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TRIO Ronald E. McNair Postbaccalaureate Achievement Program

Eastern Washington University

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Dr. Majid Sharifi

19 EWU Students Recruited for McNair’s 2021-2022 Cohort

03/03/2022 by Liina Koivula Leave a Comment

19 Students Recruited for 2021-2022 CohortOn February 18, EWU's McNair Scholar Program selection committee met to review student application packets. The federally-funded TRIO Ronald E. McNair Post-baccalaureate Achievement Program at EWU selects motivated and talented juniors and seniors who are first-generation and low-income college students, and/or from groups underrepresented at the doctoral level to introduce them to academic research and provide them with effective strategies for getting into and graduating from PhD programs. Selection committee members included Dr. Judd Case and Dr. Margaret O'Connell from the Biology department, Dr. Miguel Novella from the Chicana/o/x studies program, Dr. Stephen Tsikalas from the Geology department, and Dr. Kayleen Islam-Zwart from the Psychology department, along with Cynthia Dukich and Cori Jaeger of the EWU McNair Scholars Program. They read letters of recommendation and personal statements, reviewed transcripts and academic plans, and carefully determined the strengths and needs of each candidate.

 

McNair's recruitment process begins on the first day of Fall Quarter, when the McNair staff connects with current and past mentors, supportive faculty, and everyone in the EWU community who can help ensure that the EWU student body knows about the services and support McNair offers. Bryn Tennyson, who has served as our STEM GSA for the past two years, gave presentations in STEM and other classes to sophomores and juniors, who would be eligible in 2021, and distributed flyers all over campus.

 

The McNair Scholars Program was invited by Associate Dean Nydia Martinez to present at a Chairs and Directors meeting of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences which yielded an increase of student interest from these fields. Two information sessions were presented to students in EWU's Honors Program, and we offered introduction and advising meetings via Zoom for students who were limiting their time on campus.

 

McNair staff also solicited nominations from faculty and staff. We want to extend our gratitude to all the faculty who nominated students, including Dr. Majid Sharifi, Dr. Gloria Baynes, Dr. Michael Conlin, Dr. Joseph Lenti, Dr. Carmen Nezat, Dr. Jillene Seiver, and Dr. Yves Nievergelt, and many more who may not have formally nominated a student but did encourage them to head our way! Thank you too, to the numerous faculty who took the time to write thoughtful letters of recommendation for our scholars.

 

This year McNair is developing and strengthening our partnerships with EWU's CAMP (College Assistant Migrant Program) and Passport to Careers Program. The College Assistance Migrant Program (CAMP) is a federally funded program designed to support students from migrant and seasonal farm worker backgrounds during their first year of college. All CAMP students will be eligible for the McNair Scholars program once they have the correct amount of credits completed. The Passport to Careers program helps former foster youth and unaccompanied homeless youth prepare for and succeed in college. They are sharing the news about McNair’s resources to all of their students. Thanks to both of these programs for supporting McNair! We hope that by collaborating we can better serve the students in all of our programs.

 

Once a student has been nominated or reaches out to McNair, McNair staff follow up with one-on-one meetings to learn about each student’s goals, determine eligibility, and walk them through the many benefits of McNair, such as a paid summer research internship, waivers for application fees for graduate school, guidance on securing funding for graduate school, and regular advising and workshops on how to prepare for and apply to graduate school. McNair Staff met with as many as 40 students throughout the recruitment process and had email correspondence with over 70 students. While some students may not have been eligible or decided not to pursue McNair, all were offered thoughtful advising on the path to reach their goals. McNair has many resources that they can pass along to any student, such as a rubric for writing statements of purpose (the essay you write to get into graduate school) and lists of summer research internships across the country. We find that the good will that this creates often contributes greatly to the recruitment process and overall awareness on campus of McNair Resources. Well over 100 staff hours went into recruiting and retaining McNair Scholars.

 

We are thrilled to report that all recruited applicants who have been participating in our Winter Scholarly Identity Course will be continuing in the program and preparing for their Summer Research Internships. Our new cohort includes students studying biotechnology, dentistry, economic science, gender women's and sexuality studies, history, horticulture, international relations, mechanical engineering, philosophy, political science, and psychology.

 

EWU's McNair Scholars Program extends our appreciation again to all the faculty on the selection committee, those who nominated and encouraged students, and the CAMP, Honors, and Passport Programs! We couldn't do it without you!

Filed Under: 2021-2022 Cohort, Acceptances/Awards, Biology, Economics, International Affairs, McNair Cohorts, McNair Mentors, Mentor, News, Philosophy, Political Science, Psychology, Recruitment, Scholars, Women's and Gender Studies Tagged With: Dr. Carmen Nezat, Dr. Gloria Brynes, Dr. Jillene Seiver, Dr. Joseph Lenti, Dr. Judd Case, Dr. Kayleen Islam-Zwart, Dr. Majid Sharifi, Dr. Margaret O'Connell, Dr. Michael Conlin, Dr. Miguel Novella, Dr. Stephen Tsikalas, Dr. Yves Nievergelt, EWU McNair Faculty Mentor, EWU McNair Program, EWU McNair Scholar, Recruitment, Summer Research Internships

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

04/29/2021 by Jaeger, Corinne Leave a Comment

UW Gabriel E. Gallardo Conference 2021

EWU McNair Scholars Rachael Pentico, Lizeth Bañuelos, and Malachi Chukwu presented last week at the virtual Gabriel E. Gallardo Research, Student Leadership & Advocacy Symposium hosted by the University of Washington. Four other EWU McNair Scholars attended: Alexandria Coronado, Wendolyn Martinez, Christina Hudson, and Aulane Mpouli. This was the first annual Gabriel E. Gallardo Research, Student Leadership & Advocacy Symposium (GEG Symposium) hosted by the University of Washington’s Office of Minority Affairs & Diversity (UW OMA&D). This builds on UW McNair’s 28-year legacy of hosting a Pacific Northwest Undergraduate Research Conference and is intended to honor the legacy of Dr. Gabriel E. Gallardo who passed away last year after a lifetime of service to educational equity, particularly on behalf on TRIO McNair, TRIO-SSS, and CAMP students. This symposium provides an amazing opportunity for undergraduate researchers to meet other scholars and to share their research in a unique, exciting and supportive environment. A huge thank you to EWU McNair Faculty Mentors for encouraging and supporting scholars with their research and presentations! Below are some quotes from our scholars about the value of the experience.

On Attending the Conference:

Attending the conference was such an enriching experience for me. I had the opportunity to meet professors doing work in my area of interest at UW and to make important connections. I would recommend attending conferences to other students because it is an invaluable opportunity to ask questions and do some important networking."

- Christina Hudson, 2021 EWU McNair Scholar

Attending the conference was an insightful and meaningful. I attended: Finding Your Community, Imposter Syndrome, the Student Leadership Panel, Meditation and Stretching, Mental Health in Graduate School, Building Positive Mentoring Relationships, Self-Advocacy and Speaking Up for Yourself, and the Networking Fireside chat with Graduate Students from social sciences. These provided such honesty and great advice to successfully building relationships, your community, and taking care of your mental health."

- Lizeth Bañuelos, 2020 EWU McNair Scholar

On Presenting:

This was the first time that I pre-recorded a poster experience and it was such a great experience. It calmed the nerves I would have had if I presented live. I enjoyed familiarizing myself with this process. Take advantage of these opportunities, they are worth it. The nerves are worth it."

- Lizeth Bañuelos, 2020 EWU McNair Scholar

Check out Our Scholar's Presentations!

EWU McNair Scholar Presentations at the UW Conference:

To watch Lizeth's presentation" First-Generation Latinx Students' Academic Experience: The Role of Institutional Supports During the Pandemic, click here!

 

Click here to see Malachi's poster: Projects of Economic and Social Development in the Global South: The 20th and 21st Century Trends and their Effects.

 

Click here to see Rachael's poster: A Review of Plant Soil Feedbacks and their Importance for Palouse Prairie Restoration and Management.

 

EWU McNair Encourages Scholar Presentations at Conferences

 

EWU McNair encourages all of its scholars to present at conferences such as NCUR to network with those in their field and to build confidence, gain experience, and to strengthen Curriculum Vitae's (CV) for applying to graduate school. In addition to the UW conference, this school year scholars have presented at the Baylor McNair Research Conference, the Murdock College Science Research Conference, and the National Council on Undergraduate Research (NCUR) Conference. Typically most EWU McNair Scholars also present at the EWU Symposium. Last year we may have set a record with 18 scholars presenting last spring!

 

This year, to ensure our scholars have this opportunity, EWU McNair is partnering with CSTEM at EWU to host a symposium on June 2nd. The symposium will begin with a Social Justice in Research Panel with EWU McNair Alumni at 9 am. Click here to register for the event for free!

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
Murdock College Science Research Conference 2020

EWU McNair Scholars Present at Murdock College Science Research Conference 2020

By Jaeger, Corinne | 01/27/2021
Nine EWU McNair Scholars Present at Baylor McNair Research Conference

Nine EWU McNair Scholars Present at Baylor McNair Research Conference

By Jaeger, Corinne | 10/09/2020
18 Scholars Present at 2020 Symposium

18 EWU McNair Scholars Present at EWU Virtual Symposium

By Jaeger, Corinne | 06/10/2020
Darlene Gilroy Murdock 2.jpeg

Darlene Gilroy, EWU McNair Scholar and Environmental Geology major, attends prestigious Murdock College Science Research Conference in Vancouver, WA

By Patolo, Najeda | 11/14/2019
Rosa_Baylor

McNair Scholar, Rosa Espinosa Zuniga, presents at Baylor University in Texas

By Patolo, Najeda | 10/09/2019
Abdu Mohammed Visiting Congressional Reps

Abdulrazik Mohammed Travels to DC to Attend the 7th Annual International Symposium on Women and Genocide in the 21st Century: The Case of Darfur

By jlittleton1 | 12/04/2018

 

The EWU McNair staff are proud of all of our scholars for the hard work they've put into their research and sharing that research with the broader community.

Filed Under: 2018-2019 Cohort, 2019-2020 Cohort, 2020-2021 Cohort, 2020-21 Presentations, Africana Studies, Alexandria Coronado, Aulane Mpouli, Biology, Chemistry, Christina Hudson, English, Environmental Science, International Affairs, Lizeth Banuelos, Malachi Chukwu, Political Science, Psychology, Rachael Pentico, Research, Scholars, Wendolyn Martinez Tagged With: Africana Studies, Biology, Chemistry, Conference Presentation, Dr. Aryn Ziehnert, Dr. Dorothy Zeisler-Vralsted, Dr. Lindsey Upton, Dr. Majid Sharifi, Dr. Okera Nsombi, Dr. Rebecca Brown, Dr. Yao Houndonougbo, English, Environmental Science, EWU McNair Program, EWU McNair Scholar, International Affairs, Palouse Prairie, Political Science, Presentations, Psychology, Research, Summer Research Internships, Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge

EWU McNair Scholar Malachi Chukwu Awarded Theodore A. LeGros Fellowship at WSU

04/22/2021 by Jaeger, Corinne Leave a Comment

Red glitter background with photo of Malachi Chukwu and logo for EWU McNair

Congratulations to EWU McNair Scholar Malachi Chukwu! Malachi has been selected by Washington State University's (WSU) College of Arts and Sciences and the School of Political Science, Philosophy and Public Affairs for the Theodore A. LeGros Graduae Recruitment Fellowship. This fellowship comes through an endowment by the same name established by Jean Baumgarten LeGros in honor of her husband. Theodore graduated from WSU in 1942 in political science and, among many accomplishments, went on to be a lawyer and was president of the Japan-America Society of Seattle in 1976.

 

Malachi Chukwu is an International Affairs and Political Science major at Eastern Washington University with an emphasis on global security. He is interested in researching the effects of development on Sub-Saharan Africa, the connections between development, environmental degradation, and conflict in this region, and potential policy and implementation solutions. Malachi completed his 2019 summer research Economic development in the Global South: A case study of Niger Delta, Nigeria under the mentorship of Dr. Majid Sharifi. In 2020, Malachi participated in the Laney Graduate School Summer Opportunity for Academic Research (LGS-SOAR) Program at Emory University under the mentorship of Dr. Emily Gade at the Oppressions and Resistance Lab. Click here to read more about Malachi or his research.

Malachi has been accepted by the International Relations PhD program at Florida International University with funding, the Political Science PhD Program at the University of Oregon, and the Political Science PhD program at Washington State University with full funding plus now this additional award. Malachi plans to attend WSU in the fall of 2022.

 

The EWU McNair staff are so proud of Malachi and all of his hard work. We're excited to see all the amazing things he will bring to his field and his communities.

Filed Under: 2018-2019 Cohort, 2020-21 Grad School Acceptances, Acceptances/Awards, International Affairs, Malachi Chukwu, Political Science, Research, Scholars Tagged With: Acceptances, Dr. Majid Sharifi, EWU McNair Program, EWU McNair Scholar, Fellowship, International Affairs, Malachi Chukwu, Political Science, Theodore A. LeGros

EWU McNair Scholar Malachi Chukwu Accepted to Third PhD Program

04/01/2021 by Jaeger, Corinne Leave a Comment

Malachi Chukwu Graduate School Acceptances 2021 FIU

Congratulations to EWU McNair Scholar Malachi Chukwu! Malachi has been accepted by the International Relations PhD program at Florida International University with funding. This is in addition to acceptances by the Political Science PhD Program at the University of Oregon and the Political Science PhD program at Washington State University with full funding. Malachi Chukwu is an International Affairs and Political Science major at Eastern Washington University with an emphasis on global security. He is interested in researching the effects of development on Sub-Saharan Africa, the connections between development, environmental degradation, and conflict in this region, and potential policy and implementation solutions. Click here to read more about Malachi or his research.

Malachi completed his 2019 summer research Economic development in the Global South: A case study of Niger Delta, Nigeria under the mentorship of Dr. Majid Sharifi. Malachi presented a poster of his research at the 2020 EWU online Symposium. In 2020, Malachi participated in the Laney Graduate School Summer Opportunity for Academic Research (LGS-SOAR) Program at Emory University under the mentorship of Dr. Emily Gade at the Oppressions and Resistance Lab. Alongside other students he numerically coded recently declassified data to understand activities between state actors and non-state actors during the Troubles in Northern Ireland from 1971-1973.

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

Filed Under: 2018-2019 Cohort, 2020-21 Grad School Acceptances, Acceptances/Awards, International Affairs, Malachi Chukwu, Political Science, Research, Scholars Tagged With: Acceptances, Dr. Majid Sharifi, EWU McNair Program, EWU McNair Scholar, International Affairs, Malachi Chukwu, Political Science

EWU McNair Scholar Malachi Chukwu Accepted to University of Oregon PhD Program

03/09/2021 by Jaeger, Corinne Leave a Comment

Malachi Chukwu Graduate School Acceptances 2021 UO

Congratulations to EWU McNair Scholar Malachi Chukwu! Malachi has been accepted by the Political Science PhD Program at the University of Oregon. This is in addition to Malachi's acceptance to the Political Science PhD program at Washington State University with full funding. Malachi Chukwu is an International Affairs and Political Science major at Eastern Washington University with an emphasis on global security. He is interested in researching the effects of development on Sub-Saharan Africa, the connections between development, environmental degradation, and conflict in this region, and potential policy and implementation solutions.

Malachi completed his 2019 summer research Economic development in the Global South: A case study of Niger Delta, Nigeria under the mentorship of Dr. Majid Sharifi. Malachi presented a poster of his research at the 2020 EWU online Symposium. In 2020, Malachi participated in the Laney Graduate School Summer Opportunity for Academic Research (LGS-SOAR) Program at Emory University under the mentorship of Dr. Emily Gade at the Oppressions and Resistance Lab. Alongside other students he numerically coded recently declassified data to understand activities between state actors and non-state actors during the Troubles in Northern Ireland from 1971-1973.

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

Filed Under: 2018-2019 Cohort, 2020-21 Grad School Acceptances, Acceptances/Awards, International Affairs, Malachi Chukwu, Political Science, Research, Scholars Tagged With: Acceptances, Dr. Majid Sharifi, EWU McNair Program, EWU McNair Scholar, International Affairs, Malachi Chukwu, Political Science

EWU McNair Scholar Malachi Chukwu Accepted to Washington State University PhD Program

02/23/2021 by Jaeger, Corinne Leave a Comment

Malachi Chukwu Graduate School Acceptances 2021 WSU

Congratulations to EWU McNair Scholar Malachi Chukwu! Malachi has been accepted by the Political Science PhD Program at Washington State University with full funding. Malachi Chukwu is an International Affairs and Political Science major at Eastern Washington University with an emphasis on global security. He is interested in researching the effects of development on Sub-Saharan Africa, the connections between development, environmental degradation, and conflict in this region, and potential policy and implementation solutions.

 

Malachi completed his 2019 summer research Economic development in the Global South: A case study of Niger Delta, Nigeria under the mentorship of Dr. Majid Sharifi. Malachi presented a poster of his research at the 2020 EWU online Symposium. In 2020, Malachi participated in the Laney Graduate School Summer Opportunity for Academic Research (LGS-SOAR) Program at Emory University under the mentorship of Dr. Emily Gade at the Oppressions and Resistance Lab. Alongside other students he numerically coded recently declassified data to understand activities between state actors and non-state actors during the Troubles in Northern Ireland from 1971-1973.

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

Filed Under: 2018-2019 Cohort, 2020-21 Grad School Acceptances, Acceptances/Awards, International Affairs, Malachi Chukwu, Political Science, Research, Scholars Tagged With: Acceptances, Dr. Majid Sharifi, EWU McNair Program, EWU McNair Scholar, International Affairs, Malachi Chukwu, Political Science

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