What we offer:
- Paid research internship opportunities
- Assistance securing financial aid
- Grad school preparation seminars
- Research mentoring
- Academic counseling
- GRE tutoring
- Conference travel funding opportunities
- Feedback on graduate applications and research internship applications
Who we serve:
- We're happy to meet with any student who is interested in or has questions about going to graduate school
- To be eligible to be a scholar, you must be:
- a sophomore, junior, or senior with at least one future summer and fall before graduation; and
- interested going to graduate school and attaining a PhD; and
- first generation and low-income college student; and/or
- from racial background(s) underrepresented at the doctoral level
To get started, fill out the
The federally-funded TRIO Ronald E. McNair Post-baccalaureate Achievement Program at EWU selects motivated and talented sophomores and juniors who are first-generation and low-income college students, and/or from racial groups underrepresented at the doctoral level (African American/Black, Latinx, Native American, and/or Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander) to introduce them to academic research and provide them with effective strategies for getting into and graduating from PhD programs. Operating on a cohort model, the program prepares undergraduates for success as graduate students, professors, and professional researchers.
EWU TRIO McNair Program is seeking first-generation, low-income, and racially underrepresented students who would like to do a summer research internship guided by a faculty mentor and apply for graduate school. If you would like to know more, please look over the rest of our website (especially Applying to EWU McNair) and/or send an email to EWU McNair Program Academic Advisor Cori Jaeger cjaeger3@ewu.edu.
Learn about what our current scholars and alumni are up to!
Click on photo or "Read More" to see full article.
McNair Scholar Sylvia Kennerly Accepted to Washington State University PhD in Molecular Biosciences
Congratulations to McNair Scholar Sylvia Kennerly! Sylvia has been accepted to the Washington State University Doctor of Philosophy in Molecular Biosciences program, with funding. Washington State University’s SMB Ph.D. program provides an integrated graduate curriculum and rotating laboratory experiences, including National Institutes of Health Training Program opportunities. Their program overview states: Molecular Biosciences is a … Read more
Read MoreEWU Scholar Claudio Escalante Accepted to University of Nebraska PhD in Biomedical Engineering
Congratulations to EWU McNair Scholar Claudio Escalante! Claudio has been accepted to University of Nebraska’s PhD program in Biomedical Engineering. University of Nebraska designed their program to be interdisciplinary, including student research design and collaboration. From their Biomedical Engineering overview: Nebraska biomedical engineering faculty and students work closely with area hospitals […] Major emphasis is on … Read more
Read MoreEWU McNair Scholar Kelly Parke Accepted to Columbia University’s Master of Human Rights Studies
Congratulations to McNair Scholar Kelly Parke, who’s been accepted to Columbia University’s Master of Human Rights Studies! Their Institute for the Study of Human Rights (ISHR) was “the first academic center in the world to be founded on an interdisciplinary commitment to the study of human rights”. Columbia’s Human Rights Studies Program: […]is an interdisciplinary program … Read more
Read MoreEWU McNair Scholar Alexander Dodson Accepted to the University of Chicago’s Master in Social Sciences-Psychology Program
Congratulations to EWU McNair Scholar Alexander Dodson! Alexander has been accepted to University of Chicago’s Masters in Social Sciences–Psychology (MAPSS-Psychology). University of Chicago’s MAPSS is a: [..]one-year interdisciplinary graduate program, the Master of Arts in the Social Sciences (MAPSS) offers students unmatched access to the renowned faculty and rich research resources of the University of Chicago. … Read more
Read MoreEWU McNair Scholar Alejandro Torres-Gonzalez Accepted to Eastern Washington University Master of Science in Biology
Congratulations to EWU McNair Scholar Alejandro Torres-Gonzalez! Alejandro has been accepted to Eastern Washington University’s Master of Science in Biology with funding. Eastern Washington University’s MS in Biology embeds teaching experience into the curriculum, and culminates in an oral thesis defense. Describing their program, the MS in Biology faculty explain: The department emphasizes research as a … Read more
Read MoreEWU McNair Scholar Alumni Ashley Destin Accepted to Washington State University Master of Science in Animal Science
Congratulations to EWU McNair Scholar Alumni Ashley Destin! Ashley has been accepted to Washington State University’s Master of Science in Animal Science. Of their program, Washington State University states: Programs are flexible and designed to meet the needs and interests of the student and, as such, specific degree requirements are determined through individual consultation with an … Read more
Read MoreEWU McNair Scholar Mary Belton Accepted to San Diego State University Master of Arts Degree in English
Congratulations to EWU McNair Scholar Mary Belton! Mary has been accepted to San Diego State University’s Master of Arts Degree in English. San Diego State University notes this program: […]offers a wide range of courses and approaches to studying literature and writing. Faculty publications are similarly diverse. They include major literary biographies, historical studies, critical analysis … Read more
Read MoreEWU McNair Scholar Irie Browning Accepted to Oregon State University Master’s Program in Applied Ethics
Congratulations to EWU McNair Scholar Irie Browning! Irie has been accepted to Oregon State University’s Master of Arts program in Applied Ethics. Their overview states: OSU’s Masters in Applied Ethics program is designed to develop your moral reasoning and critical thinking skills in service of an engaged life. […] Engaged ethics at OSU begins with transforming our discipline. … Read more
Read MoreEWU McNair Scholar Richard Murphy Accepted to the University of Hawai’i’s PhD in Political Science
Congratulations to EWU McNair Scholar Richard Murphy who’s been accepted into the University of Hawai’i’s PhD in Political Science! From University of Hawai’i’s Political Science PhD page: The program is an intellectual environment that seeks students with previously demonstrated abilities to develop further the creative and analytical skills necessary for thinking critically, conducting research, and … Read more
Read MoreEWU McNair Scholar Alexander Dodson Accepted to Ball State University Master’s program in Social Psychology
Congratulations to EWU McNair Scholar Alexander Dodson! Alexander has been accepted to Ball State University’s Master of Social Psychology. Bell State University emphasizes social justice, diversity, equity, and inclusion in all course. Bell State University’s program is designed to prepare students for both research and doctoral studies. Additionally: We are the only program in the … Read more
Read MoreEWU McNair Scholar Kelly Parke Accepted to University of Illinois-Chicago PhD in Disability Studies
Congratulations to EWU McNair Scholar Kelly Parke who’s been accepted into the University of Illinois Chicago’s interdisciplinary PhD in Disability Studies! From University of Illinois Chicago’s Program Page: Disability studies scholars view disability not simply as a defect inside a person, but as a complex relationship between society and people who function differently from the norm. … Read more
Read MoreMcNair Scholar Sylvia Kennerly Accepted to University of Kansas Medical Center Interdisciplinary Graduate Program PhD in Biomedical Sciences
Congratulations to McNair Scholar Sylvia Kennerly, who has been accepted to the University of Kansas Medical Center Interdisciplinary Graduate Program in Biomedical Sciences (IGPBS), with full funding. IGPBS is a PhD first-year program allowing students to complete core curriculum before determining their PhD program through faculty mentor alignment. IGPBS’ interdisciplinary nature is clearly demonstrated by eclectic … Read more
Read MoreMcNair Scholar Alexander Dodson Attends The Society for Personality and Social Psychology’s Annual Convention
McNair Scholar Alexander Dodson attended the 2024 Society for Personality and Social Psychology (SPSP) Annual Convention. SPSP’s annual event took place in San Diego, California from February 8th-10th. Alexander presented his research conducted summer of 2023 with Dr. Amani El-Alayli, “Political Orientation Moderates Pride and American Flag Effects on Person Perception“. The conference included “attendees … Read more
Read MoreEWU McNair Scholar Irie Browning Accepted to University of Oregon PhD Program in Philosophy
Congratulations to EWU McNair Scholar Irie Browning! Irie has been accepted to the University of Oregon’s PhD program in Philosophy with full funding. University of Oregon’s Department of Philosophy encourages focus fields and notes their “Our commitment to integrated pluralism involves engagement with the major traditions of contemporary Western philosophy”. Their overview notes: Our program is known … Read more
Read MoreEWU McNair Scholar Alumna Kianna Baker Accepted to Colombia School of Nursing
Congratulations to EWU McNair Scholar Alumna Kianna Baker! Kiana has been accepted to Columbia University’s School of Nursing (MDE) with scholarships. One of Key’s awards is the Pathways to Leadership & Advancement in Nursing (PLAN) program scholarship, featuring mentoring, study group sessions, and other financial, academic, emotional, and professional supports exclusive to PLAN recipients. Columbia’s … Read more
Read MoreEWU McNair Scholar Richard Murphy Accepted to Washington State University’s PhD in Political Science
Congratulations to EWU McNair Scholar Richard Murphy who’s been accepted into Washington State University’s PhD in Political Science! Washington State University’s Political Science Doctor of Philosophy teaches from a multi-methods approach and allows choice of major foundational training (institutions and processes, behavior and psychology, or theory and philosophy) as well as specialization field (American politics, global politics, … Read more
Read MoreEWU McNair Scholar Kelly Parke Accepted to University of Cincinnati M.A. Program in Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies
Congratulations to EWU McNair Scholar Kelly Parke who’s been accepted into University of Cincinnati’s Masters program in Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies (WGSS) with funding. WGSS offers concentration specializations in sexuality studies and transnational feminist, as well as a joint MA/JD program with their Law School. All program options graduate students after completing a faculty supervised … Read more
Read MoreEWU Scholar Claudio Escalante Accepted to University of Kansas’ MS in Bioengineering
Congratulations to EWU McNair Scholar Claudio Escalante! Claudio has been accepted to University of Kansas MS/PhD program in Bioengineering. This is a combined degree with six tracks offered in conjunction with the KU School of Medicine. From their Bioengineering overview: The bioengineering program prepares students to become leading researchers, educators, and entrepreneurs. The program provides knowledge … Read more
Read MoreEWU McNair Scholar Sylvia Kennerly Accepted to University of Oregon PhD
Congratulations to EWU McNair Scholar Sylvia Kennerly! Sylvia has been accepted to University of Oregon’s Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry PhD program, with funding. From the Chemistry PhD at University of Oregon’s Website: “[…] we take a cross-disciplinary, interdepartmental approach to research and graduate training. Institutes and centers facilitate scientific investigation at the boundaries of traditional … Read more
Read MoreEWU McNair Scholar Irie Browning Accepted to University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee’s Masters in Philosophy
Congratulations to EWU McNair Scholar Irie Browning! Irie has been accepted to the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee’s Masters in Philosophy with funding. UWM has a demonstrated track record for graduating scholars from their Philosophy MA towards doctoral and continuing studies. Their overview states: The general purpose of this program is to provide students with the background and … Read more
Read MoreScholar Claudio Escalante Attends 2023 BMES Annual Meeting
McNair Scholar Claudio Escalante attended the 2023 BMES Annual Meeting this October 11-14 in Seattle, WA. Biomedical Engineering Society is the lead professional society for bioengineers and biomedical engineers housing four professional journals. BMES’s President, Cynthia Reinhart-King, states “the BMES Annual Meeting is the Society’s premier event centered around our mission of promoting a collaborative … Read more
Read MoreMcNair Scholar Devin Mumey Attends One World Botany Conference
McNair Scholar Devin Mumey and Faculty Mentor Dr. Jessica Allen attended the 2023 One World Botany Conference in Boise, ID this July. They presented their research, “Do bryophyte and lichen conservation rankings and efforts mirror each other in North America?” as part of the symposium One World Many Kingdoms: Conservation of Bryophyte and Lichen Biodiversity. … Read more
Read MoreMcNair Scholar Tiago Correia and Claudio Escalante Attend 2023 SACNAS The National Diversity in Stem Conference
McNair Scholars Claudio Escalante and Tiago Correia attended the 2023 SACNAS The National Diversity in Stem Conference October 26-28 in Portland, OR. A national program, SACNAS was founded in 1973, a group meeting organized by Dr. Alonzo Atencio “that would address the paucity of Chicano and Native Americans in academia and government agencies. […]to set … Read more
Read MoreMcNair Scholar Sylvia Kennerly Attends Society for Glycobiology (SFG) 2023 Annual Meeting
McNair Scholar Sylvia Kennerly Attended the Society for Glycobiology (SFG) 2023 Annual Meeting on Big Island, Hawaii with Mentor Dr. Ashley. Running from November 5-8, the 50th anniversary of this SFG event brought together “leading glycobiologists from around the world to discuss fundamental mechanisms by which glycans and glycan-binding proteins regulate cell and organismal physiology … Read more
Read MoreGraduating McNair Scholars Irie Browning, Alexander Dodson, and Richard Murphy Invited for Campus Visits
This Fall, McNair Scholars Irie Browning, Alexander Dodson, and Richard Murphy were honored with invitations to visit potential Graduate programs. Irie visited Yale University and Northwestern University, Irie and Alexander visited Ohio State’s Department of Philosophy and Department of Psychology, and Richard was invited to a small open house with UC Berkeley Irie noted excitement … Read more
Read MoreMcNair Scholar Devin Mumey Honored with CSTEM Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities Fund Award
McNair Scholar Devin Mumey has been selected to receive a CSTEM Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities Fund award. This award is provided through the Eastern Washington University Department of Biology with donor funding, supplying resources that expand the scope of research study available to undergraduates. Devin submitted a proposal for a new research project, continuing … Read more
Read MoreMcNair Scholars Makenna Tabino & Claudio Escalante Attend the 32nd Annual Murdock Conference
Scholars Makenna Tabino and Claudio Escalante attended the invite-only 32nd Annual Murdock Conference, designed to advance “new knowledge in the natural sciences”. This year’s theme was One Brain: Neuroscience and Window into Mental Health, Co-hosted by Pacific University on November 10-11, 2023. Makenna Presented her Cattail Research Project, Determining the Long-Term Effectiveness of Seeding Post-Dam … Read more
Read MoreEWU McNair Scholar Mai Peregrina Honored with EWU Board of Trustees Scholarship
Congratulations to EWU McNair Scholar Mai Peregrina! Mai has been awarded the EWU Board of Trustees Scholarship. Mai is majoring in Psychology at Eastern Washington University. She is a member of the Alpha Phi sorority and has been actively involved in the Panhellenic Council at EWU. For her McNair Summer Research Internship she worked with Dr. Kayleen Islam-Zwart as her … Read more
Read MoreEWU McNair Scholar Devin Mummy Completes Summer Research Internship
Congratulations to EWU McNair Scholar Devin Mumey for completing his McNair Summer Research Internship! He worked with mentor Dr. Jessica Allen on his summer 2023 research, “Lichens of Iller Creek: A preliminary checklist for the Iller Creek Unit, a division of Dishman Hills Conservation Area, Spokane Valley, WA“. Devin’s research was presented August 16, 2023 at the … Read more
Read MoreEWU McNair Scholar Makenna Tabino Completes Summer Research Internship
Congratulations to EWU McNair Scholar Makenna Tabino for completing her McNair Summer Research Internship! She worked with mentor & department chair Dr. Rebecca Brown on Makenna’s summer 2023 research, “Determining the Long-Term Effectiveness of Seeding Post-Dam Removal in the Elwha River, WA, Through Soil Seed Bank Analysis“. Her research project is a collaboration with the nonprofit … Read more
Read MoreEWU McNair Scholar Alexander Dodson Completes Summer Research Internship
Congratulations to EWU McNair Scholar Alexander Dodson for completing his McNair Summer Research Internship! Alexander worked with mentor Dr. Amani El-Alayli on his summer 2023 research, “Political Orientation Moderates Pride and American Flag Effects on Person Perception“. His research was presented August 16, 2023 at the McNair Summer Research Symposium. Alexander expanded his 2022 research, hypothesizing “an … Read more
Read MoreEWU McNair Scholar Kelly Parke Completes McNair Summer Research Internship
Congratulations to EWU McNair Scholar Kelly Parke for completing her McNair Summer Research Internship! She worked with mentor Dr. Ryan Parrey on her summer 2023 research, “Atmospheres of Ableism: A Phenomenological Exploration of Everyday Encounters”. Her research was presented August 16, 2023 at the McNair Summer Research Symposium. Kelly utilized an online qualitative survey … Read more
Read MoreEWU McNair Scholar Irie Browning Completes Summer Research Internship
Congratulations to EWU McNair Scholar Irie Browning for completing her McNair Summer Research Internship! She worked with mentor Dr. Christopher C. Kirby on her summer 2023 research,”Friendships and Virtue Ethics“. Irie’s research was presented August 16, 2023 at the McNair Summer Research Symposium. Irie’s summer research investigated virtue ethics as it applies to friendship. … Read more
Read MoreEWU McNair Scholar Alejandro Torres-Gonzalez Completes Summer Research Internship
Congratulations to EWU McNair Scholar Alejandro Torres-Gonzalez for completing his McNair Summer Research Internship! He worked with mentor Dr. Justin Bastow on his summer 2023 research with the EWU Restoration Project. His research was presented August 16, 2023 at the McNair Summer Research Symposium. Alejandro observed pollinator activity at the restoration site to explore … Read more
Read MoreEWU McNair Scholar Sylvia Kennerly Completes McNair Summer Research Internship
Congratulations to EWU McNair Scholar Sylvia Kennerly for completing her McNair Summer Research Internship! She worked with mentor Dr. Jason Ashley on her summer 2023 research, “Overexpression of Fringe syltransferase in osteoclastogenesis”. Sylvia’s research was presented August 16, 2023 at the McNair Summer Research Symposium. Sylvia’s research looked deeper into the overexpression of Fringe enzymes, … Read more
Read MoreEWU McNair Scholar Tiago Correia Completes Summer Research Internship
Congratulations to EWU McNair Scholar Tiago Correia for completing his McNair Summer Research Internship! Tiago was selected for a full-time eight-and-a-half-week summer position in the Central Convergence Research Experiences for Undergraduates (CC-REU) at Central Washington University. Tiago worked with mentor Dr. Brandy Wiegers on summer 2023 research, “An Androgen-Dependent Mathematical Model of the Menstrual Cycle“. … Read more
Read MoreEWU McNair Scholar Claudio Escalante Completes Summer Research Internship
Congratulations to EWU McNair Scholar Claudio Escalante for completing his Summer Research Internship! Claudio worked with mentor Dr. Tamara Kinzer-Ursem on his summer 2023 research,”Particle Separation: Harnessing Inertial Microfluids for Precise Particle Sorting”. His research was presented August 16, 2023 at the McNair Summer Research Symposium. In Summer 2023, Claudio attended Purdue University‘s Tier … Read more
Read MoreEWU McNair Scholar Richard Murphy Completes Summer Research Internship
Congratulations to EWU McNair Scholar Richard Murphy for completing his McNair Summer Research Internship! He worked with mentor Professor Tom Hawley, PhD on his summer 2023 research, “Economics Over All: How Neoliberalism Creates Exclusivist Moralities in an Age of Responsibilization”. Richard’s research was presented August 16, 2023 at the McNair Summer Research Symposium. Pulling … Read more
Read MoreEWU McNair Scholar Terreca DeFehr Completes Summer Research Internship
Congratulations to EWU McNair Scholar Terreca DeFehr for completing her McNair Summer Research Internship! She worked with Dr. Jill Seiver on her summer 2023 research, “Worklife Balance.” Her research was presented on August 16, 2023, at the McNair Summer Research Symposium. Terreca’s research expanded the findings of an existing dataset (N= 508) from Seiver and … Read more
Read MoreEWU McNair Scholar Brendan Roof Completes Summer Research Internship
Congratulations to EWU McNair Scholar Brendan Roof for completing his McNair Summer Research Internship! He worked with mentor Dr. Paul Linholdt on his summer 2023 research, “The Other: Truth, Morality, and Bulosan’s Heart“. His research was presented August 16, 2023 at the McNair Summer Research Symposium. Brendan explored how Carlos Bulosan, and his seminal work, … Read more
Read MoreMcNair Alum Illuminate the Graduate School Experience
What a joy to see the faces of 6 former EWU McNair Scholars all on the same screen this summer! As a part of the culminating weeks of our intensive McNair Summer Research Internship that includes daily graduate school application and preparation seminars, these brilliant alumni joined us to share their insights and experiences as … Read more
Read MoreEWU McNair Scholar Brendan Roof Honored with Nick Begich Scholarship
Congratulations to EWU McNair Scholar Brendan Roof! Brendan has been awarded the Nick Begich Scholarship. This scholarship was created to carry on the ideals of the late Congressman Nicholas J. Begich from Alaska, who came to the state in 1956 as a teacher and believed that education was both a right and a privilege, one that must … Read more
Read MoreEWU McNair Scholar Brendan Roof Honored with Carol Kabat Baumann Scholarship
Congratulations to EWU McNair Scholar Brendan Roof! Brendan has been awarded the Carol Kabat Baumann Scholarship. This scholarship is for juniors or seniors majoring in education, with a public school emphasis and GPA’s at or above a 3.0. Brendan is a first-generation student majoring in Secondary English Education. He was raised in Ketchikan, Alaska and Memphis, Tennessee. … Read more
Read MoreEWU McNair Scholar Kelly Parke Honored with Robert & Joan Audree Morgan Nelson Scholarship
Congratulations to EWU McNair Scholar Kelly Parke! Kelly has been selected for the Robert & Joan Audree Morgan Nelson Scholarship for humanities majors. Kelly is currently in the midst of her EWU McNair Summer Research Internship exploring the impact of daily ableism on those with physical disabilities. She will submit her Institutional Review Board proposal … Read more
Read MoreEWU McNair Scholar Mary Belton Honored with Soaring Eagles Scholarship
Congratulations to EWU McNair Scholar Mary Belton! Mary has been selected for the Soaring Eagles Scholarship. The award is for juniors and seniors who have demonstrated grit towards attaining their degree. Mary is currently in the midst of her EWU McNair Summer Research Internship exploring Virginia Woolf’s Mrs. Dalloway. On top of her classes, extra … Read more
Read MoreEWU McNair Scholar Devin Mumey Honored with Soaring Eagles Scholarship
Congratulations to EWU McNair Scholar Devin Mumey! Devin has been selected for the Soaring Eagles Scholarship. The award is for juniors and seniors who have demonstrated grit towards attaining their degree. Devin is currently in the midst of his second EWU McNair Summer Research Internship, while working part time, and preparing for an upcoming conference. He … Read more
Read MoreEWU McNair Scholars Receive Grants, Awards, Honors
Congratulations to EWU McNair Scholars Kelly Parke, tommyboiZ, and Richard Murphy! All three have been awarded grants, scholarships, and other honors. Kelly Parke received the Jeffers Chertok Memorial Scholarship for academic year 2023-2024 from the College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences. Kelly was nominated by Dr. Michael Zukosky in Anthropology. The Jeffers Chertok Memorial … Read more
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