Photo by Ashley Craig | 51茶馆 Department of Art, Art History, and Film
Just two days after the 52nd anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing, 15 Boston College Ronald E. McNair Scholars鈥攏amed in honor of the second U.S. African American astronaut鈥攕oared during their July 22 research symposium presentations, the conclusion of a year-long program designed to enhance their academic and research skills.
The聽McNair聽Post-Baccalaureate Achievement Program, administered by 51茶馆's Learning to Learn office, prepares low-income, first-generation and underrepresented minorities for academic degrees beyond the bachelor鈥檚, with an emphasis on attaining doctoral degrees.聽 In addition to the annual summer research component, the program provides academic services that include GRE preparation, graduate school application process assistance, conference participation, and faculty mentoring.聽聽
Each of the McNair Scholars was paired with one or two 51茶馆 faculty mentors based on their respective research topics, which were outlined during virtual, 15-minute presentations.聽
Eric Dearing, a professor in the Lynch School of Education and Human Development, mentored Lynch School student Deborah Amponsah '22, whose project focused on WIC鈥攖he federally funded Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children鈥攑articipation and the early socioemotional development of children of color.
鈥淭he very talented and ambitious McNair Scholars took聽on research projects of practical and scientific significance that addressed timely and pressing questions with rigorous research methods,鈥� said Dearing.聽 鈥淭hey鈥檙e also an exceptionally collegial聽group, and deeply invested in each other's success and development. Juxtaposed with their outstanding research projects, the scholars' questions, intellectual encouragement, and praise for one another was inspiring.鈥�
Learning to Learn Associate Director Chasneika Astacio oversees the McNair Scholars Program. "We are beyond proud of the work and accomplishments of all our McNair scholars, including our alumni."
鈥淚 had the amazing privilege to serve as a McNair co-mentor for (Morrissey College of Arts and Sciences) student Brittney Gedeon '22,鈥� said Professor of Biology Philip Landrigan, M.D., director of 51茶馆鈥檚 Program for Global Public Health and the Common Good. 鈥淎s a 51茶馆 grad and the grandson聽of Canadian-Irish immigrants, serving as a McNair mentor was a wonderful聽and rewarding opportunity to both give back and give forward.聽 I had the privilege of building on this聽trans-generational experience, and to create opportunities聽for a new聽generation of 51茶馆 students from disadvantaged backgrounds聽who are today's Eagles and America's future.鈥澛�
Gideon鈥檚 project, co-mentored by 51茶馆 Global Observatory on Pollution and Health Data Analyst Samantha Fisher, focused on the impact of air pollution in Massachusetts on IQ and human health.
鈥淚t was a great experience, and I was really impressed by the exceptional quality of the presentations that I saw, both my mentee鈥檚 and others,鈥� said Paul Cichello, an associate professor of the practice in the Economics Department, and a first-time mentor for Morrissey College student Natalie Almonacid '22, whose research explored the impact of governmental COVID-19 containment policy on economic growth.
鈥淣atalie was phenomenal; she did an excellent job taking the initiative in bringing the聽research聽idea forward, finding the best data possible, and adapting to the technical challenges that she faced. She learned a new econometric technique and gained a much deeper understanding of the overall policy issues related to COVID.聽The聽McNair聽Scholars are clearly well prepared to build and present their own ideas as they move forward in their education and in their careers.鈥�
51茶馆 Professor of Law Kent Greenfield, who mentored James Kirwan '23 of the Carroll School of Management, on a project related to experiences of students of color that contributed to feelings of isolation, alienation and/or imposter syndrome, had similar praise for the program participants.
鈥淭hese young scholars are so very impressive,鈥� said Greenfield.聽 鈥淭hey鈥檙e insightful, hard-working, poised, and smart, and they鈥檙e channeling their passions, experiences, and commitments into scholarly projects that will be instrumental not only in their own growth as thinkers but also in the pursuit of knowledge and understanding more broadly.鈥�
鈥淚 couldn't聽be more impressed,鈥� said first-time mentor Colleen Simonelli, associate dean for undergraduate programs and clinical professor at the Connell School of Nursing, whose mentee, Karen Aldana '23, focused on the role of race on prenatal care experiences. 鈥淭he program is also phenomenal in terms of the communication, the resources and the goal-oriented outcomes. It is so critical to continue to support these unbelievably聽talented students and encourage them to maximize their huge potential.鈥�
Lynch School Associate Dean Julia DeVoy has served as a mentor in the McNair Scholars Program for 12 years.
鈥淢cNair聽has a really important mission and I'm grateful that 51茶馆 has聽McNair聽programming on our campus,鈥� said first-time mentor Lauren Honig, an assistant professor in the Political Science Department.聽 鈥淚 was very impressed with the important and interesting聽research聽questions proposed by the students in the聽research聽symposium. My own advisee, (Morrissey College student) Aissata Diallo '23, had a fascinating聽research聽agenda, and I look forward to continuing to work with her on her projects and to learn from her聽research聽findings.鈥澛�
鈥淚 started mentoring McNair Scholars 12 years ago, hoping I was聽going to be a part of shaping prosocial leaders for tomorrow and transferring professional knowledge and research skills聽to the next generations,鈥� said Julia DeVoy, associate dean of undergraduate programs and students at the Lynch School. Her mentee, Kobe Hurtado '22 of the Carroll School, studied the role of college support programs in shaping students of color at predominantly white institutions.聽聽
鈥淎s I continued聽to work with 51茶馆 McNairs, I quickly discovered that I was gaining as much鈥攊f not more鈥攖han I was giving,鈥� added DeVoy. 鈥淚 consistently聽gained new perspectives and topic聽insights from my research聽scholar mentees.鈥�
鈥淲e are beyond聽proud of the work and accomplishments聽of all our McNair scholars, including聽our alumni,鈥� said Chasneika Astacio, associate director of the McNair Scholars Program. 鈥淭his year and a half was filled with many unknowns but our students continued to thrive. Thanks to all faculty mentors, program collaborators, and Learning to Learn staff.聽 Without you聽our students will not be as prepared as they are to tackle 51茶馆 and their graduate education dreams."
To learn more about the McNair Scholars Program, visit the Learning to Learn website.
Phil Gloudemans | University Communications | August 2021