McNair Scholars Program prepares students for graduate school
College of St. Scholastica junior Brady Zubke just returned from Puerto Rico where he presented his research paper on the correlation between stress and cognitive fatigue. After meeting with a group of fellow McNair scholars, their faculty mentors and other scientists at the University of Puerto Rico-Humacao, Zubke was bursting with enthusiasm. "The experience was amazing. Presenting for the first time was one of the most challenging things I have had to do in my academic career, but it was worth it. I definitely want to come back again next year," he said.
As a McNair Scholar, Zubke is doing research and receiving guidance from a faculty research mentor. He also receives assistance preparing for the GRE exam and selecting and applying to graduate school. "It really gives you a huge advantage in finding out about graduate school and gives you opportunities you wouldn’t have otherwise," Zubke said.
The Ronald E. McNair Postbaccalaureate Achievement Program prepares undergraduate students — especially those who are low-income, first-generation and minority students — for doctoral studies. It aims to increase their ranks in academia and professional positions. Named for one of the fallen Challenger astronauts, McNair is funded by the U.S. Department of Education and operated by the federal TRiO Program (The Right investment Opportunity for college access, degree attainment and workforce development).
Zubke is thrilled to be able to do research with Andrine Lemieux, a neuropsychology professor at St. Scholastica. "She has so much information and has no problem explaining things, however long it takes. She makes sure I’m on the right track," he said. Zubke hopes to earn a Ph.D. and eventually work with patients with traumatic brain injury.
“This experience makes you excited about grad school and focusing on what you hope to do for the rest of your life,” he said.
Pamela Knetter
Pamela Knetter, another McNair scholar from St. Scholastica, is a biology and art major who will graduate in May. Last summer, with help from the McNair program staff, she obtained an internship at MIT, conducting research on adult stem cells in a biological engineering lab for 10 weeks. “It gave me a chance to do research at one of the top universities in the world,” she said. “I found that research isn’t the right fit for me but it gave me the experience I needed to make a decision about my field.” Knetter has been accepted to the University of Illinois at Chicago where she will pursue a master’s degree in biomedical visualization.
Minnesota students can participate in McNair programs through the College of St. Scholastica and the University of Minnesota–Twin Cities (and formerly through Augsburg College where renewed funding is pending). At St. Scholastica, 200 students have participated since 1995 — 104 are currently enrolled in graduate school (19 in doctoral programs with 3 more to begin this fall), 60 have earned a master’s degree and 4 have earned doctorates.
At the U of M, it is important to note that of the 232 students who have participated since 1992, one-third have been from private colleges. Sixty are currently enrolled in graduate school, 80 have received master’s or professional degrees and 8 have received doctorates.
"The TRiO/McNair Scholars Program is increasing the number of professors and professionals with doctorates and has a direct effect on our ability to compete globally," said Phillip Miner, director of community initiative for the Minnesota Private College Council. "No program does more to get more underrepresented students into doctorate programs."