Current McNair Scholars
Gillian Bellman
Major: Pyschology
Hometown: Appleton, WI
Graduation Date: May 2023
Mentor: Christopher Groves, PhD, Social Psychology
Gillian is excited to pursue a Ph.D. in clinical psychology, and hopes to pursue a career as a clinical psychologist. She is conducting research on aspects of human aggression. 2023 cohort.
Sam Badije
Sam is a first-generation college student, majoring in pre-medicine. He is interested in pursuing a research career which focuses on global health and neurosurgery. Sam’s passion for research was ignited by his involvement in Regeneron’s COVID-19 monoclonal antibody research in 2021.
Ramzy Baji
After completing his bachelor’s degree, Ramzy hopes to pursue a master’s in entomology. He would like to focus on agriculture or wildlife preservation. 2024 cohort.
Damon Braatz
Damon is a psychology major with a minor in computer and political science. He is interested in the field of Cognitive Psychology
Kyra Cooper
Kyra is pursuing a BBA in accounting with a minor in Spanish. After graduating, she hopes to move into a graduate program. This summer, she hopes to research the cost and benefits of cleaning lake Winnebago. 2024 cohort.
Brittany Dupree
Major: Biology
Hometown: Fond du Lac, WI
Graduation Date: December 2023
Mentor: Laura Ladwig, PhD, Biology
Brittany wishes to pursue a master’s degree in botany. She would like to research drought tolerance in plants and is deciding on a specialty within botany. 2023 cohort.
Diana Koehler
Diana is a first-generation college student, majoring in biology and minoring in forensics. She has strong foundations in various biological disciplines. She is dedicated to pursuing her career in biology. 2024 cohort.
Elijah Plonsky
Major: English
Hometown: Fond du Lac, WI
Graduation Date: May 2025
Mentor: Margaret Hostetler, PhD, English Weeden, Ph.D.
Elijah is an English student with much more to offer than just analyzing the implications of literature; he loves to write, study communication, and has a passion to uproot the objective truth as a prospective Journalist. He wants to inform the public with his writing using his interdisciplinary skills in the English language to create inspirational pieces that have as much of a practical purpose as a fictional story’s insightful one. 2023 cohort.
Faith Lee
Major: Nursing
Hometown: Wausau, WI
Graduation Date: May 2023
Mentor: Jeremiah Bohr, PhD
After graduating with her Bachelor’s Degree, Faith is determined to receive her M.D. degree and one day become a Pediatric Oncologist. She hopes to get the chance to one day be apart of researching for better treatment and eventually a cure one day for cancer. 2023 cohort.
Dominic Laracuente
Major: Biology
Hometown: Menasha, WI
Graduation Date: December 2023
Mentor: Robert Stelzer, PhD, Ecology
Dominic would like to pursue a graduate degree in the field of biology. He hopes to be able to study cell biology and pharmacology. 2023 cohort.
Juan Padilla-Mendez
Major: Biomedical Science Minor: Spanish
Hometown: Milwaukee, WI
Graduation Date: May 2024
Mentor: Maria Graf, PhD, Nursing
After completing his bachelor’s degree, Juan plans to continue to medical school. He plans to become a physician and hopes to specialize in emergency medicine. Reading studies that have shown that Latino communities are the racial and ethnic group least likely to visit the doctor due to less trust in their doctors, lower incomes, less education, and not having health insurance. Witnessing firsthand how Hispanics and other races have developed a lack of trust and fidelity toward healthcare and the absence, yet deep need for minority physicians. Seeing the deep need in the medical community, he sees how as a physician, he can improve on the issues such as access to care, improve patient choice and satisfaction, enhance patient-clinician communication, and build new pillars in providing healthcare to a new band of people for racial and ethnic minorities. 2023 cohort.
Lydia Medina
Major: Social Work
Minor: Music Industry/Anthropology
Hometown: Manitowoc, WI
Graduation Date: May 2024
Mentor: Paul Perales, MSW, LCSW
Lydia Medina is a first-generation college student pursuing her bachelor’s in social work. Helping others, especially those who come from underrepresented and marginalized communities is something Lydia is very passionate about. She sees value in giving back to people and the community. Uplifting and empowering others, Lydia is determined to further her education in graduate school. 2023 cohort.
Fatima Muñiz
Major: Mathematics
Hometown: Neenah, WI
Graduation Date: May 2025
Mentor: Linda Eroh, PhD, Mathematics
Fatima Muniz has always been drawn to teaching and math, thus by combining the two the plan is to become a college professor by obtaining a Ph.D. in math. To go further into her interest in math, she intends to conduct research in the math field to find the various connections math has to offer to other subjects and within the subject itself. 2023 cohort.
Ariana Sotelo
Ariana is a criminal justice major, with a minor in Spanish and Forensic Investigation. Her career goal is to one day become an agent with the Division of Criminal Investigations
Makaylee Stewartart
Major: Psychology Minor: Criminal Justice
Hometown: Menomonee Falls, WI
Graduation Date: May 2023
Mentor: D. Alper Camlibel, PhD, Political Science
She would like to pursue a Ph.D in Psychology. She would love to focus her discipline on Forensic Psychology, and even more specifically Police and Criminal Psychology. She is very passionate about getting into mental health education, awareness and advocacy in communities of color, specifically African Americans. Additionally, criminal justice/prison reform, and lastly, the relationship and history between African Americans or people with mental illnesses, and the criminal justice system. She hopes to be able to tie all her interests together in her career. 2023 cohort.
Pa Nhia Thao
Pa Nhia is a sophomore studying economics and minoring in Japanese. Her goals involve furthering her education by obtaining my master’s and possibly a doctorate degree. She hopes to explore her interests and discover her passions on this journey. 2024 cohort.
Kailey Freund
Major: Biology
Hometown: Oshkosh, WI
Graduation Date: May 2024
Mentor: Shelly Michalski, PhD, Molecular Microbiology and Microbial Pathogenesis
Kailey has loved science class ever since elementary school, and is excited to pursue a career and education that furthers this interest. She is passionate about endangered species, symbiotic relationships, neglected tropical diseases, and all things animal science. After obtaining her bachelor’s degree, Kailey foresees graduate school or a biology-related career in her future. 2023 cohort.
Alex Griep
Alex is a computer science major who is interested in leveraging his knowledge to make a name for himself and his friends while helping others. He has yet to identify his specific career goal but is determined to make the most of his McNair research experience. 2024 cohort.
Piper Novy
Piper Novy desires a position as a researcher and/or professor of petrology, the study of the composition, formation, and texture of rocks. Following their bachelor’s degree at UWO. They hope to pursue a Masters and Ph.D. in igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary petrology. They are currently researching the metamorphic history of rocks in northern Wisconsin. 2024 cohort.
Jazmine Faith Peterson
2024 cohort.
Geryd Steffek
Major: Biology
Hometown: New London, WI
Graduation Date: December 2023
Mentor: Robert Mitchell, PhD, Entomology
After completing my Bachelors at UWO, Geryd plans to pursue a Ph.D. in cognitive ecology, specializing in reptiles. By understanding the anthropogenic effects on the cognition of the reptiles, he hopes to assist in the conservation efforts of endangered reptiles. 2023 cohort
Anastasha Westbrook
Anastasha is currently enlisted in the Army National Guard while pursuing her bachelor’s in biology. She is fascinated by reptiles which she hopes to parlay into a career as a veterinarian. After finishing her bachelor’s degree she hopes to pursue a DVM degree out-of-state while interning at a zoo. 2024 cohort.
Danie Lodin
Major: Biomedical Sciences
Hometown: Beaver Dam, WI
Graduation Date: May 2025
Mentor: Sabrina Mueller-Spitz, PhD, Biology
Danie wants to pursue a graduate degree in a field of biology to become a college professor. She wants to pursue research in biology and decide on a specialty. 2023 cohort.
Daisy Ann Wilson
After receiving her bachelor’s degree in biology and psychology, Daisy plans to attend medical school and hopes to specialize in emergency medicine. 2024 cohort.
Madison Wright
Madison would like to pursue a Masters in Psychology. She would love to focus her discipline on Counseling Psychology and even more specifically African American studies. She is very determined to pursue a career in marriage and family counseling. She is particularly interested in supporting families of color, specifically African Americans. Additionally, she hopes to identify solutions to problems such as toxic relationships. She hopes to be able to tie all her interests together in her career.