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TRIO McNair Scholars: University of Minnesota Twin Cities

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TRIO McNair Scholars: University of Minnesota Twin Cities

Supporting UMN undergrads on the path to graduate school. The University of Minnesota's TRIO Ronald E.

McNair Postbaccalaureate Achievement program is designed to support UMN undergrads on the path to graduate school.

11/07/2025

Thinking about undergrad research but aren’t really sure if you should actually do it?

This Gopher Grad Workshop will highlight opportunities for undergraduates to gain professional paid experience and learn more about research. Learn about programs at the U of M and Nationwide that are currently accepting applicants in STEM, Social Sciences & other fields. We will have a panel of students who will share their experiences in research.

November 12, 2025
3:30-4:30PM
Zoom registration can be found in our bio

10/23/2025

Applying to grad school soon or just curious about how the process works?

This workshop will illuminate the graduate school selection and application process that can at times feel daunting. Participants will learn about the key components of the application process, learn about resources available to inform as you select a graduate school program.

October 29, 2025
3:30-4:30PM

Link to Register for the Zoom is in our bio!

10/07/2025

🎓 Join Us for the McNair Research Symposium! 🎓

Come celebrate our McNair Scholars as they present their research at the 2025 McNair Research Symposium!

📍 Great Hall, Coffman Memorial Union
🗓️ Tuesday, October 14
🕚 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

See the incredible research our scholars have been working on and learn about their journeys toward graduate school. Friends, family, mentors, and the campus community are all welcome!

💡 Bonus Opportunity: Join us for a Gopher Grad session—“Why Should You Attend Grad School?”—where we’ll talk about the value of graduate education and how to get started by participating in research as an undergrad.

Come get inspired, connect, and celebrate the next generation of researchers and scholars!

09/23/2025

The University of Minnesota Twin Cities (UMTC) TRIO McNair Program is relieved—and grateful—to share that the U.S. Department of Education has issued the Year 4 (2025–26) Grant Award Notification—the official notice that confirms our federal funding for the next year—for the UMTC McNair Program.

This is a significant relief for our team and scholars. Importantly, this marks UMTC’s 35th consecutive year receiving this competitive award, reflecting the program’s success in meeting rigorous performance benchmarks.

Thank you to all who reached out to our federal representatives to share your experiences advocating for McNair. Your calls and emails made a difference.

We are under no illusions about how close all TRIO McNair programs came to being effectively eliminated. The indications we saw—a plan to withhold award notices, contrary to congressional direction—only surfaced because of an inadvertent public disclosure. See Inside Higher Ed (Sept. 19, 2025): https://www.insidehighered.com/news/government/student-aid-policy/2025/09/19/advocates-worry-about-mcnair-scholars-program?utm_source=chatgpt.com

We also recognize the real losses. Our internal data indicates 20 programs (10% of all TRIO McNair programs) were cancelled last week. We will continue to fight for these cancelled programs—sharing materials, amplifying facts, coordinating with colleagues and stakeholders, and supporting them however we can during their appeals process.

While we are funded and ready to go for this upcoming year, but looking ahead to FY26: Funding is not automatic. We’ll stay focused on continuity and share updates with you along the way.

What TRIO McNair is—and isn’t. McNair is not about a handout; it's about a hand up. It is high expectations, mentored research, and evidence-based preparation for advanced graduate study and PhDs. Scholars work with UMN faculty on real research questions; they sharpen methods and writing; and they build competitive graduate applications that help Minnesota meet pressing needs in health, STEM, agriculture, data, and education.

Join us to see the work first-hand:
Tuesday, October 14, 2025 — Coffman Memorial Union (Great Hall)
11am–1pm | 34th Annual TRIO McNair Scholar Symposium
12pm–1pm | Gopher Grad Workshop: Why Pursue Grad School & Engage in Research
1pm–4pm | UMN Graduate School Fair, Register: https://choose.umn.edu/register/GSDOGradFair2025

Why Attend
Everyone: See student research and get inspired.
Students: Explore pathways into research and grad school.
Faculty & partners: Connect with emerging researchers and mentors.
Advisers & staff: Learn ways to highlight opportunities for your students.

09/22/2025

Graduate school fairs can open doors, but only if you know how to walk through them. This workshop will help you feel confident and prepared before you even step into the room. Learn how to research programs ahead of time, ask meaningful questions, and make a strong impression on admissions reps.

Whether you're attending your first fair or looking to improve your approach, this session will help you show up confident, informed, and ready to make meaningful connections.

September 24, 2025
3:30-4:30PM

Link to Register for the Zoom is in our bio!

09/19/2025

Contexts is a quarterly magazine that makes cutting-edge social research accessible to general readers.

09/08/2025

"GMA" examines a federal initiative that has long provided opportunities for disadvantaged students nationwide but now faces potential threats.

09/07/2025

Tomorrow morning, Monday, September 8, Good Morning America will feature an important segment on the Federal TRIO programs!

GMA airs from 7:00–9:00 a.m. in all U.S. time zones (live in ET and on broadcast delay elsewhere), so be sure to tune in in your local market.

TRIO programs, including the McNair Scholars Program, open doors for first-generation and low-income students by providing mentorship, research opportunities, and holistic support. McNair is especially impactful because it prepares students to enter and succeed in graduate school—fueling the pipeline in higher education and creating lasting change.

Join us in amplifying why !

07/25/2025

Thank you to our 2025 Faculty Mentor, Dr. Marija Cvetanovic!

As the UMN TRIO McNair Scholars Program celebrates 34 years of supporting first-generation and TRIO-eligible students in preparing for graduate study, we proudly recognize the faculty mentors who make this transformative work possible.

Dr. Marija Cvetanovic is an Associate Professor in the Department of Neuroscience at the University of Minnesota Medical School.

Her research focuses on understanding how different brain cells and their interactions influence the onset and progression of neurodegenerative diseases, particularly Spinocerebellar Ataxia Type 1 (SCA1) .

Dr. Cvetanovic's lab employs techniques such as mouse genetics, cell and molecular biology, and confocal microscopy to study the involvement of astrocytes and microglia in disease pathogenesis .

As a McNair mentor, she guides scholars in exploring the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying neurodegenerative disorders, fostering skills in experimental design and critical analysis.

Thank you, Dr. Cvetanovic, for your dedication to mentoring future scholars and advancing our understanding of neurodegenerative diseases.

Learn more about the UMN TRIO McNair Scholars Program:
https://mcnair.umn.edu

Learn more about Dr. Cvetanovic’s work:
https://med.umn.edu/bio/marija-cvetanovic

07/24/2025

Introducing 2025 McNair Scholar, Ashley Ynglada!

Ashley Ynglada (she/her) is a rising junior pursuing a major in Speech-Language-Hearing Sciences and a minor in Integrative Neuroscience. She grew up in Florida, but has now lived in Minnesota for a little over three years.

Ashley’s interest in McNair largely stemmed from an opportunity to engage in research within her department, preparing for graduate school and building a community with other students whose backgrounds may be similar to her. As a first-generation student, having the support and ability to connect with others in a similar situation helps ease the stress of facing the challenges and stresses that may come from navigating the world of higher education.

As someone who grew up speaking Spanish as a second language, Ashley’s research interests revolve around Spanish-English bilinguals and their communications. Her research with Dr. Benjamin Munson this summer will focus on social expectations and second-language speech perception.

College of Liberal Arts | University of Minnesota

07/23/2025

Thank you to our 2025 Faculty Mentor, Dr. Zha Blong Xiong!

As the UMN TRIO McNair Scholars Program celebrates 34 years of supporting first-generation and TRIO-eligible students in preparing for graduate study, we proudly recognize the faculty mentors who make this transformative work possible.

Dr. Zha Blong Xiong is an Associate Professor in the Department of Family Social Science at the University of Minnesota.

His research focuses on the social and cultural capital that influences healthy development in children, particularly within immigrant and refugee families.

Dr. Xiong leads the Hmong Children’s Longitudinal Study, examining how social and cultural factors impact children's educational and psychosocial adjustment over time.

As a McNair mentor, he guides scholars in exploring family dynamics and community engagement, fostering skills in research and critical analysis.

Thank you, Dr. Xiong, for your dedication to mentoring future scholars and advancing our understanding of family social science.

Learn more about the UMN TRIO McNair Scholars Program:
https://mcnair.umn.edu

Learn more about Dr. Xiong’s work:
https://fsos.umn.edu/people/faculty/zha-blong-xiong

College of Education and Human Development UMN

07/22/2025

Introducing 2025 McNair Scholar, Bob Yang!

Bob will be a senior majoring in Speech-Language-Hearing Sciences and minoring in Vocal Performance. He was born in a refugee camp in Thailand, raised in Kansas, and has made Minnesota his home where he now lives with his wife and son.

A fun fact is that Bob is a non-traditional student with a 20-year gap in formal education. He joined the McNair program to gain the kind of support that was lacking during his first entry into higher education many years ago.

His research goal is to explore the connections between speech, language, and singing, and how these are shaped by society and culture. He is looking to examine these intersections within the language and dialects of the Hmong diaspora.

College of Liberal Arts | University of Minnesota

Address

56 Education Sciences Building 56 East River Road
Minneapolis, MN
55455

Opening Hours

Monday	8:30am - 4pm
Tuesday	8:30am - 4pm
Wednesday	8:30am - 4pm
Thursday	8:30am - 4pm
Friday	8:30am - 4pm

Website

http://z.umn.edu/mcnair

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