18
Shaileen Thompson
‘04 and mentor
Virginia O’Reilly, OP
“Tee” Greer-Travis ‘03 and mentor Mark Schersten
McNair program
transforms
students into
scholars
By Jennifer Hamlin Church
hen Keith Rusie arrived at Siena
Heights, he was the first in his
family to graduate from high
school. In 1999, he became the family’s first
college graduate. Now, he’s the first with an
advanced degree. While working full-time
in management for General Motors in Ohio,
he completed a Master of Business Administration at Kent State University, graduating
August 17.
Another ’99 alumnus, Ali Shakoor, is on
track to earn a Ph.D. at the University of
Michigan where he is one of very few black
students in the School of Natural Resources
and Environment. And Gabe Fonseca ’99 is
working toward his doctorate in psychology
and gerontology at the University of Rhode
Island.
Jennifer Berdayes ‘02 and
mentor Mark DiPietro
Paul Her ‘03
and mentor
Tim Husband
Keith, Ali and Gabe are three of the success
stories of the Ronald E. McNair Post Baccalaureate Achievement Program, now beginning its 10th year at Siena Heights.
Funded by the U.S. Department of Education and named in memory of one of the
astronauts lost aboard the space shuttle Challenger, the program engages undergraduate
students from both SHU and Adrian College
in a variety of scholarly activities—with a
goal of preparing and motivating them to
pursue graduate education.
the skills—to aim for the highest degree of
academic achievement.
The goal is to make it possible for students
who may never have heard of a doctorate to
“embrace the notion of graduate school, go
on to earn their Ph.D.s and ultimately return
to academia as role models,” says Sharon
Weber, OP, Dean of the College of Professional Studies.
“It’s about young scholars aspiring to be
faculty, researchers, even deans!”
Although the Siena Heights McNair program
(one of five in Michigan, 156 nationally) has
yet to produce a college professor among its
alumni, the program so far has graduated 56
men and women whose lives were, without a
doubt, changed by the experience.
Expanding horizons
The McNair program offers students “phenomenal opportunities,” says Professor Carl
Kaster, a faculty mentor in the program.
Beginning with a summer research and
orientation seminar after the sophomore
year, McNair provides participants with an
intensive two-year infusion of academic
challenge and support.
Two-thirds of the students in the program
must be low-income, first-generation college
students; and one-third from groups underrepresented in graduate school.
Each student is paired with a faculty mentor.
The mentor helps direct the student in completing two research projects—a junior year
poster presentation and a major publication
and/or presentation during senior year—and
guides the development of research and
writing skills.
Administered by Siena Heights and directed
since 1998 by Dr. Nellie Branch-Kanno,
the McNair program is all about giving
unlikely candidates the opportunity—and
McNair scholars also benefit from monthly
seminars and special events, frequent meetings with Dr. Kanno, technology support
(students can borrow laptop computers, for