McNair Scholars Program

The UCLA McNair Research Scholars Program was established in 2003. The program applies Critical Race Theory as it prepares participants to become change agents within academia and beyond; our motto is "Transform the Academy." Each year, the program maintains a cohort of 22 juniors and seniors. UCLA McNair Research Scholars are selected from a variety of disciplines in the Social Sciences and Humanities. The UCLA McNair program particularly attracts young scholars who are committed to social change and who use scholarship and research as a means to achieve social justice; UCLA McNair alumni work in a variety of professional positions that advance a social justice agenda.

Participants complete a comprehensive and rigorous two-year academic program under the supervision of the Program Director, the Assistant Director and at least two Graduate Mentors. During their first year in the program, McNair Scholars participate in the UCLA Student Research Program (SRP) under the guidance of a faculty mentor. Student participants also meet weekly with Graduate Mentors in a seminar format.

In the summer between their first and second years, McNair Scholars participate in the UCLA McNair Summer Research Institute. The six-week program includes workshops and seminars on academic career opportunities, standardized test preparation, writing and research skills, writing a statement of purpose, obtaining letters of recommendation, and completing the graduate school application process. In addition, McNair Scholars begin their independent research projects and present their current findings at the UCLA Summer Symposium and the annual California McNair Symposium at the University of California, Berkeley.

Two- Year Summary of McNair Scholars Program requirements

Critical Race Theory overview

* Low-income guidelines are established by the federal government. Please refer to this chart to determine if you meet this criterion.

** First generation college is defined by the Federal government as a student who has not resided with or received primary support from a parent who has received a BA degree or equivalent.

*** The US Department of Education considers students who are African American, Chicano/Latino, or Native American to be underrepresented in higher education.

This program is not open to students intending to pursue professional degrees such as business, medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine, management, or law.

Mindelyn Buford (UCLA '04) has begun a summer fellowship with Mathematica Policy Research. Ms. Buford is completing her dissertation work in sociology at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, MD.

Congratulations to UCLA McNair alumna, Sophia McFoy, who has been accepted to attend the 16th International Youth Leadership Conference in Prague, July 20th 25th, 2008. Ms. McFoy will enroll this fall in UCLA's joint JD/MA program in Afro-American Studies.

Senior Scholar Lorena Castro has been awarded the selective Charles E. and Sue K. Young Undergraduate Award, 2007-2008. Ms. Castro will graduate this spring with College Honors and Departmental Honors. After travelling to Latin America this summer, she will apply for PhD programs in sociology across the country.

2008
Hulmaro Agustin
James Birks
Meleiza Figueroa
Alma Flores
Elizabeth Gonzalez
Lea Johnson
April Ledbetter
Rosa Manzo
Maria Olivares
Deanna Perez
Patricia Valladolid

2007
Babatunde Akinloye
Matthew Alcala
Laura Alvarez
Melissa Barragan
Lorena Castro
Darlene Edgley
Araceli Gonzalez-Flores
Ani Khachoyan
Freddy Moncada
Jacqueline Munguia
Monique Ribeiro
Elvira Rodriguez
Trashon Shallowhorn

2006
Cynthia Alvarez
Lorna Apper
Alex Garcia
Michelle Kwandham
Sophia McFoy
Rachel Sarabia
D'Artagnan Scorza
Cristina Solis
Sandra Trevino
Jose Luis Ramos Velasquez
Derrick Washington

2005
Aaron Allen
Armando Barragan
Gazi Begum
Beatrina Greene
Dana Heatherton
Kimberly Hudson
Chan Mang
Maria de Lourdes "Lulu" Reyes
Tam Tran
Kanara Ty

2004
Cristina Aparicio
Deycy Avitia
Mindelyn Buford
Kency Cornejo
Brandon Evans
Adrian Felix
Terry Flennaugh
Romeo Guzman
Julie Grigsby
Olivia Guevara
Juan Herrera
Chris Hoklotubbe
Sarah Mamaril
Agatha Marin
Lorena Marquez
Tryston Nguyen
Claudia Sandoval
Miguel Sauceda
David Scatterday
Maria Sklar
Cathy Sylvester
Ali Valenzuela