McNair Scholars Accepted to Graduate School and Summer Research Programs

Every graduating senior of the 2005-06 California State University, Dominguez Hills McNair Scholars Program has been accepted into doctoral and master’s degree programs at institutions across the country, as have a few recent alumni. In addition, six McNair scholars have been accepted for summer research programs at local and national institutions. These summer programs are highly competitive and provide intensive research opportunities in a number of fields.

The Ronald E. McNair Post-baccalaureate Achievement Program prepares high-achieving undergraduate students who are either the first in their family to go to college, from low-income families, or part of a minority group under-represented in their fields of study for all aspects of the graduate application process. As part of that process, scholars complete an intensive summer research projects in the U.S. or abroad and present their research findings across the nation.

Michelle Albertella (psychology), who is also a scholar in the Minority Biomedical Research Support Research Initiative for Scientific Enhancement program at CSUDH, has been accepted into the doctoral program in neuropsychology at City University of New York, Queens College. Angelica Mendoza (psychology and Chicana/o studies) will be attending UCLA in the master’s program for higher education and organizational change. Another psychology major, Victor Tovar, will continue his studies at his alma mater to earn his master’s degree in clinical psychology.

Elizabeth Bermudez (English) will be pursuing her doctorate in English literature at the University of California, Riverside. Two sociology majors, Esther Castillo and Janette Diaz, will be working toward their doctorates at the University of California, Irvine and the University of California, Santa Barbara, respectively.

Margarita Gomez (human services), will be earning her master’s degree in social work at the University of Denver, while Antwan Herron (English), will pursue his master’s degree in African American studies at UCLA. Monica Lomeli (anthropology) will apply her knowledge to a doctorate in sociology at the University of California, Santa Barbara, and Karen Perez (Spanish) will be earning her doctorate in Spanish at the University of California, Riverside.

A couple of McNair alumni also have been accepted to graduate programs. Jimmy Kirby, Jr. (Class of ’05, B.A., Africana studies) will advance to Temple University for his doctorate in African American studies, and Elizabeth Gonzalez (Class of ’06, B.A., Chicana/o studies) will be looking forward to earning her doctorate in education at UCLA.

Continuing Mc Nair scholars Brandon Becker (psychology) and Maria Aguirre (sociology) were accepted into UC Irvine's Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) program that offers undergraduate students from diverse populations and with outstanding academic potential an opportunity to work closely with faculty mentors on research projects. Additionally, the SURF program provides students who plan to pursue a doctoral degree and enter academic careers with the tools needed to facilitate the application, admission, and enrollment process for graduate school.

Kevin Montes (psychology) was accepted into the Committee on Institutional Cooperation Summer Research Opportunities Program at the University of Iowa, which exposes undergraduates to professional and educational opportunities in the academy. The goal of the program is to increase the number of underrepresented students who pursue academic careers by enhancing their preparation for graduate study through intensive research experiences with faculty mentors.

Jeffrey Govan (English), along with Elizabeth Bermudez and Karen Perez, was accepted into the UC Riverside Mentoring Summer Research Internship Program (MSRIP). Established in 1987, MSRIP is an eight-week summer research program designed for rising juniors, seniors and graduate students. Participants work under the supervision of a faculty mentor on the mentor’s research project. The goal of MSRIP is to increase the number of outstanding students from diverse backgrounds who pursue the doctorate by strengthening their academic and professional development for admission to the University of California campuses, as well as colleges and universities nationwide.

For more information on the McNair Scholars Program at CSUDH, click here.

- Jennifer Vega LaSerna

Front row: Senior Maria Aguirre (sociology); senior Janette Diaz (sociology/Chicana/o studies); senior Monica Lomeli (anthropology); senior Ignacio Sobers (psychology) and senior Kevin Montes (psychology)

Center Right: Junior Nancy Gamino (Spanish/mathematics), junior Mitchell Rosas (political science/economics) and senior Michelle Albertella (psychology)

Back row: Senior Sandra Chaidez (sociology/political science); junior Mario Carrasco (psychology); junior Heather Ruoti (psychology); Pernell Jones (health science); Elizabeth Bermudez (English); senior Margarita Gomez (human service); senior Victor Tovar (psychology); senior Karen Perez (Spanish); junior Brandon Becker (psychology); senior Andres Alatorre (Spanish) and senior Jeffrey Govan (English literature)

Photo by Jennifer Vega LaSerna

Jennifer Vega LaSerna is the director of the McNair Scholars program. She can be contacted at (310) 243-2098 or jlaserna@csudh.edu.