Program Overview

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McNair Scholars Program

The McNair Scholars Program is a prestigious program that selects 21 undergraduate students from a pool of highly competitive applicants each year.

Program Overview

The program aims to provide research opportunities and academic support to students from underrepresented groups. The selected scholars participate in research projects, attend conferences, and receive mentorship from faculty members.

Current Cohort

The current cohort of scholars includes students from diverse backgrounds and academic disciplines. Each scholar is working on a research project under the guidance of a faculty mentor.

Past Cohorts

The program has a strong track record of producing successful scholars. Past cohorts have included students who have gone on to pursue graduate studies and careers in their respective fields.

Research Areas

The research areas of the McNair Scholars Program are diverse and include:

• Control Hardware for Pneumatically Controlled Research Devices in the MR Environment
• The Relationship Between Positive Thinking, Religion, and Health from the Perspectives of Arab University Students
• A Qualitative study of the Resilience Factors used by Black Students at a Predominantly White Institution
• Analytical Study of Human Resource Initiatives Surrounding Internal Socialization Process of Interns
• The Determinants of Sex Trafficking in Milwaukee County
• Mental Health Diagnosis and Treatment for Latino, White, and African American Inmates
• Decision-Making of Pregnant Women Runners
• Analyzing the Gap: Policy and Managerial Implications on Organizational Climate
• The Role of Social Cohesion in Neighborhoods Facing Eviction
• Evaluation of mitochondrial oxidative capacity in patients with Multiple Sclerosis using near-infrared spectroscopy
• How stress influences the transition to an addictive state
• Ethnic Identity Statuses and Latino/a Mental Health Outcomes
• Beliefs and Perceptions Regarding Disabilities: Muslim Arab Americans from the Greater Milwaukee Area
• In-home Peer Counseling to Increase Breastfeeding Rates Among Low-Income African American Mothers
• Perceptions of High School Dress Code Policy
• Narrating Legality in Mexican-American Immigration Stories As It Relates to Social Well-Being
• Changes in Neuroplasticity Involved in the Escalation of Cocaine Self-Administration

Scholar Profiles

Each scholar has a unique profile, including their research title, abstract, and biography. The profiles showcase the diversity and talent of the scholars in the program.

Alaa Shanaa

Research Title: Control Hardware for Pneumatically Controlled Research Devices in the MR Environment

Abstract: The goal of this project was to design a portable, MRI-safe vibrotactile feedback system to examine the neurological pathways involved in learning vibrotactile sensory feedback.

Israh K. Sarsour

Research Title: The Relationship Between Positive Thinking, Religion, and Health from the Perspectives of Arab University Students

Abstract: The purpose of this qualitative study is to identify the relationship between positive thinking, religion, and health from the perspectives of Arab University students.

Rahquiyah Williams

Research Title: A Qualitative study of the Resilience Factors used by Black Students at a Predominantly White Institution

Abstract: A Qualitative study of the resilience factors used by black students at a predominantly white Institution, where the initial questions asked them to disclose their academic standing to measure whether they live up to the standards of "successful" for the purposes of this research.

Tyler Vicknair

Research Title: Analytical Study of Human Resource Initiatives Surrounding Internal Socialization Process of Interns

Abstract: The aim of this project consists of investigating the Social Exchange Theory, which focuses on how individuals compare the cost of benefits when beginning, sustaining, and terminating social relationships.

Angelica M. Rodriguez

Research Title: The Determinants of Sex Trafficking in Milwaukee County

Abstract: Sex Trafficking is the recruitment, harboring, transportation, provision or obtaining of a person for the purposes of a commercial sex act, in which the commercial sex act is induced by force, fraud or coercion, or in which the person induced to perform such an act has not attained 18 years of age.

Karina Pagan

Research Title: Mental Health Diagnosis and Treatment for Latino, White, and African American Inmates

Abstract: In 2014, 18.1% of adults were diagnosed with a mental illness and 4.1% of adults were diagnosed with a serious mental illness.

Fabiola Magana

Research Title: Decision-Making of Pregnant Women Runners

Abstract: Exercise is known to have a beneficial impact during pregnancy, thorough research on physiological changes with physical activity but less on actual experiences.

Joshua-Paul Miles

Research Title: Analyzing the Gap: Policy and Managerial Implications on Organizational Climate

Abstract: This study aims to analyze and measure the gap between policies and behaviors in businesses and organizations regarding diversity, inclusion, and equality.

Atiya Muhammad

Research Title: The Role of Social Cohesion in Neighborhoods Facing Eviction

Abstract: The purpose of this study is to understand the role and effects of eviction in low-income neighborhoods, and how the role of social cohesion can stand as a positive factor for community members.

Marshall R. Freeman

Research Title: Perceptions of the Milwaukee Police: Examining Individual and Community Correlates

Abstract: There has been growing tension with the police and residence, since the Dontre Hamilton incident, Black Lives Matter social movement has gained momentum and increasing numbers of racial minorities are protesting police violence.

Aseel M. Dahir

Research Title: Evaluation of mitochondrial oxidative capacity in patients with Multiple Sclerosis using near-infrared spectroscopy

Abstract: Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a progressive disease of the central nervous system that involves the demyelination of nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord.

Myra Khan

Research Title: How stress influences the transition to an addictive state

Abstract: Stress has been identified as a factor that is responsible to increase the susceptibility of addiction.

Roselee J. Ledesma

Research Title: Ethnic Identity Statuses and Latino/a Mental Health Outcomes

Abstract: A strong sense of ethnic identity is associated with better mental health outcomes for ethnic minorities.

Sundus K. Jaber

Research Title: Beliefs and Perceptions Regarding Disabilities: Muslim Arab Americans from the Greater Milwaukee Area

Abstract: Arab American beliefs and perceptions regarding disabilities are not documented and known, which makes it difficult to identify the issues that significantly affect Arab Americans living with disability.

Kera Johnson

Research Title: In-home Peer Counseling to Increase Breastfeeding Rates Among Low-Income African American Mothers

Abstract: Studies show that Racial disparities exist related to breastfeeding initiation & continuation.

Alyssa Cullinan

Research Title: Perceptions of High School Dress Code Policy

Abstract: Increasingly, dress codes in High schools are gaining attention when students take to social media to express their outrage after receiving disciplinary actions for dress code infractions.

Vanessa Diaquino

Research Title: Narrating Legality in Mexican-American Immigration Stories As It Relates to Social Well-Being

Abstract: Mexicans are the dominant Latino group in this country as well as being one of the most increasing ethnic groups in the US.

Mohamed Abdelrahim

Research Title: Changes in Neuroplasticity Involved in the Escalation of Cocaine Self-Administration

Abstract: Drug addiction, primarily cocaine addiction is a crucial problem within the United States and across the world.