The McNair Chronicle | 1

The McNair Chronicle Volume 15, Issue 1 Spring 2014

Graduates Honored - Annual Awards Banquet Eleven graduating McNair Scholars were honored at the 21st annual McNair Awards Banquet held on May 2, 2014 in the Kansas Union. The 2013-14 graduating students are (pictured from left): Tyler Wieland, Clint Jensen, Louisa Hussein, Merritt Schenk, Ruaa Hassaballa, Paul Fowler III, Jon Nelson, Eric Rivera, Yliana Ruiz, Joshua Russell, and Jamie Fuller.

Senior Scholar Clint Jensen and McNair alumna Dr. Belinda Hinojos, shared their academic journey of overcoming adversity to pursue educational opportunities not available to previous generations within their families. Both speakers emphasized the importance of the McNair Program, and encouraged their fellow Scholars to have faith in their ability to achieve academic excellence and to utilize every resource available (More on pg. 5).

The event was attended by new Scholars, faculty mentors, members of the University of Kansas administration, TRIO/CEOP programs, and campus organizations. Each graduating Scholar received an Honor Scholar cord and a Certificate of Merit, while seven Scholars were presented with distinct awards. Louisa Hussein received the LaTina Sullivan Memorial Award, Josh Russell received the Chico Herbison Leadership Award, Ruaa Hassaballa received the Katherine Humphrey Award, Jamie Fuller and Jon Nelson received the Ronald E. McNair Challenger Awards and Clint Jensen and Yliana Ruiz received the McNair Spirit Awards. Drs. Nathaniel Brunsell, Evangelia Chrysikou, and Allan Hanson received the McNair Mentor Award for their guidance and for advancing underrepresented students in their scholarly pursuits. Dr. Belinda Hinojos received the Outstanding Achievement & Service Award for fulfilling the mission of the McNair Scholars Program by earning her Ph.D. and giving back support to disadvantaged students.

Highlights

Leadership Award Ruaa Hassaballa 2

New Ph.D. Richard Martinez 2

Graduate School Plans 2

Scholar Achievements 3

Undergraduate Research Symposium 4

Summer Research 4

Annual Awards Banquet, cont’d 5

Paul Fowler III’s Journey to Grad School 6

Meet the Staff

Dr. Ngondi Kamatuka Director, Center for Educational Opportunity Programs Mulu Negash Director, McNair Scholars Program Paul Ladipo Academic Services Coordinator Cara DeCoito Administrative Assistant

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Dr. Richard Martinez: McNair Alumnus Earns Ph.D.

Dr. Martinez received his Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from New Mexico

State University in Fall 2013 and is currently employed as a Psychology Resident

at the UT Counseling and Mental Health Center at the University of Texas at

Austin. Dr. Martinez sees students for individual therapy, crisis sessions, group

therapy, and provides supervision for counselors in training. As a counselor at the

University of Texas, Richard has focused on gaining experience and training with

first generation college students, students of color, and LGBT students on

campus. His role at the counseling center has also afforded him the opportunity

to conduct tailored outreach to Latina/o students, through which he provides

education pertaining to mental health, stigma, and teaching practical skills to help students succeed in

college. Dr. Martinez considers some of the most rewarding work has come from helping students

navigate the transition from high school to college, helping them identify cultural strengths, and

supporting their identity development.

Graduate School Plans

Seven scholars will be attending graduate school this fall. Jamie

Fuller and Paul Fowler III will be pursuing Master’s degrees at the

University of Kansas, in Geography and African & African

American Studies, respectively. Louisa Hussein and Merritt

Schenk are enrolled in Master’s programs in Applied Behavioral

Science at the University of Houston-Clear Lake and University of

the Pacific, respectively. Clint Jensen will be pursuing a Ph.D. in

Psychology at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, and Jon

Nelson will pursue his Ph.D. in Sociology at Brown University.

Tyler Wieland is attending Florida International University for his

Master’s in Geosciences.

Making an Impact

Ruaa Hassaballa, a senior in Clinical Laboratory Sciences, was the recipient of the Student Leadership Award in Diversity from the KU Med Center. Students are given this award for their passion and commitment to diversity and the capacity to demonstrate leadership skills in this area. Ruaa was nominated for the award based on her University service and leadership, which centered on diversity, teamwork and cooperative learning. Ruaa was selected for the Student Leadership Award because of her involvement in the Student Diversity Council, as well as her volunteer efforts at a clinic for underprivileged individuals in Kansas City.

Tyler Wieland (L) & faculty mentor Dr.

Nathaniel Brunsell.

Ruaa with Ryan Gove (L), Director

of Student Life and Dr. Vince

Loffredo, Vice Chancellor of

Student Services.

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RESEARCH PRESENTATIONS & AWARDS

Jeffery Durbin, Jamie Fuller, Clint Jensen, and Merritt Schenk received the 2014 Outstanding Presentation Award for their presentations at the Undergraduate Research Symposium.

Jeffery Durbin, Clint Jensen, and Danielle Siebert presented their research at the KU Symposium for Undergraduate Psychology Engagement & Research (SUPER) Poster Presentation.

Jeffery Durbin was the recipient of the Sigma Xi Undergraduate Research Competition Award.

Jaime Fuller, Clint Jensen, Eric Rivera, Merritt Schenk, and Kristina Van Anne received the Undergraduate Research Award for Spring 2014.

Jamie Fuller and Clint Jensen received the Undergraduate Research Award for Summer 2014.

Merritt Schenk presented his research at the Undergraduate Research Day at the Capitol.

Merritt Schenk - The Donald M. Baer Outstanding Achievement Award in Basic Research and Conceptual Foundations

Joshua Russell and Danielle Siebert presented at the National Undergraduate Research Conference.

Joshua Russell was one of the few students that presented an ACE (Accessible, Creative, & Engaging) Research Talk, similar to TED Talk, at the Undergraduate Research Symposium.

RESEARCH EXPERINCE OUTSIDE KU

Taylor Broadhead, Jeffery Durbin, Greg Ervin, Carlos, Fernandez, and Cassandra Osei were selected to participate in Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) at Duke, University of South Carolina, New York University, Kansas State, and the University of Illinois at Urban-Champaign, respectively.

ALUMNI SUCCESS

Dr. Jamie Bezdek, MKN - TRIO Achiever Award.

Jessica Brooks, accepted into UNC Chapel Hill Ph.D. programs in Environmental Science & Engineering.

Ebo Browne, M.A., Criminal Justice.

Anthony Matthias Johnson, M.A., Sociology.

Sarah Bregman received the Blackmore Freeman Fellowship.

Ebo Browne & Diana Restrepo presented their Graduate Research at Day at the Capitol in Topeka.

Diana Restrepo was accepted into the Geography Ph.D. program at the University of Kansas.

Adam Nicholson was selected to be a Recruitment Emissary for the 2014-2015 Emissaries for Graduate Student Diversity cohort at Indiana University.

SCHOALRSHIPS & HONORS

Jamie Fuller received the Summer FLAS to study the Wolof language in Senegal and the Academic year FLAS for KU.

Jyleesa Hampton was the recipient of the Virginia Purse Award.

Jon Nelson - Distinguished Achievement Award - KU Sociology Department.

Cassie Osei - Christopher House Scholarship & the Hall Center Scholar Award.

Allora Richey - Elizabeth Miller Watkins Memorial Scholarship (2014-2015).

Danielle Siebert received the EOF Leadership Award (2014-2015).

Myette Simpson & Theresa Amante - Lohrenz Award for Outstanding Multicultural Student in Engineering.

Kristina Van Anne - Outstanding Spanish Major Award.

Danielle Siebert displaying her poster at the SUPER presentation

Former Scholars, we want to hear from you today! Update us on your accomplishments and plans. Visit our website

mcnair.ku.edu or email us mcnair@ku.edu

Scholar Achievements & Awards

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On April 26, 2014, the Center for Undergraduate Research hosted the 17th annual Undergraduate Research Symposium. Over 100 students presented their research in front of faculty, staff, family,

and the University Community. KU McNair was strongly represented at the symposium, with eleven McNair Scholars participating at the event. Seven Scholars gave oral presentations, three provided poster presentations, and one served as an undergraduate panelist discussing undergraduate research at KU. Of the 107 students that presented their projects, 20 were selected to receive Outstanding Presentation Awards, and 4 of those recipients were McNair Scholars. Chancellor Bernadette Gray-Little and Dr. John Augusto spoke on the importance of undergraduate research, specifically how it can be used to prepare for graduate school by discovering one’s academic interests, making professional connections, and contributing to the body of knowledge in a particular field.

Summer Research Internship 2014 Participants McNair Scholars receive year round academic support as they prepare for eventual graduate study. The capstone experience for Scholars is a two-month rigorous summer research internship (SRI) that provides them with the opportunity to perform independent research leading to a paper that is presented at symposia and conferences, and on occasion, published. Eighteen Scholars were selected to participate in the 2014 SRI:

Theresa Amante

Cameron Arnold

Max Bearce

Rudy Christopher

Natali Diaz-Yepes

Sean Gilmore

Jyleesa Hampton

Nicole Humphrey

Clint Jensen

Hannah Morrow

Christian Orzano

Allora Richey

Merritt Schenk

Danielle Siebert

Dylan Smith

Donald Spradling

Carla Valenzuela

DaKie Washington

Taylor Broadhead (left) explains her project to a faculty

member in the Department of Molecular Biosciences.

(L to R): Merritt Schenk, Hannah Morrow, Jeffery Durbin, Max Bearce, and Danielle Siebert

McNair Scholars Presenting Research at Undergraduate

Research Symposium

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Clint Jensen discussed the importance of the McNair Program in its quest to provide educational opportunities to those that are normally excluded in higher education, and that Scholars should utilize McNair and its resources to improve the quality of their lives. Jensen encouraged fellow McNair Scholars to use their education to impact others and let future generations build on what they achieved. He also stressed the need to remember one’s beginnings as motivation to break the cycle of poverty. Jensen spoke of being a first-generation college student from a family of immigrant farmers who wanted to pursue higher education, but were unable to do so because of the responsibilities of farming, raising children and supporting

siblings. Although neither parent was able to attend college, his mother and father instilled a strong work ethic in Clint, and he used this sense of responsibility, combined with his natural curiosity of human behavior, to pursue a bachelor’s degree in psychology. Jensen concluded his speech by emphasizing McNair’s role in preparing him for post-baccalaureate study. He thanked KU McNair for providing the opportunity to work with faculty mentors such as Dr. Evangelia Chrysikou, Drs. Richard and Muriel Saunders, for the academic and career counseling he received from McNair staff, and the confidence to face the overwhelming challenges of applying to and being accepted to graduate schools.

Dr. Belinda Hinojos told the audience of growing up in a household in which neither parent finished high school, being from a low-income family, and attending a high school with a high drop-out rate. Belinda experienced a culture shock when she arrived at the University of Kansas. A sense of loneliness, lack of resources, and the demands of coursework placed Belinda on academic probation at the end of her freshman year. With the help of TRIO Supportive Educational Services, her family, and other support groups, Belinda was able to recover and continue her path towards graduation, but it was the McNair Scholars Program that prepared her for life beyond the bachelor’s degree. Belinda acknowledged her need for McNair to prepare her for the GRE, to teach her how to dress professionally, and to provide her with the opportunity to conduct research. Despite facing many obstacles before and during college, Dr. Hinojos earned her Master’s degree in Counseling Psychology from KU in 2007 and her Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) in August 2013. Currently, she works as a Psychologist in the Counseling and Psychological Services at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, but uses her life experiences and education to the serve the community. Dr. Hinojos also serves as the Latino Outreach Specialist and is the liaison for TRIO programs in helping students that are underrepresented in higher education. In these roles, Belinda is able to pave the way for disadvantaged students to succeed by tackling issues such as diversity and inclusion in order to provide students with a sense of belonging that is vital for academic performance. Dr. Hinojos closed by providing a word of encouragement for current McNair Scholars, reminding them of the ‘uncut resume’ that consists of the failures and setbacks students face before earning their degrees and accomplishments. Belinda cited pursuing a Ph.D. as a single parent as an example of unexpected challenges. Dr. Hinojos acknowledged the challenges faced by each Scholar, but urged students to persevere in order to achieve their educational and career goals.

Annual Awards Banquet, cont’d

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For Paul Fowler III, a desire for an education began at an early

age while attending family road trips to historical monuments,

with his parents often explaining the significance of the events

and people to whom the memorials were dedicated. This

knowledge created a lifelong curiosity of history that served as

the impetus to pursue History as a non-traditional college

student. Upon his arrival at the University of Kansas, Paul

developed an interest in African American history, along with

plans to pursue post-baccalaureate study. As a history major,

he understood the importance of extensive research to achieve his lifelong goal of becoming a

Historian. Through his participation in the McNair Scholars Program, Paul began his first independent

research during the spring 2012 under the mentorship of Dr. Jennifer Weber. He investigated the

history of African-American community in Kansas, particularly issues regarding civil rights, community

& class, and education. The following year, he studied under Dr. Clarence Lang, investigating primary

documents on the migration of fugitive slaves to Kansas and African-American community and class

formation in Lawrence. His outstanding research earned him the Undergraduate Research Award.

Furthermore, Paul was selected as the first KU Student Leader feature on KU’s social media (Twitter,

Facebook, & YouTube) where he gave details of his research along with his adviser Dr. Lang. Next fall,

Paul will begin his graduate studies in the African & African American Studies Master’s program at the

University of Kansas.

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Journey to Graduate School