McNair scholars on a graduate school campus visit. (SUNY Geneseo/Miguel Baique)
SUNY Geneseo’s McNair Scholars Program, a chapter of the nationally supported Ronald E. McNair Post-Baccalaureate Achievement Program, will graduate its first cohort in May. Geneseo’s program launched in Summer 2018 with 12 rising juniors and 14 rising seniors. To date, eight of this year’s graduating seniors and one junior have accepted offers from graduate schools and other scholarly programs.
“Our McNair scholars serve as a wonderful representation of hard work, dedication, and commitment,” said Diedre DeBose, director of Geneseo’s Access Opportunity Programs. “I am excited that I was afforded an opportunity to be a part of their journey, and I look forward to their next chapter. McNair offers opportunities for our students to change the trajectory of their lives and the lives of their families. The team working on the McNair Program is exceptional and went above and beyond to ensure every scholar has the necessary tools to succeed.”
“Our graduating seniors embody what all McNair scholars aim for — to be professionals in their chosen fields,” said Miguel Baique, the program’s coordinator. “I am excited for our graduates to give back to their McNair community by providing guidance and insight on their experiences after leaving SUNY Geneseo. Personal narratives are critical to attaining a graduate education that is both challenging and exciting.”
Students who have accepted offers to date include:
- Malcolm Colson '19, a physics major and philosophy minor from Brooklyn, NY, has been accepted to the University of New Hampshire's Ph.D. program in physics.
- Camila De Vasconcelos '19, a psychology major and Spanish minor from Mount Vernon, NY, has been accepted into Hunter College's master's program in mental health counseling.
- Amy Farnham '19, a biology major from Tonawanda, NY, has accepted an offer at Duke University, where she will pursue a Ph.D. in immunology.
- John Lepore '20, a biochemistry major and College Honors Program minor from Pittsford, NY, was accepted into an Early Assurance Program at the University of Buffalo, School of Dental Medicine.
- Julia Nicosia '19, a biochemistry major from Penfield, NY, has been accepted into the University of Rochester's Ph.D. program in biochemistry and molecular biology.
- Bhumi Patel '19, a double major in psychology and sociology from Elmira, NY, has been accepted in the University of Georgia's Ph.D. program in psychology.
- Lorenzo Rodriguez '19, an anthropology major and sociomedical sciences minor from Jamestown, NY, was selected for a U.S. Student Fulbright Research Grant to conduct research in Bulgaria for a year starting this summer.
- Leslie Tetteh '19, a psychology major from Patterson, NY, has been accepted into the University of Michigan's master's program in social work.
- Dimitri Wing-Paul '19, a psychology major from Brooklyn, NY, has been accepted to Georgia State University's master's program in school psychology.
The remaining graduating McNair students are entertaining a number of options. Some have decided to take a gap year to decide if their next step is to enroll in a master’s or doctoral degree program in fields such as speech-language pathology, linguistics, forensic mental health counseling, pharmaceutical sciences, and public health. Two students are taking the MCAT in June and plan to apply for M.D. or Ph.D. programs in the fall.
Twelve rising juniors and three rising seniors have been accepted to start in the McNair Program this summer. Eleven rising seniors will continue as McNair scholars.