Boise State McNair Alumni

Alumni of the Boise State McNair Scholars Program are currently enrolled in graduate institutions across the country, most with some form of graduate funding that pays part or all of their graduate school expenses, insurance and costs of living. Many of our alumni attribute some of their success in attaining their graduate funding opportunities to their participation in the McNair Scholars Program. Like many students from underrepresented backgrounds, few were aware of the tremendous funding opportunities available to committed students interested in pursuing graduate studies.

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Isabel Aguilar

Class of 2005 Major: Bilingual Education Graduate Institution: Erikson Institute, Chicago McNair Mentor: Dr. Roberto Bahruth

Isabel earned her M.A. in Early Childhood Education from the Erikson Institute in Spring of 2008.

 
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Deborah Allen

Class of 2006 Major: Social Science Graduate Institution: Boise State University McNair Mentor: Dr. Virginia Husting

Deborah earned her Masters of Public Administration from Boise State University in 2008.
 
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Sandina Begic

Class of 2005 Major: Psychology/German Graduate Institution: Clark University McNair Mentor: Dr. Tedd McDonald

Sandina is a Ph.D. candidate in Social, Evolutionary, and Cultural Psychology at Clark. She is presently in Bosnia and Herzegovina doing field work for her dissertation.
 
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Juan Berrocal

Class of 2005 Major: Electrical and Computer Engineering Graduate Institution: Santa Clara University McNair Mentor: Dr. Stephen Parke

Juan is enrolled in the Masters Program in Engineering Management at Santa Clara.
 
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Lou Bonfrisco

Class of 2006 Major: Chemistry Graduate Institution: Boise State University McNair Mentor: Dr. Susan Shadle

Lou is currently in the third year of the Masters Program in Materials Science and Engineering at Boise State.
 
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Christian Busnardo

Class of 2007 Major: Communication Graduate Institution: Washington State University McNair Mentor: Dr. Phil Kelly

Christian is currently in the second year of the Masters of Higher Education Program at Washington State.
 
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Sancheen Collins

Class of 2007 Major: Psychology Graduate Institution: Washington State University McNair Mentor: Dr. Mary Pritchard

Sancheen is currently in the second year of the PhD Program in Counseling Psychology at Washington State.
 
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Migel Delgado

Class of 2007 Major: Fine Arts Graduate Institution: Boise State University

Migel is currently in the second year of the Masters of Fine Arts Program with an emphasis in Painting at Boise State.
 
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J. J. Durrant

Class of 2008 Major: Physics Graduate Institution: University of Arizona McNair Mentor: Dr. Charles Hanna

J.J. is currently in the first year of the Ph.D. Program in Physics at the University of Arizona.
 
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Jennifer Edwards

Class of 2007 Major: Interdisciplinary Studies (Human Rights) Graduate Institution: Boise State University McNair Mentor: Dr. Jill Gill

Jennifer is in the first year of the Masters in Health Studies program at Boise State University.
 
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Jenna Elgin

Class of 2006 Major: Psychology Graduate Institution: University of Washington McNair Mentor: Dr. Wind Goodfriend

Jenna is currently in the first year of the Ph.D. program in School Psychology.
 
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David Estrada

Class of 2007 Major: Electrical and Computer Engineering Graduate Institution: University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana McNair Mentor: Dr. Bill Knowlton

David is currently in the second year of the Ph.D. program in Electrical Engineering at Illinois.
 
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Rafael Garcilazo

Class of 2007 Major: Mechanical Engineering Graduate Institution: University of California, Riverside McNair Mentor: Dr. Michelle Sabick

Rafael is currently a second year student in the Masters of Mechanical Engineering Program at UC Riverside.
 
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Gary Grogan

Class of 2007 Major: Psychology Graduate Institution: Washington State University McNair Mentor: Dr. Mary Pritchard

Gary is currently in the second year of the PhD Program in Counseling Psychology at Washington State.
 
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Katey Irwin

Class of 2005 Major: Biology Graduate Institution: Boise State University McNair Mentor: Dr. Julia Oxford

Katey is Masters student in the Biology program at Boise State.
 
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Jeni Jenkins

Class of 2005 Major: Social Science Graduate Institution: University of Cincinnati McNair Mentor: Dr. Les Alm

Jeni earned her Master's degree in Women’s Studies from the University of Cincinnati in Spring 2008.
 
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Carol McHann

Class of 2008 Major: Social Science (emphases in Criminal Justice and Gender Studies) Graduate Institution: University of Memphis McNair Mentor: Dr. Lisa Bostaph

Carol is in the first year of the Master's program in Criminal Justice at the University of Memphis.
 
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Chris Mathias

Class of 2004 Major: Criminal Justice Graduate Institution: Vermont Law Graduate Institution: Northeastern University McNair Mentor: Dr. Craig Hemmens

Chris completed his J.D. at Vermont Law in spring of 2007 and began the Ph.D. program in Law, Policy & Society at Northeastern in fall of 2007.
 
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Antonio Oblea

Class of 2007 Major: Electrical and Computer Engineering Graduate Institution: Boise State University McNair Mentor: Dr. Stephen Parke

Antonio is currently in the second year of the Ph.D program in Electrical and Computer Engineering at Boise State.
 
Christine Pearson

Christine Pearson

Class of 2006 Major: Psychology Graduate Institution: Eastern Tennessee State University McNair Mentor: Dr. Diana Doumas

Christine is a Ph.D. candidate in Clinical Psychology at Eastern Tennessee State.
 
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Joshua Redden

Class of 2005 Major: Health Promotion Graduate Institution: Louisiana State University McNair Mentor: Dr. Chad Harris

Joshua earned his M.A. in Motor Behavior Program from Louisiana State University in spring of 2007.
 
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Luis Rosado-Oliveras

Class of 2006 Major: Exercise Science Graduate Institution: University of Massachusetts, Amherst McNair Mentor: Dr. Chad Harris

Luis is currently in the third year of the Master's in Kinesiology Program from the University of Massachusetts.
 
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Irene Ruiz

Class of 2005 Major: Spanish Graduate Institution: University of Illinois, Chicago McNair Mentor: Dr. Alicia Garza

Irene earned her M.A. in Latin American & Latino Studies from University of Illinois, Chicago in spring 2007. She is currently applying for Ph.D. programs to begin in Fall of 2009.
 
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Vivanne Sanchez

Class of 2008 Major: History of Art and Visual Culture Graduate Institution: SUNY Buffalo McNair Mentor: Dr. Janice Neri

Vivianne is currently in the first year of the Masters program in Arts Management at the State University of New York at Buffalo.
 
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Miki Skinner

Class of 2007 Major: Psychology Graduate Institution: University of Utah McNair Mentor: Dr. Wind Goodfirend

Miki is currently in the second year of the Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology program at the University of Utah.
 
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Adriana Solis-Black

Class of 2006 Major: Spanish/Multi-Ethnic Studies Graduate Institution: Washington State University McNair Mentor: Dr. Bob McCarl

Adriana earned her Master's in Spanish Literature and began the Ph. D. program in American Studies at Washington State University in 2008.
 
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Megan Sterling (Jensen)

Class of 2005 Major: Fine Art, Printmaking Emphasis Graduate Institution: Art Institute of Chicago McNair Mentor: Prof. Laurie Blakeslee

Megan earned her Master of Fine Arts in Studio Arts (Print Media) from the Art Institute of Chicago in spring 2007. She currently teaches Art at the Harrington School of Design in Chicago.

 
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Adam Torres

Class of 2007 Major: Psychology Graduate Institution: University of Michigan McNair Mentor: Dr. Mary Pritchard

Adam is currently in the second year of the Masters in Information program at Michigan.
 
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Simon Tu

Class of 2008 Major: Political Science Graduate Institution: Cornell University McNair Mentor: Dr. Ross Burkhart

Simon is currently in the first year of the Ph.D. program in Government at Cornell.
 
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Maria "Rosario" Venegas

Class of 2007 Major: Anthropology Graduate Institution: University of Cincinnati McNair Mentor: Dr. Bob McCarl

Rosario is currently in the second year of the Masters of Anthropology program at the University of Cincinnati.
 
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Fred Waweru

Class of 2008 Major: Social Science (emphases in Commuication and Sociology) Graduate Institution: Oklahoma State University McNair Mentor: Dr. Steven Patrick

Fred is a first year student (and cowboy) in the Masters in International Studies program at Oklahoma State.