

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

By Tennyson, Bryn | 04/25/2021

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

By Tennyson, Bryn | 04/27/2021

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

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2019's McNair Flyer about the Oaxaca Study Abroad Opportunity
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.

Capital G with lines covering the left half of the G next to, blue text on white background: Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship

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.

large blue letters "isa" with a green line in a circle off to the right and going behind the a; below the text INTERNATIONAL STUDIES ABROAD

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.

EWU McNair Scholar Samantha Sanchez-Garcia Accepted by Third Graduate Program

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Samantha Sanchez Graduate School Acceptances 2021 CSU

Congratulations to EWU McNair Scholar Samantha Sanchez-Garcia! Samantha has been accepted by the Industrial-Organizational Psychology Masters Program at California State University in San Bernardino. This is in addition to her acceptance by the Industrial-Organizational Behavior Management Masters Program at Western Michigan University and by the Industrial and Organizational Psychology PhD Program at DePaul University with full funding. Samantha is majoring in Psychology at Eastern Washington University, with an emphasis in communication, sociology, and industrial/organizational psychology. She is also working on her Inclusion and Diversity certificate. Samantha is a research assistant in Dr. Jillene Seiver’s clinical psychology lab looking into how the mere presence of a cell phone may be distracting. Additionally, she 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. She presented this research at the Baylor McNair Research Conference.

 

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

EWU McNair Scholar Samantha Sanchez-Garcia Accepted to IOBM Masters Program at Western Michigan University

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Samantha Sanchez Graduate School Acceptances 2021 WMU

Congratulations to EWU McNair Scholar Samantha Sanchez-Garcia! Samantha has been accepted by the Industrial-Organizational Behavior Management Masters Program at Western Michigan University. This is in addition to her acceptance to the Industrial and Organizational Psychology PhD Program at DePaul University. Samantha is majoring in Psychology at Eastern Washington University, with an emphasis in communication, sociology, and industrial/organizational psychology. She is also working on her Inclusion and Diversity certificate. Samantha is a research assistant in Dr. Jillene Seiver’s clinical psychology lab looking into how the mere presence of a cell phone may be distracting. Additionally, she 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. She presented this research at the Baylor McNair Research Conference.

 

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

EWU McNair Scholar Samantha Sanchez-Garcia Accepted to PhD Program at DePaul University

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Samantha Sanchez Graduate School Acceptances 2021 DPL

Congratulations to EWU McNair Scholar Samantha Sanchez-Garcia. Samantha has been accepted by the Industrial-Organizational Psychology PhD Program at DePaul University with full funding. Samantha is majoring in Psychology at Eastern, with an emphasis in communication, sociology, and industrial/organizational psychology. She is also working on her Inclusion and Diversity certificate. Samantha is a research assistant in Dr. Jillene Seiver’s clinical psychology lab looking into how the mere presence of a cell phone may be distracting. Additionally, she 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.

 

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