UIW MCNAIR SCHOLARS

 

Ph.D Graduate McNair Scholars

Tara Tovar-Vidales, BS Biology, 2000; MS Biology, UNTHSC, 2004; Ph.D., Biology, UNTHSC, August 2008

Diana Meneses, BA History, 2002; MA History, Arizona State University, 2004; Ph.D. History, Arizona State University, May 2009

Roger Brooks, BA Psychology, 2001; MA Psychology, University of Norte Dame, 2006; Ph.D. Psychology, University of Norte Dame, May 2009

2009 Graduate Scholars

Katherine Bateman, B.A. Mathematics, May 2009
Summer 2008: The Control of Chaotic Dynamic Systems
Summer 2007 topic: Fractals: A History

Presented 2008 topic at the 11th Annual Texas National McNair Scholars Reserach Conference, at the University of North Texas, Denton, Tx Spring 2009

Presented 2008 topic at the South Texas Regional McNair Research Conference at the University of Incarnate Word in Summer 2008.

Presented 2007 topic at the Annual Meeting of the Texas Section of the MAA at Tarleton State University in Spring 2008.

Presented 2007 topic at the 10th Annual Texas National McNair Scholars' Research Conference at the University of North Texas in Spring 2008.
Faculty Mentors: Dr. Zhanbo Yang, Associate Professor of Mathematics
Dr. Haoxuan Zhou, Professor of Mathematics Dr. Michael Frye, Assistant Professor of Engineering Management, 2008

Eduardo Galán, B.A. Business Administration, May 2009
Summer 2008 topic: Are Internships Worth It?

Presented 2008 topic at the 11th Annual Texas National McNair Scholars Research Conference, at the University of North Texas, Denton, TX Spring 2009

Presented 2008 topic at the 9th Annual South Texas Regional McNair Research Conference at the University of Incarnate Word in Summer 2008.
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Nursen Albayrak Zanca, Associate Professor of Economics

Theresa Galán-Bruce, B.A. Psychology, May 2009
Summer 2008 topic: Risk and Protective Factors that Contribute to Homelessness among Women

Presented 2008 topic at the 11th Annual Texas National McNair Scholars Research Conference, at the University of North Texas, Denton, TX Spring 2009.

Presented 2008 topic at 23rd National Conference on Undergraduate Research (NCUR), University of Wisconsin-LaCrosse Spring 2009.

Presented 2008 topic at the South Texas Regional McNair Research Conference at the University of Incarnate Word in Summer 2008.

Presented 2008 topic at the 12th Annual MKN Heartland Research Conference at Kansas City, MO in Fall 2008.
Faculty Mentor: Dr. María Félix-Ortiz, Assistant Professor of Psychology

Debbie Gómez, B.A. Psychology, May 2009
Summer 2008 topic: An Analysis of Physician Communication Based on Cultural Value Dimensions

Presented 2008 topic at the South Texas Regional McNair Research Conference at the University of Incarnate Word in Summer 2008.
Faculty Mentor: Dr. John Velasquez, Associate Professor of Psychology

Jorge Adrian Ortíz, B.A. Meteorology, May 2009
Summer 2008 topic: Local Climate Correlation of Precipitation and Temperature in San Antonio, Texas

Presented 2008 topic at 23rd National Conference on Undergraduate Research (NCUR), University of Wisconsin La Crosse Spring 2009

Presented 2008 topic at the 11th Annual Texas National McNair Scholars Research Conference, at the University of North Texas, Denton, TX Spring 2009

Presented 2008 topic at the South Texas Regional McNair Research Conference at the University of Incarnate Word in Summer 2008.
Faculty Mentors: Dr. William Thomann, Professor of Environmental Science, Geology, and Meteorology
Dr. Paul F. Messina, Assistant Professor of Mathematics

Nilsa Valle-Padilla, B.A. Spanish, May 2009
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Amalia Mondríguez, Professor of Foreign Language

Christian Ríos, B.A. Engineering Management, May 2009
Summer 2008 topic: High Altitude Airships for Weather Tracking
Summer 2007 topic: Smooth Ride: Superpave and the Next Generation of Asphalt Mixtures

Presented 2008 topic at the South Texas Regional McNair Research Conference at the University of Incarnate Word in Summer 2008.

Presented 2007 topic at the 10th Annual Texas National McNair Scholars' Research Conference at the University of North Texas in Spring 2008.
Faculty Mentors: Dr. Michael Frye, Assistant Professor of Engineering, 2008
Prof. Alison Whittemore, Instructor of Engineering Management, 2007

María Robledo, B.A. Spanish, May 2009
Summer 2008 topic: Patriarchy: Confessors in the Writings and Criticism of St. Teresa of Avila and Sor Juana Ines de la Cruz
Summer 2007 topic: The Representation of Women in the Poetry of Jaime Sabines
Presented 2008 topic at the South Texas Regional McNair Research Conference at the University of Incarnate Word in Summer 2008.

Presented 2007 topic at the 22nd National Conference on Undergraduate Research (NCUR) at Salisbury University in Salisbury, MD in Spring 2008.

Presented 2007 topic at the 10th Annual Texas National McNair Scholars' Research Conference at the University of North Texas in Spring 2008.

Presented 2007 topic at the 13th Annual McNair Research Conference at University at Buffalo in Summer 2007.
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Amalia Mondríguez, Professor of Foreign Language, 2007, 2008

 

2008 Graduate Scholars

Adriana Barrón, B.A. International Business, May 2008
Summer 2007 topic: Germany and E.U. Immigration: A Model for the U.S.?

Presented 2007 topic at the 2008 National Research Conference-McNair Scholars and Undergraduate Research at the University of Maryland in Spring 2008.

Presented 2007 topic at the 12th Annual Rocky Mountain McNair Research Symposium and Graduate Education Conference at Colorado State University in Fall 2007.
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Sara Jackson, Assistant Professor of International Business, 2007

Jennifer Caraway, B.A. Chemistry/Mathematics Scholar, December 2008
Summer 2008 topic: Carbon-base Supercapacitor Test Cell Assembly Optimization

Presented 2008 topic at the South Texas Regional McNair Research Conference at the University of Incarnate Word in Summer 2008.

Presented 2008 topic at the 12th Annual MKN Heartland Research Conference at Kansas City, MO in Fall 2008.
Faculty Mentor: Dr. John Stankus, Assistant Professor of Chemistry

Jessica Garza, B.A. Meteorology, May 2008
Summer 2007 topic: Cloud Seeding Effects and Processes

Presented 2007 topic at the 2008 National Research Conference-McNair Scholars and Undergraduate Research at the University of Maryland in Spring 2008.

Presented 2007 topic at the 10th Annual Texas National McNair Scholars' Research Conference at the University of North Texas in Spring 2008.

Currently attending the University of Hawaii at Manoa, pursuing a Master’s degree in Meteorology.
Faculty Mentor: Dr. William Thomann, Professor of Meteorology, 2007

Xavier Garza, B.A. Psychology, May 2008
Summer 2007: Selected by the University of North Carolina at Greensboro for an internship with Dr. Amber Tyler, a bio/psychology research scientist.
Summer 2006 topic: Hypnotizability Profiles of Participants with Chronic Pain

Presented 2006 topic at the13th Annual SAEOPP/UTK McNair National Scholars Research Conference in Summer 2007, 9th Annual Texas National McNair Conference at University of North Texas in Spring 2007 and at the 2006 Annual Biomedical Research Conference at Anaheim, CA in Fall 2006.

Currently attending the University of North Carolina at Greensboro pursuing Master’s / Ph.D. in Developmental Psychology.
Faculty Mentor: Dr. John Velásquez, Associate Professor of Psychology, 2006

Nicolas Gonzales, B.A. Engish, December 2008
Summer 2008 topic: Frost’s Poetic Theory: The Courage of Imagining

Presented 2008 topic at 2008 McNair Symposium at University of California Berkeley in Summer 2008.

Presented 2008 topic at the South Texas Regional McNair Research Conference at the University of Incarnate Word in Summer 2008.
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Patricia Lonchar, Professor of English

Annie López, B.A. History, May 2008
Summer 2007 topic: Voices from the Past: The Story of a Mexican American Neighborhood
Honors and Awards: Phi Alpha Theta History Honor Society

Presented 2007 topic at the 22nd National Conference on Undergraduate Research (NCUR) at Salisbury University in Salisbury, MD in Spring 2008.

Presented 2007 topic at the 10th Annual Texas National McNair Scholars Research Conference at the University of North Texas in Spring 2008.

Presented 2007 topic at the 12th Annual Rocky Mountain McNair Research Symposium and Graduate Education Conference at Colorado State University in Fall 2007.

Presented 2007 topic at the 13th Annual McNair Research Conference at University at Buffalo in Summer 2007.
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Patricia Gower, Associate Professor of History, 2007

Soraida Portales, B.A. Psychology/Religious Studies, August 2008
Summer 2007 topic: A Comparison of Samples in the Women’s Health Journal and the Journal of Health Psychology
Summer 2006 topic: Women’s Health Psychology Research: Analysis of Sampling Bias

Presented 2007 topic at the 11th Annual MKN Heartland Research Conference at Kansas City, MO in Fall 2007.

Presented 2006 topic at the 11th Annual Rocky Mountain McNair Research Symposium, Graduate Education Conference at Colorado State University in Fall 2006 and at the 2007 National Research Conference at University of Maryland Spring 2007.

Faculty Mentor: Dr. Anita Anderson, 2006, 2007

Carlo Reyes, B.A. Marketing, December 2008
Summer 2007 topic: Social Entrepreneurial Business: A Case Study of the Guadalupe Street Coffee Company

Presented 2007 topic at the 10th Annual Texas National McNair Scholars' Research Conference at the University of North Texas in Spring 2008.
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Sara Jackson, Assistant Professor of International Business

Valeria Salazar, B.A. Psychology, December 2008
Summer 2008 topic: An Analysis of Physician Communication Based on Cultural Value Dimensions

Presented 2008 topic at the 12th Annual MKN Heartland Research Conference at Kansas City, MO in Fall 2008.

Presented 2008 topic at the Annual South Texas Regional McNair Research Conference at the University of Incarnate Word in Summer 2008.
Faculty Mentor: Dr. John Velasquez, Associate Professor of Psychology

Jennifer Velez, B.A. Business Information Systems, December 2008
Summer 2008 topic: The Impact of Culture, Value Systems, and Ethics on Toyota Motor Corporation and Ford Motor Company

Presented 2008 topic at the 12th Annual MKN Heartland Research Conference at Kansas City, MO in Fall 2008.
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Jack Davis, Associate Professor of Management

2007 Graduate Scholars

Guadalupe Aguirre, B.A. Psychology, December 2007
Summer 2007 topic: Mental Retardation and the Death Penalty

Presented 2007 topic at the 11th Annual MKN Heartland Research Conference at Kansas City, MO in Fall 2007.

Currently attending Our Lady of the Lake University pursuing a degree in School Psychology.
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Roger Barnes, Professor of Anthropology/Sociology, 2007

Erica Alfaro, B.A. Psychology/Biology, December 2007
Summer 2007 topic: Jamming during Social Interactions in Glass Knife Fish, Eigenmannia virescens
Summer 2006 topic: Hypnotizability Profiles of Participants with Chronic Pain

Presented 2007 topic at the 11th Annual MKN Heartland Research Conference at Kansas City, MO in Fall 2007.

Presented 2007 topic at the Eight International Congress of Neuroethology at University of British Columbia in Summer 2007. Presented 2006 topic at the 9th Annual Texas National McNair Conference at University of North Texas in Spring 2007 and at the 2006 Annual Biomedical Research Conference at Anaheim, CA in Fall 2006.

Currently attending the University of Houston pursuing a degree in Optometry.
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Sara Tallarovic, Assistant Professor of Biology, 2007
Dr. John Velásquez, Associate Professor of Psychology, 2006

Chanté Bacon, B.A. Sociology, December 2007
Currently attending Texas Women’s University pursuing a Master’s degree in Sociology.
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Roger Barnes, Professor of Anthropology/Sociology

Cynthia Barrón-Tevelenkov, B.A. Psychology/Art, December 2007
Summer 2007 topic: Marxism and the Formalist Aesthetic
Summer 2006 topic: Hypnotizability Profiles of Participants with Chronic Pain
Honors and Awards: Alpha Chi National Honor Society

Presented 2007 topic at the 11th Annual MKN Heartland Research Conference at Kansas City, MO in Fall 2007.

Presented 2006 topic at the 9th Annual Texas National McNair Conference at University of North Texas in Spring 2007 and at the 2006 Annual Biomedical Research Conference at Anaheim, CA in Fall 2006.

Currently attending Trinity University pursuing a Master’s degree in School Psychology.
Faculty Mentor: Prof. Joseph Bravo, Instructor of Art History, 2007
Dr. John Velásquez, Associate Professor of Psychology, 2006

Devin Bedford, B.A. Music Industry Studies, December 2007
Honors and Awards: Kappa Gamma Pi, Saint Catherine’s Medal for Student Achievement.

Summer 2007: Selected by Word/Warner Bros. Music in Nashville, TN, for an internship.

Summer 2007 topic: Ripped and Revised: The Music Industry and the Legal World Response to Digital Piracy

Presented 2007 topic at the 12th Annual Rocky Mountain McNair Research Symposium and Graduate Education Conference at Colorado State University.
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Jennifer Jones

 

Alexandra Bojórquez, B.A. Political Science/Sociology, December 2007
Summer 2006 topic: U.S. Criminal Court Sentencing: A Matter of Race?

Presented 2006 topic at the 9th Annual Texas National McNair Conference at University of North Texas and at the 87th Annual Meeting Southwestern Social Science Association at Albuquerque, NM in Spring 2007.

Currently attending the University of Central Florida, pursuing a Master’s/Ph.D. in Criminology.
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Lydia Andrade, Associate Professor of Political Science

Marissa De Anda, B.A. English/Communication Arts, May 2007
Summer 2006 topic: Witches, Witchcraft, and the Witch Craze: The Dark Side of Beauty
Summer 2005 topic: Blood Thirsty Revenants Biting Through the Centuries: The Transformation of Vampires from Folklore to Fiction

Honors and Awards: Dr. Bernard C. O’Halloran Award and Alpha Chi National Honor Society, Sigma Tau Delta and Summa Cum Laude

Presented 2006 topic at the 2007 National Research Conference at University of Maryland Spring 2007.

Presented 2005 topic at the 14th Annual Ronald E. McNair Summer Research Conference at Pennsylvania State University in Summer 2006, 8th Annual Texas National McNair Conference at University of North Texas in Spring 2006, and at the 14th Annual National McNair Research Conference at Delavan, WI in Fall 2005.

Currently at the University of Alabama pursuing a Master’s degree in Telecommunications & Film.
Faculty Mentor: Dr. John Perry, Professor of Communication Arts/Speech, 2005, 2006

Michael Martínez, B.A. Psychology/Philosophy, May 2007
Summer 2006 topic: On Memory: Tracing Origins of Memory Models Theory Through Millennia From Modern Psychology to Ancient Aristotelian Philosophy

Summer 2005 topic: Differential Social Perception and Attribution of Intergroup Violence: Testing the Lower Limits of Hispanic Stereotyping

Honors and Awards: Alpha Chi National Honor Society, Alpha Lambda Delta Honor Society, National Society for Success, and Magna Cum Laude, Dr. Patrick Keating Psychology Award.

Presented 2006 topic at the 2007 Our Lady of the Lake University Psychology Conference and at the 9th Annual Texas National McNair Conference at the University of North Texas in Spring 2007. Presented 2005 topic at the 14th Annual Ronald E. McNair Summer Research Conference at Pennsylvania State University in Summer 2006, 20th Annual National Conference on Undergraduate Research at University of North Carolina in Spring 2006, and at the 4th Annual Psychology Research Colloquium in Fall 2005.

Currently at the University of Texas at Austin pursuing a Ph.D. degree in Counseling Psychology.
Faculty Mentors: Dr. Bernadette O’Connor, Associate Professor of Philosophy, 2006
Dr. Harold Rodinsky, Assistant Professor of Psychology, 2006
Dr. Lisa Lockhart, Associate Professor of Psychology, 2005

Belinda Santos, B.A. Psychology/Art, December 2007
Summer 2007 topic: Undocumented Hispanic Workers: Do Spanish Speakers Have Automatic In-group Status?

Presented 2007 topic at the 12th Annual Rocky Mountain McNair Research Symposium and Graduate Education Conference at Colorado State University in Fall 2007.
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Harold Rodinsky, Assistant Professor of Psychology

Jacqueline Sotelo, B.A. Music Composition Scholar, May 2007
Summer 2006 topic: Female Jazz Composers from the 1920s to the Present: An Analysis of their Contributions to the Evolution of Jazz
Summer 2005 topic: Dramatic Film Scoring

Honors and Awards: UIW Jazz Ensemble and Magna Cum Laude

Presented 2005 topic at the 8th Annual Texas National McNair Conference at University of North Texas in and at the 2006 National Research Conference at University of Maryland in Spring 2006.

Currently attending the University of North Texas pursuing a Master’s degree in Jazz Studies with a focus on Jazz Voice.
Faculty Mentors: Dr. Kenneth Metz, Associate Professor of Music, 2005, 2006
Prof. James Waller, Instructor of Music Industries, 2006

Erika Valdez, B.B.A. International Business, May 2007
Summer 2006 topic: Africa’s Ongoing Debt Crisis

Honors and Awards: Outstanding Economic Student in Business Administration

Presented 2007 topic at the 21st National Conference on Undergraduate Research at the Dominican University of California and at the 9th Annual Texas National McNair Conference at University of North Texas in Spring 2007.

Currently at the University of the Incarnate Word pursuing a Master’s in Business Administration.
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Nursen Albayrak Zanca, Associate Professor of Economics

María Eugenia Zolezzi, B.A. Psychology, May 2007
Summer 2006 topic: Hypnotizability Profiles of Participants with Chronic Pain

Honors and Awards: Cum Laude

Presented 2006 topic at the 9th Annual Texas National McNair Conference at University of North Texas in Spring 2007 and at the 2006 Annual Biomedical Research Conference at Anaheim, CA in Fall 2006.

Currently at the University of Texas at San Antonio pursuing a Master’s in School Psychology.
Faculty Mentor: Dr. John Velásquez, Associate Professor of Psychology

 

Scholars with Graduate Degrees

Yesenia Alcala-B.A., Business Administration, 2005, MBA 2007
Enjoli Benítez- B.A./B.S., Music Biology, 2004, M.S. Public Health, 2006
Kimberly Castañon-B.A. Communication Arts, 2005, MFA Creative Writing, 2008
Arveitta (Vickey) Edge-B.S., Biology, 2002, M.A., Biology, 2004
Richard Guerrero- B.A. Theatre Arts, 2004, M.A., Liberal Arts, 2007
Carla Guerrero-VanWinkle-B.A. , Mathematics, 2003, MAT 2008
Eloy Hernández- B.A. Biology, December 2004, M.S. Health Care Management, 2007
Georgina Hernandez-B.A. Psychology, 2003, M.A. Psychology, 2007
Shalama Jackson-B.A., Communication Arts, 2001, M.A., Communications, 2003
Cathy Jones- B.A., Psychology, 2002, M.Ed., 2005
Saqualya Lockhart- B.A.Psychology,May 2004, M.S.Clinical Comm. Counseling, 2007
Erica López- B.S. Nutrition, 2004, M.S., Nutrition, 2006
Arnulfo Maldonado-B.A., Theatre Arts, 2001, M.F.A., Theatre, 2005
Melissa Maldonado-B.A., Psychology, 2000, M.A., Psychology, 2007
Selene Mena-Fernández-B.S., Chemistry, 2002, M.S., Environmental Science, 2005
Stephanie Mitchell-B.A. Psychology of Organizations and Development, 2000, M.B.A., 2007
Sarita Molinar-Bertinato-B.A., Sociology 2002, M.A., Criminal Justice, 2005
Jason Olivarri-B.A., Communication Arts, 2001, M.A., Communication Arts, 2003
Mario Porter- B.A. Religious Studies, 2002, M.A., English
Vanessa Ramirez- B.S., Biology, 2002, M.S., Pharmacology, 2006
Iris Royal- B.A., Mathematics, 2004, M.Ed., Mathematics, 2006
Carolina Ruiz- B.A., English, 2003, M.A., English, 2006
Valerie Sanchez-Segura- B.A., Psychology, 2000, M.A. Psychology, 2006
Grace Sherman- B.A. Sociology, December 2004, M.A. Sociology, September 2007
Dwain Smith- B.A. Communication Arts, 2003, M.F.A. Film Production/Direction, 2006
Kelly Thurmond- B.A. Music Industries, 2003 M.M., Music History & Literature, 2007
Rhonda Vogt-B.S., Biology, 2001, M.S., Biology, 2003
Candy Wilson- B.A., Art, 2002, M.A.T., Education, 2006

Scholars in Doctoral Programs

Alexandra Bojorquez-B.A.,Political Science, 2007. MA/Ph.D. Criminology Program: University of Central Florida.
Xavier Garza-B.A. Psychology, 2008. Ph.D. Developmental Psychology Program, 2008, Univ. of North Carolina-Greensboro.
Ann Marie Hernández-Dyachenko- B.A., Psychology, 2004. Ph.D. Psychology Program: IUPUI.
Selene Mena-Fernández-B.S., Chemistry, 2002. Ph.D. Soil, Water, and Environment Program: University of Arizona.
Michael Martinez-B.A., Psychology/Philosophy, 2007. Ph.D.Counseling Psychology Program: University of Texas, Austin.
Sarita Molinar-Bertinato-B.A., Sociology, 2002. Ph.D. Sociology Program: Texas A&M University.