FALL EDITION 2013

SHU McNair Scholar Review

Director’s Corner

Welcome to Fall Semester, 2013! This edition of the McNair Newsletter brings very exciting news regarding doctoral degrees. We have our very first Siena Heights scholar who completed his doctoral degree!! This is our first complete fulfillment of the scope of the McNair grant and we offer sincere “Congratulations” to Dr. Matt Larson. Matt graduated from Siena in 2007, went on to Wayne State for his master’s degree and has now finished his doctorate at Arizona State University. But the best news of all is that Matt has accepted a faculty position at St. Louis University, and they have a McNair program. Matt told me this summer that he is very excited to become a mentor. From McNair Scholar to McNair Mentor—this completes a full circle for me as I recruited Matt to the program in 2004!! And it is also very exciting to note that we have another scholar who has also come full circle. “Congratulations” to Dr. Deidre Redmond, who graduated from Adrian College. Dee completed her doctoral work at Indiana University this past May and has accepted a faculty position at Murray State down in Kentucky. I am so proud of these scholars as they have lived up to the McNair motto and Reached Great Heights. There are many more scholars in the pipeline who should be finishing their doctoral degrees soon! Stay tuned! Four senior McNair scholars are just beginning their graduate studies and we wish them all good things as they start at their new schools: Abe Battjes at John Carroll University, Joe Lemanski at Oregon State University, Maggie Morrison at Michigan Tech and Olivia Smith at Ohio State University. Good luck in your graduate programs! Have a great semester! Patricia Wallace, Ph.D. Program Director

Contents

Director’s Corner …………..……….….. 1 Congratulations Class of 2013 …...…… 2 Scholars’ Next Steps…………..........….. 3 McNair Research Symposium …….….. 4 Winter & Spring in Review ……….…... 5 New Scholar Cohort ……………….…... 6 Summer Boot Camp …………….……... 7 Mentor Spotlight ………………..……… 8 Alumni News ………………….……….. 9 New Staff Members ………….……….. 10 Dean’s List, Birthdays, & Events……...11 Eligibility Requirements ……….…….. 12

Staff

Patricia Wallace, Ph.D. Program Director

Leah Mayer, M.Ed.

Program Coordinator

Cindy Anderson Academic Coordinator

Diane Kenyon, M.A. Program Secretary

“I urge you today to go forth with the great knowledge that you are better than enough; to go forth with the desire to accomplish, with the desire to contribute to our society.

Go forth with a willingness to fight and a will to win.” - Dr. Ronald E. McNair

Class of 2013 Graduates—Page 2

Congratulations to Our 2013 McNair Graduates!

Branson

Kristy

Joe

Olivia

Abe Maggie

Class of

2013

Scholars’ Next Steps—Page 3

McNair Scholars’ Next Steps

The McNair staff, mentors and the Siena Heights community would like to congratulate the McNair Scholars on all of their accomplishments.

We are proud to announce that several of our graduates will be continuing

on to graduate school in the fall:

Olivia Smith B.S., Biology

Joe Lemanski B.S., Biology

Maggie Morrison B.S., Environmental Science

Good luck Abe, Joe, Maggie, and Olivia as you begin your graduate programs!

Abe Battjes B.A., Psychology

On February 27, 2013, the junior and senior McNair Scholars presented their research projects to family, peers, mentors, and the Siena Heights community.

McNair Research Symposium 2013

McNair Research Symposium—Page 4

Jasmine Caldwell & mentor Dr. Kelso Our guests enjoying the reception Branson Williams II

Lynn Hendricks Joe Lemanski & mentor Dr. Tsuji Maggie Morrison & mentor Prof. Moody

Chas Frey Abe Battjes Kat Labick

Olivia Smith Dr. Wallace’s remarks

McNair Scholars 2012-2013

Winter & Spring in Review—Page 5

Winter & Spring in Review

Senior McNair Scholars traveled with Dr. Wallace and Dr. Schersten to the

University of Maryland to participate in this

conference. There they had opportunities to

present their academic research in a professional environment, to receive feedback from peers and

other scholars in a variety of disciplines, and

to interact with faculty from a wide range of graduate schools. The group was also able to tour Washington DC while on their trip.

Presidential Reception

April 17, 2013

Junior McNair Scholars visited BGSU for a campus tour, lunch with faculty members, and discussions with current graduate students.

Former SHU McNair Scholar Jason Ransom is now a graduate student at BGSU and took time to speak with our Scholars about his experiences.

National Research Conference for McNair Scholars & Undergraduate Research

March 14-17, 2013

Graduate School Visit to Bowling Green State University

March 15, 2013

New Scholar Cohort—Page 6

New Scholar Cohort—Fall 2013

Natalie Behnke Biology—Siena Heights University

Kayla Berryhill English—Adrian College

Cameron Davis Accounting—Adrian College

Will Davis Business—Adrian College

Derek DeVee Philosophy—Adrian College

Phoenix Duncan Health—Siena Heights University

Shikeem Hayle Psychology—Adrian College

Marcus Perez Special Ed.—Siena Heights University

Chynia Robinson Criminal Justice—Adrian College

DeVonte’ Sansom Sport Mgmt.—Siena Heights University

Mackenzie Tomasik Criminal Justice—Siena Heights University

Chavon Watts Psychology—Siena Heights University

Jordan Zalenko Biology/Env. Sci.—Adrian College

Tayler Redinger Sport Mgmt.—Siena Heights University

Summer Boot Camp -Page 7

Summer Boot Camp: “Methods of Inquiry”

Our new McNair Scholars participated in a two-week summer course entitled “Methods of Inquiry,” better known as

McNair’s Summer Boot Camp.

Dr. Robin Bott Dr. Christie Boxer Dr. Linda Campbell Prof. Alli Cipra Dr. Jeffrey Engelhardt

Dr. Deborah Field Dr. James Geistman Dr. Timothy Husband Dr. Carl Kaster Dr. Jeffrey Lindstrom

Dr. James Martin Dr. Peggy McCann Dr. Carrie Mitchell Dr. Janet Pietrowski Prof. Patrick Quinlan

Dr. Paul Rupert Dr. Steve Shehan Dr. James Spence Dr. Jun Tsuji Dr. Marilyn Whitney

Mentors are a very important component of the McNair Program. The mentors go above and beyond to guide students toward the path of academic and personal success.

"A mentor is someone who sees more talent and ability within you than you see in yourself, and helps bring it out of you." -Bob Proctor

Mentor Spotlight—Page 8

Mentor Spotlight

Thank you, McNair Mentors, for all of the time, energy, care, and expertise you share

with our Scholars!

Alumni News—Page 9

Coming Full Circle: Alumni News

Dr. Matt Larson is our first Siena Heights graduate and McNair Scholar alumnus to complete his Ph.D. Matt has joined the faculty at St. Louis University and will continue his dedication to the

McNair Scholars Program by serving as a McNair Mentor at SLU.

Congratulations, Dr. Larson!

*Including our 3 completed Ph.D.’s—with more to come soon!

Graduate School Paths for SHU McNair Scholar Alumni

The SHU McNair Program now boasts three alumni who have completed their doctoral degrees! Matt joins

Dr. Leah Straschewski-Chambers (Adrian College class of 2004), who earned her Ph.D. in 2011, and

Dr. Deidre Redmond (Adrian College class of 2005), who earned her Ph.D. in 2013.

New Staff Members—Page 10

Introducing Our Newest Staff Members

Program Coordinator Leah Mayer

I am delighted to have joined the McNair Scholars Program at SHU. Thank you all for making me feel so welcome. I was born in Massachusetts, grew up in Maryland, and moved to Adrian just before the Winter 2013 semester from Williamsport, PA, having recently completed my Master’s in Education at Lock Haven University. I have previously worked in a juvenile detention facility, provided mental health therapy, implemented behavioral support for children with autistic spectrum disorders, and developed online courses for my university—and I hope that all

of these different experiences will help me support our McNair Scholars as they pursue their own varied fields and passions. I spend my free time with my husband Patrick, an assistant professor of philosophy here at SHU, and our two beautiful daughters. I enjoy traveling to visit my family, cheering on my beloved Boston sports teams, reading, and getting to know our new community. I am very much looking forward to getting to know all of our Scholars better and I promise to do my best to help you prepare for success on your chosen paths.

Program Secretary Diane Kenyon

I am very excited to have joined the McNair Scholars Program in November of 2012. One of the joys of my life has been to work with and learn from college students for nearly thirty years and being a part of McNair allows me to work with the best of the best! When not working at McNair, I enjoy reading, gardening, knitting, and watching sports – even the Lions! I earned my M.A. in English Literature from Eastern Michigan University in 2010, and I enjoy teaching English classes at SHU as an adjunct. I have

lived in Adrian since 1970 and my husband and I have two grown children and two adorable grandchildren. Our son and daughter-in-law live in Paw Paw, and our daughter and son-in-law are currently in Lansing. My husband is the CEO of Hospice of Lenawee and has run several Boston marathons. I look forward to getting to know each one of the scholars better. I know there is a lot you will teach me – whether it’s about dragonflies, green architecture, the Arthurian legend or so much more!

Dean’s List/Birthdays/Upcoming Events—Page 11

Classes Begin Monday, August 26th

Welcome Back Meetings for McNair Scholars

Wednesday, August 28th—12pm Thursday, August 29th—4pm

Kimball Camp Event Saturday, October 26h

Fall Semester Ends

Friday, December 13th

Find more details about all McNair events on Facebook!

Upcoming Events Fall 2013

Fall Birthdays

September 14th—Jordan Zalenko October 3rd—Chynia Robinson 15th—Danyelle Greene 23rd—DeVonte’ Sansom November 6th—Shikeem Hayle

Congratulations to Our Scholars on the

Dean’s List Winter/Spring 2013

Amber Beauchamp Kayla Berryhill

Jasmine Caldwell Phoenix Duncan

Chas Frey Danyelle Greene Lynn Hendricks

Kat Labick Marcus Perez

DeVonte’ Sansom Kyle Timmis

Mackenzie Tomasik Jordan Zalenko

Siena Heights University McNair Scholars Program Sacred Heart Hall Rm. 301 1247 E. Siena Heights Dr. Adrian, MI 49221

Ronald E. McNair Post- Baccalaureate

Achievement Program

1247 E. Siena Heights Dr. Sacred Heart Hall Rm. 301 Adrian, MI 49221 Office: (517) 264-7157 Fax: (517)264-7767

Interested In Becoming a McNair Scholar?

The McNair Scholars Program is a research-based program that is federally funded and designed to

encourage and mentor eligible undergraduates to pursue graduate studies leading to the completion of

a doctoral degree.

Eligibility Requirements:

Students must meet the eligibility requirements mandated by the Department of Education:

First-generation (meaning neither parent can have a 4-year college degree) & low income

OR

A member of a group underrepresented in graduate education( such as African-American, Hispanic, Native American, Alaska Native, Asian-American, and Native American Pacific Islanders).

Applicants are also required to:

Be a full-time student

Have a grade point average of 3.0 or better

Have a declared major

Be a United States Citizen

Apply during the sophomore year

Make a commitment to apply and enroll in graduate school and work toward a doctoral degree

If you are interested in discovering more about the opportunities and services provided through this

program, please contact the Program Director, Dr. Patricia Wallace at (517) 264-7157.