PSU McNair Scholars Program 

The PSU McNair Scholars Program has served over 400 students since 2014. At least 200 faculty mentors have supervised McNair Scholars' research projects. Scholars have been accepted to PhD and doctoral programs in the US and abroad. PSU McNair scholars have enrolled in doctoral programs at PSU, Harvard, Yale, UC Berkeley, UCLA, Oxford, London School of Economics, University of Washington, University of Oregon, Oregon State University, and other prestigious universities. McNair scholars have been awarded the Fullbright, National Science Foundation grants, and other prestigious fellowships and grants.

            McNair Scholar cohort 2025

           McNair Scholar cohort 2025

Karen Agustin Paz
Psychology Major
Neuroscience Minor
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Laura Villasana
Research Project:  TBD

John Abed
Mechanical Engineering Major
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Elliott Gall
Research Project:  Exploring the Potential for Resuspension of Particle-bound PAHs From Cotton Cloth Exposure to Wildfire Smoke

Morrison Atlas
Black Studies Major
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Kiara Hill
Research Project:  TBD
 

Jasmin Alvarez
Anthropology Major
Faculty Mentor:  Dr. José Padín
Research Project:  TBD

Cece Austin
Psychology Major
Sociology Minor
Faculty Mentor:  Dr. Dara Shifrer
Research Project:   TBD
 

Davika Dige
Public Health:  Pre-Clinical Major
Faculty Mentor:  Dr. Leslie Fuller
Research Project: Menstrual Blood-Derived Stem Cells: A Less Invasive Approach for Stem Collection and Therapy

Sandy Fernandez
Social Work Major
Faculty Mentor:  Dr. Jessica Rodriguez-Jenkins
Research Project:  Empowering Homeless Youth: The Role of Direct Cash Transfers in Supporting Independent Living

Keanna Garcia Andrade
Chicanx/Latinx Studies Major
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Martin Alberto Gonzalez
Research Project:  TBD

Christina Jenkins
Social Work Major
Faculty Mentor:  Dr. Shawn Smallman
Research Project: Climate Change Causing Rising Sea Levels: The Disappearance of the San Blas Islands, and the Guna People's Fight for Cultural Continuity

Annabel Jensen
Biology and Psychology Majors
Neuroscience Minor
Faculty Mentor:  Dr. Angela Ozburn
Research Project: Brain Regions Engaged in Binge-like Drinking in High Drinking in the Dark line 1 (HDID-1) mice
 

Tuesday Kirby Kahl
Applied Health and Fitness for Special Populations Major
Neuroscience Minor
Faculty Mentor:  Dr. Matt Lattal
Research Project: Noggin Bonks and Neurogenesis: Location of Impact Implications on Neurogenesis in Rodent Model TBIs
 

Ryan Lincoln
Public Health Service Administration Major
Psychology Minor
Faculty Mentor:  Dr. Richard Dozal-Lockwood
Research Project:  TBD

 

Jennifer Logan
Psychology And Indigenous Nations Studies Majors
Neuroscience &  Indigenous Traditional Ecological and Cultural Knowledge (ITEK) Minor
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Tyler Cornelius
Research Project:  TBD
 

Malaya Lualhati
Mathematics Major
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Kyle Ormsbyk
Research Project: Equivariant Combinatorics

Sharif Moonlight Maddox
Psychology Major
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Frodo Okulam
Research Project:  The Collective Impact of Physical Activity Somatic Therapy and Nature-Based Spirituality (PASTANS) on Individuals Recovering from Substance

Nico Morrelli
Geology Major
Space and Planetary Sciences Minor
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Melinda Hutson
Research Project: Examination of Two Atypical Carbonaceous Chondrites

Michelle Phan
Health Service Administration Major
Business Administration Minor
Faculty Mentor: Nhu To-Haynes, MPA H
Research Project: Exploring the Link Between Folic Acid Intake and Perinatal Depression Among Low-Income Mothers
 

Xochitl Quetzal
Biology Major 
Chemistry Minor
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Daniel J. Ballhorn
Research Project:  The Effects of Cultural Fire on Soil Biodiversity
 

 Nori Redmond
Data Science and Public Health Majors
Computer Science and Mathematics Minors
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Dorcas Ofori-Boateng
Research Project:  The Mental Health Effects of Technology Use in Education Among Adolescents
 

Nadeem Sadek
Mechanical Engineering Major
Electrical Engineering Minor
Faculty Mentor: Dr.  Raúl Bayoán Cal
Research Project: Freezing Processes and Dynamic Contact Line for Imparting Water Droplets in Microgravity

Esteban Salgado
English and History Majors
Medieval and Early Modern Studies Minor
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Alexis Butzner
Research Project:  TBD

Nathan Sjullie
Electrical Engineering Major
Faculty Mentor: Dr. David Burnett
Research Project: Signal Processing of Ecologically-Significant Signals for Transient Bedload Characterization
 

Olivia Smith
Political Science Major
Psychology Minor
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Joshua Eastin
Research Project:  TBD
 

Irene Stafford
Conflict Resolution Major
Psychology Minor
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Molly Wallace
Research Project: Dialogue Across Differences: Understanding the Impact of Relationship Building, Through an Inter-faith Facilitated Dialogue Between Church Leaders With Far-reaching Opposing Views

Phyo Theingi
Biology with Honor Major
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Anupriya Agarwal
Research Project:  TBD
 

Jose Valencia
Social Work Major
Child Youth and Family Studies Minor
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Jessica Rodriguez-Jenkins
Research Project:  TBD

Maria Vazquez Parra
Biology Major
Chicano/Latino Studies Minor
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Melissa Patiño-Vega
Research Project: Regional Differences in Healthcare Experiences: A Comparative Study of Latinxs in Portland and Los Angeles

Jisselle Vazquez Parra
Biology Major
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Cristina Herrera
Research Project: Dual Lenses: Deportation and Family Separation Through Mainstream U.S. Media and Latinx Social Media Perspectives

Jae Viles-Erdelt
Environmental Sciences Major
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Max Nelson-Pincus
Research Project: Disenchanting Smokey the Bear: A Look At The Perspectives On Fire from 1850 - 1950 In Oregon

Kooper Wilson
Arts And Letters and German Majors
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Moshe Rachmuth
Research Project: Tracing the Freudian Animal in Moses and Monotheism
 

MCNAIR ALUMNI