McNair Scholars Alumni

Gerardo graduates with a B.S. in Electrical and Computer Engineering and a minor in applied Mathematics. His research with Dr. Jim Browning explores the study of electron instabilities in crossed electric and magnetic fields. This includes experimentation with magnetrons and cross- field devices to compare simulations and theory. Gerardo has presented his work at multiple undergraduate conferences and is a co-author in the publication, Gated Field Emitter Arrays for Planar Crossed-Field Device Experiment. Gerardo will enter the Electrical and Computer Engineering MS Department at Northeastern University this upcoming September to study wireless communication. In addition, he has been awarded a financial aid package totaling $24,500 per year.

Ulises graduates with a B.S. in Civil Engineering and an Interim Spanish Certificate. His continued research with Dr. Pakala examines how the addition of storytelling assignments in engineering classes impacts students’ self-identification as future engineering professionals. In addition, he is part of a research team working on a volume manuscript that uses multiple stakeholders’ testimonios to develop a framework to address Latinx students’ needs at PWIs. Ulises will enter the Engineering Education Systems and Design Ph.D. program at Arizona State University this upcoming August, where he was awarded the Dean’s and Fulton’s Fellowship consisting of tuition, health insurance, and $30,000 of annual support for four years. Ulises is also the recipient of a 2022 National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program Fellowship award totaling $138,000 over 3-years.

Halima Hamud graduates with a B.S in Political Science. During her time on campus, she held many leadership positions, including serving as president of the Multilingual Student Alliance which provided refugees students tools for success. She founded The Circle of Excellence, an Instagram-based program to provide engaging workshops to young refugees. She works on finding a collaborative approach to women’s empowerment. In 2020, she took part in Micron Inclusive Leadership to bring equitable change to Idaho. Her project included interviewing six immigrant professional women in the re-entrying of the workforce. Her passion for working on global women’s issues has led her to be named Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholar 2021. Her research titled “Skilled Foreign professionals in Idaho’’ used a qualitative approach to examine brain waste and best practices in Idaho. In 2021, Halima won the prestigious, Harry S. Truman scholarship to support her graduate school dream with $30,000 financial aid and professional development opportunities. She will attend the University of Minnesota this fall to start her master’s in Development Practices. In addition to a full-tuition scholarship, she has received the Minnesota Provost’s Professional Education Diversity Fellowship which includes a stipend of $25,000. This summer she is heading to DC to intern for Catalogue for Philanthropy as Nonprofit Program Management.

Alejandra graduates with a B.S. in Health Studies with minors in Sociology, Psychology, and Family studies. Her research focused on how gender socialization particularly through the lens of machismo and marianismo influences well-being among the Latinx community. She also discusses the complexity of structural barriers the Latinx community has to go through while also dealing with cultural barriers when seeking and recieving medical care. She has been able to present her research at an undergraduate research conference. Alejandra will attend the University of Arizona this fall to start her Master’s in Public Health with a concentration in Health Behavior and Health Promotion. She was awarded full in-
state tuition and will be working alongside Dr. David Garcia on his “Nosotros Comprometidos a Su Salud-Committed to Your Health” program that focuses on developing research through community service and working with underserved Tucson residents.

Andrea graduated with a B.S. in Psychology from Boise State University. Her research with Dr. Gena Nelson delved into social validity, specifically in math interventions for students with learning disabilities. This research explored possible continuity issues with social validity questionnaires and how it is measured. Further, continued research on a national project called mothers, infants, early childhood home visiting program is working to find the most effective way of helping families through early childhood stressors, such as housing, food and clothing deficits. Andrea will enter the Clinical Psychology PsyD program at George Fox University this upcoming August.

Dustin graduates with a B.S. in Materials Science and Engineering. His research with Dr. Claire Xiong investigates the potential use of anatase titanium dioxide nanoparticles as an anode material for lithium-ion batteries. This involves annealing the material at different temperatures and atmospheres to study how water that was used to drive the synthesis of the nanoparticles impacts the electrochemical performance of the battery. Dustin has presented his research at multiple undergraduate research conferences. Dustin will enter the Materials Science and Engineering PhD program at Arizona State University this upcoming August, where he was awarded the Dean’s Fellowship which includes full tuition, health insurance, and $30,000 annual stipend for four years.

Bibiana graduates with a dual BS in Ethnic Studies and Sociology with minors in Korean and Gender Studies from Boise State University. Their research with Dr. Castaneda and Dr. Ramirez focused on the process of oral history making through the storytelling of transgender, gender non-conforming, non-binary people of color in Idaho via a podcast called Gems: for us, by us, about us. Grounding their work in testimonio theory, transfeminism, and oral history making, Bibiana has presented their research at multiple undergraduate conferences. They have been working as an equity, diversity and inclusion consultant and public speaker for the past several years and will continue this work after graduation.

Jasiel graduates with a B.S. in Sociology and Ethnic Studies, with minors in Latin American Studies, Mexican-American Studies, Gender Studies and an intermediate Spanish Certificate. Jasiel’s research with Dr. Wakild examines the ways in which Latinx, farmworking communities utilize “chisme” (gossip) as a form of knowledge building and collective practice of resourcing for community safety. In addition, Jasiel was part of the University of Utah Prison Education Project research collaborative analyzing the inclusion and use of academic disciplinary and criminal history questions on undergraduate, hispanic serving institutions admissions applications. Jasiel has presented this work at multiple undergraduate research conferences. Jasiel will enter the Environmental Humanities MS program at the University of Utah this upcoming August, where Jasiel got awarded the Mellon Community Fellowship consisting of an annual stipend of $20,000, summer funding for $5,000, more funding for travel and research, plus a health care benefit, and a full tuition waiver.