McNair Scholar Program Alumni
2021 Scholars
Lux Beibhinn
Major: Women’s & Gender Studies Minor: Sociology and LGBTQ+ Certificate
Hometown: Fond du Lac, WI
UW Oshkosh Graduation: May 2022
Research Topic: Queer Teen Suicide Rates
Mentor: Kathleen Corely, Ph.D., Anthropology
Lux is interested in helping queer youth with their mental health in navigating society with their diverse or otherwise deviant sexuality and gender identity. They plan on studying human sexuality, sexual wellness and education, and counseling. Their dream career path is to become a guidance counselor in a high school who teaches the sex education/health course.
Matt Frisch
Major: Physics & Engineering Minor: Mathematics
Hometown: Rio, WI
UW Oshkosh Graduation: May 2025
Research Topic: Origin of Crystalline Structure in Polymers
Mentor: Nenad Stojilovic, Ph.D., Physics & Astronomy
Matt would like to pursue a PhD in his educational journey. After graduation from a professional degree, Matt hopes to develop and design emerging technologies.
Anissa Garcia
Major: Women’s & Gender Studies Minor: Spanish
Hometown: Waukesha, WI
UW Oshkosh Graduation Date: May 2022
Research Topic: Barbie and Bratz Play
Mentor: Caryn Murphy, Ph.D., Radio TV Film
Anissa would like to go to law school and pursue a career as an attorney.
Em Garvey
Major: Physics (Professional Emphasis) Minor: Mathematics
Hometown: Appleton, WI
UW Oshkosh Graduation Date: May 2022
Research Topic: Charmonium Decays at the PANDA Detector
Mentor: Mark Lattery, Ph.D., Physics and Astronomy
Em wishes to pursue research in particle physics, as well as teach at a university level.
Kaycey Henning
Major: Nursing Minor: Psychology
Hometown: Hurley, WI
UW Oshkosh Graduation Date: December 2021
Research Topic: Isolation on Long-Term Care Residents During Covid-19
Mentor: Sarah O’ Connell, MSN, Nursing
Kaycey wants to get her doctorate degree as CRNA and plans to work as a nurse anesthetist in a hospital setting.
Kirandeep Kaur
Major: Biomedical Sciences Minor: Psychology
Hometown: Franklin, WI
UW Oshkosh Graduation Date: 2023
Research Topic: Schistosomiasis
Mentor: John Chan, Ph.D., Chemistry
While Kirandeep wants to explore her options, she is mostly focused on figuring out how to achieve the long-term goal of being a doctor.
Nick Morrissey
Major: Philosophy Minor: Art History Certificate: Ethics
Hometown: Neenah, WI
UW Oshkosh Graduation Date: May 2022
Research Topic: Evaluation of Metamodernism, Comparison to Info Aesthetics
Mentor: Evan Kreider, Ph.D., Philosophy
Nick plans to pursue a masters degree in journalism at UW Madison in 2022. He is looking to document new ideas in arts and culture through a range of media.
Jayda Newman
Major: Psychology Minor: Neuroscience and Philosophy
Hometown: Wausau, WI
UW Oshkosh Graduation Date: May 2022
Research Topic: Philosophy of the Mind
Mentor: Robert Wagoner, Ph.D., Philosophy
Jayda’s overall goal is to become a professor. While she is unsure as to what she wants to teach, she knows that she definitely will end up incorporating some mix of philosophy and psychology into her studies.
Hector Ortega
Major: Political Science and Philosophy
Hometown: Fitchburg, WI
UW Oshkosh Graduation Date: 2023
Research Topic: Tibet-China Relations
Mentor: Michael Baltutis, Ph.D., Religious Studies
Hector is considering a Law Degree and/or a Ph.D. in Political Science to help him get into the FBI or another part of the Judicial Branch of government.
Josh Roberts
Major: Music Performance (Instrumental)
Hometown: Waukesha, WI
UW Oshkosh Graduation Date: May 2022
Research Topic: Curriculum in Multiple Woodwind Performance
Mentor: Drew Whiting, Ph.D., Music
After receiving a graduate degree, Josh hopes to interview for jobs all around the country to be a professor of music in some regard. He hopes to be able to teach saxophone or be a lecturer of various music topics such as theory, aural skill, music business, or musicology.
Mia VanHooreweghe
Major: Kinesiology Minor: Chemistry
Hometown: Appleton, WI
UW Oshkosh Graduation Date: May 2022
Research Topic: Chrolinergic Signaling in Schistosoma Mansoni
Mentor: John Chan, Ph.D., Chemistry
Mia would like to work as a PA and work toward a specialty in Orthopedics. However, she would like to do more research and possibly work in neonatal, emergency, surgery or pediatric rotations before solely being in Orthopedics. Mia would like to help people as much as possible while also providing a much better bed-side manner than most physicians mornally give to their patients.
2020 Scholars
Megan Elger
Major: Communication
Hometown: Hartford, WI
UW Oshkosh Graduation: May 2021
Research Topic: Student Moms and Coping Strategies
Mentor: Dr. Jennifer Considine, Communications
Megan would love to find a job as a professor and continue working on research while mentoring others through their education
Matthew Frisch
Major: Physics & Engineering Minor: Mathematics
Hometown: Rio, WI
UW Oshkosh Graduation: May 2025
Research Topic: XRD of metal-oxide nanofibers
Mentor: Dr. Nenad Stojilovic, Physics & Astronomy
Janaya Godfrey
Major: Criminal Justice Minor:African American studies and Political Science
Hometown: Fond du Lac, WI
UW Oshkosh Graduation Date: May 2021
Research Topic: Implicit Bias
Mentor: Dr. James Krueger, Political Science
Bryce Herlache
Major: Kinesiology (Strength and Conditioning Emphasis)
Hometown: Greenleaf, WI
UW Oshkosh Graduation Date: August 2021
Research Topic: Biomechanics-Performance
Mentor: Dr. Brian Wallace, Kinesiology
Amanda Martinez
Major: Social Work Minor: Social Justice and Spanish
Hometown: New London, WI
UW Oshkosh Graduation Date: May 2021
Research Topic: Effectiveness of Pre-College Programs
Mentor: Dr. Jeremiah Bohr, Sociology
Dorothy Mitchell
Major: Biochemistry
Hometown: Phoenix, IL
UW Oshkosh Graduation Date: Dec 2020
Research Topic: Polymer Recycling Experiment
Mentor: Dr. Brant Kedrowski, Chemistry
Raiden Montero
Major: History and Japanese
Hometown: Gridley, CA
UW Oshkosh Graduation Date: May 2022
Research Topic: Materialism and Post-Materialism on the Emperor
Mentor: Dr. Michael Jasinski, Political Science
Nick Morrissey
Major: Philosophy Minor: Art History Certificate: Ethics
Hometown: Neenah, WI
UW Oshkosh Graduation Date: May 2022
Research Topic: Metamodernism and new digital art
Mentor: Dr. Michael Van Esler, Radio, TV, Film
Jessica Plascencia
Major: Psychology and Spanish Minor: Social Justice
Hometown: Green Bay, WI
UW Oshkosh Graduation Date: May 2021
Research Topic: False memory in bilingual speakers
Mentor: Dr. Justyna Olszewska, Psychology
Brianna Roberts
Major: Kinesiology
Hometown: Beaver Dam, WI
UW Oshkosh Graduation Date: May 2021
Research Topic: Biomechanics-Concussions
Mentor: Dr. Brian Wallace, Kinesiology
Karely Rodriguez
Major: Psychology Minor: Social Justice, Criminal Justice, and Spanish
Hometown: Rice Lake, WI
UW Oshkosh Graduation Date: May 2021
Research Topic: Encoding and Test Interaction in the DRM Paradigm
Mentor: Dr. Justyna Olszewska, Psychology
Sydney Schmidt
Major: Psychology Minor: Neuroscience
Hometown: Kaukauna, WI
UW Oshkosh Graduation Date: Dec 2020
Research Topic: Autism and Aging
Mentor: Dr. Aggie Hanni, Psychology/Administration
Stacey Sparks
Major: English/Secondary Education
Hometown: Neenah, WI
UW Oshkosh Graduation Date: May 2022
Research Topic: Jane Austin/States and Persuasion
Mentor: Dr. Pascale Manning, English
Mylo Wilkins
Major: Biochemistry Minor: Microbiology
Hometown: Milwaukee, WI
UW Oshkosh Graduation Date: Dec 2020
Research Topic: Bacteriology
Mentor: Dr. Eric Matson, Biology
2019 Scholars
Angel Camacho
Major: Accounting, Spanish
Hometown: Kenosha, WI
UW Oshkosh Graduation Date: May 2021
Research: Human Capital Development: Testing the Cornell Notetaking Method in Econ Classes
Mentor: Dr. Benjamin Artz, Economics
Angel is strongly interested in pursuing graduate school to become an accounting professor or an accountant.
Riley Drechsler
Major: Anthropology Minor: Spanish
Hometown: Wisconsin Rapids, WI
UW Oshkosh Graduation: May 2021
Research Topic: Early Iron Age Mortuary Practice
Mentor: Dr. Adrienne Frie, Anthropology
Riley’s goal is to pursue graduate school in archaeology, possibly biological anthropology. She sees herself working in the field as an archaeologist, in a museum, or as a forensic anthropologist.
Megan Elger
Major: Communication
Hometown: Hartford, WI
UW Oshkosh Graduation: May 2021
Research Topic: Family Estrangement
Mentor: Dr. Kristi Wilkum, Communications
Megan would love to find a job as a professor and continue working on research while mentoring others through their education
Joy Evans
Major: Environmental Health
Hometown: Milwaukee, WI
UW Oshkosh Graduation Date: May 2020
Research Topic: Food Insecurity
Mentor: Juliana Kahrs, Health Promotion
Joy inspires to pursue a career in minority health, specifically in public health. Her passion comes from wanting to help the Black community have better access to healthcare to improve the general health of African Americans.
Elias Flor Martinez
Major: Biology (Healthcare Emphasis)
Hometown: Menasha, WI
UW Oshkosh Graduation Date: May 2021
Research Topic: Plant Cell Biology – Modifying Genes to Avoid Food Shortages
Mentor: Dr. Jessica Lucas, Biology
Elias wants to pursue a career in either emergency medicine or family medicine.
Malykee Hall
Major: Biology Minor: Chemistry
Hometown: Oshkosh, WI
UW Oshkosh Graduation Date: Dec 2020
Research Topic: Species Diversity Deinococcus
Mentor: Dr. Sabrina Mueller-Spitz, Biology
Malykee is very passionate about helping others. His goal after getting his graduate degree is to work as a physician assistant, and be able to travel to different countries to do clinical work in places that do not have proper medical attention
Rachel McKay
Major: Biology Minor: Chemistry
Hometown: Jackson, WI
UW Oshkosh Graduation Date: May 2020
Research Topic: The family of odorant binding proteins in the western corn rootworm, Diabrotica virgifera
Mentor: Dr. Rob Mitchell, Biology
Rachel hopes to get into the medical field working as a Physician Assistant in a hospital or within a primary care facility.
Alicia Obermeier
Major: Human Services Leadership Minor: Women & Gender Studies
Hometown: Appleton, WI
UW Oshkosh Graduation Date: May 2020
Research Topic: Queer Sexual Citizenship in the US Court of Appeals
Mentor: Dr. Jerry Thomas, Political Science
Alicia is very passionate for social justice and wants to pursue a career in the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and change policies that enable discrimination in the US.
Daniel Obi
Major: Biology (Healthcare Emphasis)
Hometown: Madison, WI
UW Oshkosh Graduation Date: May 2022
Research Topic: Mitosis-Apoptosis
Mentor: Dr. James Paulson, Chemistry
Daniel’s goal is to obtain a graduate degree to become a Physician Assistant. He has many interests and therefore, contemplating on what type of specialty to do.
Brenna Prieto
Major: Psychology Minor: Spanish
Hometown: Sheboygan, WI
UW Oshkosh Graduation Date: Dec 2019
Research Topic: False Memories for Familiar & Unfamiliar Logos
Mentor: Dr. Justyna Olszewska, Psychology
After Brenna completes a master’s degree, she is very interested in doing research or data analysis.
Stacey Sparks
Major: English/Secondary Education
Hometown: Neenah, WI
UW Oshkosh Graduation Date: May 2022
Research Topic: Community Socioeconomic Indicators and Intra-Head Start Student Performance
Mentor: Dr. Yoko Mogi Hein, Teaching and Learning
Stacey is passionate about English education and aspires to become a professor at the collegiate level.
Mia Wilson
Major: Political Science/Gender Studies Minor: Social Justice
Hometown: Milwaukee, WI
UW Oshkosh Graduation Date: May 2020
Research Topic: How Predominantly White Institutions Create a More Inclusive Environment for Students of Color
Mentor: Dr. Heidi Nicholls, Anthropology
Mia plans to pursue a degree in higher education in Higher Education Administration and Student Affairs upon graduation.
Aubrey Wzientek
Major: Kinesiology (Exercise & Fitness)
Hometown: Marengo, IL
UW Oshkosh Graduation Date: May 2020
Research Topic: Upper Extremity Kinematics & Lower Extremity
Mentor: Dr. Brian Wallace, Kinesiology
Aubrey is strongly interested in biomechanics and is determined to get a PhD in the field.
Doua Xiong
Major: Biology
Hometown: Wausau, WI
UW Oshkosh Graduation Date: May 2021
Research Topic: Temporalis Muscles in Whales
Mentor: Dr. Morgan Churchill, Biology
Doua is very interested in the healthcare field and wants to pursue a Master’s in Anesthesia to become a Anesthesia Assistant.