For many university students, graduate school and doctoral programs may seem a distant goal. For first-generation, low-income and underrepresented students, continuing their education past the baccalaureate degree may seem virtually impossible.
The McNair Scholars Program is designed to prepare undergraduate students for doctoral studies through involvement in research and other scholarly activities.
Founded in 1996 in honor of Ronald E. McNair, Ph.D., the laser physicist and Challenger space shuttle astronaut, the McNair Scholars Program was established to help first-generation, low-income and underrepresented students of any major to apply to and succeed in doctoral programs.
One of the ultimate goals of the program is to help diversify the faculty in colleges and universities as well as those employed in various areas of science.
Program Goals
The goal of the McNair Scholars Program is to help first-generation, low-income students, and especially students who are members of racial/ethnic groups traditionally underrepresented in higher education, gain access to graduate education and earn doctoral degrees (Ph.D., Psy.D., Ed.D.).
To achieve that goal, our scholars:
• Participate in research and other scholarly activities
• Enroll in appropriate graduate programs after earning their baccalaureate degree
•Continue on to a doctoral program
•Earn their doctorate-level degree
Benefits of the McNair Scholar Program
The McNair Scholars Program prepares undergraduate students by providing individual and group services designed to enhance successful entry into post-baccalaureate education. McNair Scholars Program staff and faculty mentors meet with scholars to provide them guidance toward achieving this goal. Scholars are provided with opportunities to attend seminars and conferences.
• Dedicated faculty mentor in scholar’s area of study
•Math and Verbal Skills Preparation
•Graduate School application fee waivers
•Reduced GRE test fees
•Paid summer research program, including free room and board ($2,800 stipend)
•Publication of summer research project in the McNair Research Journal
•Travel assistance to present research at conferences and visits to prospective graduate academic programs
-
Amely Loganshe/her/hersClass of 2026Major: Philosophy Mentor: Erika Grimm, PhD (she/her/hers), St. Mary’s UniversityResisting “Chicana and Latina…
2025 Summer Research Symposium • Amely Logan…
From Loretta Sanchez
0 likes 2 plays -
Lilian Hernandez Peregrinoshe/herClass of 2025Majors: International Business &Entrepreneurship and InnovationMentor: Zecong Ma, PhD, St. Mary’s…
2025 Summer Research Symposium • Lilian…
From Loretta Sanchez
0 likes 1 plays -
Belyn ThompsonClass of 2026Major: Digital MarketingMentor: Zecong Ma, PhD, St. Mary’s UniversityAI vs. Human Imagery in Advertising: Do Consumers Care?Digital…
2025 Summer Research Symposium • Belyn…
From Loretta Sanchez
0 likes 1 plays -
Haley AlemanClass of 2026Major: Political ScienceMentor: Leona Pallansch, PhD, St. Mary’s UniversityWhy Aren’t Young Adults Voting? A Quantitative…
2025 Summer Research Symposium • Haley…
From Loretta Sanchez
0 likes 6 plays -
Miranda IbarraClass of 2027Major: PsychologyMentor: Colton Daniels, PhD, St. Mary’s UniversitySacred Silence: Religion and Intimate Partner ViolenceThis study…
2025 Summer Research Symposium • Miranda…
From Loretta Sanchez
0 likes 3 plays -
Joshua RiojasClass of 2026Major: Electrical EngineeringMentor: Ben Abbott, PhD, St. Mary’s UniversityA Convolutional Neural Network for Atmospheric thermal…
2025 Summer Research Symposium • Joshua…
From Loretta Sanchez
0 likes 2 plays -
Julianne PenaClass of 2027Majors: PsychologyMentor: Rick Sperling, PhD, St. Mary’s UniversityTurns Out, Latinx Faculty Doesn’t Mean the School Sucks: The…
2025 Summer Research Symposium • Julianne…
From Loretta Sanchez
0 likes 1 plays -
Rolando RamosClass of 2026Major: BiologyMentor: Richard Cardenas, PhD, St. Mary’s UniversityLeveraging MATLAB for Genomic Analysis of Alzheimer’s Disease…
2025 Summer Research Symposium • Rolando…
From Loretta Sanchez
0 likes 2 plays -
Joshua Mendezhe/himClass of 2026Major: PhysicsMentor: Richard Cardenas, PhD he/him, St. Mary’s UniversityModeling the Effects of Plasma Etching Parameters using…
2025 Summer Research Symposium • Joshua…
From Loretta Sanchez
0 likes 2 plays -
Julia MartinezClass of 2025Majors: Forensic Science (Criminology)Mentor: Audrey Lamb, PhD, University of Texas at San AntonioDetection of Catalytic Intermediates in the…
2025 Summer Research Symposium • Julia…
From Loretta Sanchez
0 likes 3 plays -
B. HaynesClass of 2026Major: EnglishMentor: Nicole Lopez, PhD, St. Mary’s UniversitySeparate But Found: An Anthropological Analysis of Toni Morrison’s…
2025 Summer Research Symposium • B. Haynes…
From Loretta Sanchez
0 likes 1 plays -
Mark Sanchezhe/himClass of 2026Major: PsychologyMentor: Elizabeth Ochoa, PhD, UT Health San AntonioThe Cellular Landscape of Alzheimer’s Disease: A Review of…
2025 Summer Research Symposium • Mark…
From Loretta Sanchez
0 likes 1 plays -
Samantha Nguyenshe/herClass of 2028Majors: PsychologyMentor: Brett Ginsburg, PhD (he/him), UT Health San AntonioThe relationship of Phosphatidylethanol and Cholesterol…
2025 Summer Research Symposium • Samantha…
From Loretta Sanchez
0 likes 7 plays -
Iris Reynashe/herClass of 2027Major: BiologyMentor: Gary Guerra, PhD, St. Mary’s UniversityEvaluation of Prosthetic and Orthotic Technologies using AI…
2025 Summer Research Symposium • Iris Reyna…
From Loretta Sanchez
0 likes 1 plays -
Silvia Benavidesshe/her/hersClass of 2027Major: Political ScienceMentor: Erika Grimm, PhD (she/her/hers), St. Mary’s UniversityThe Coloniality of Gender and Class:…
2025 Summer Research Symposium • Silvia…
From Loretta Sanchez
0 likes 1 plays -
Nyleen BenavidesClass of 2027Major: Political Science andInternational & Global StudiesMentors: Claudia Donoso, PhD, St. Mary’s UniversityMica Productions: The…
2025 Summer Research Symposium • Nyleen…
From Loretta Sanchez
0 likes 1 plays
Search for ""