Fourteen NDSU students representing 12 disciplines have been selected for the 2004-05 McNair Scholars Program. They are Jaden Ghylin, Benjamin Torrens and Thinh Phan, who are majoring in electrical engineering; Adam Jones, physics; Cheri Morstad, mathematics; Brian Ha Nguyen, computer science and pharmacy; Callie Nordahl, business administration; Darla Powell, chemistry; Brent Roller, pharmaceutical science; Atiana Stark, psychology; Raymond Traut, pharmaceutical science; Lori Winkenwader, mechanical engineering; Michael Wright, geosciences; and Toby Yak, microbiological science.
Each scholar is supported by a faculty and library mentor. Roger Green, assistant professor of electrical and computer sciences, is the faculty mentor Ghylin; Jake Glower, associate professor of electrical and computer sciences, is the faculty mentor for Torrens and Phan; Orven Swenson, associate professor of physics, for Jones; Jorge A. Calvo, assistant professor of mathematics, for Morstad; Stefan Balaz, professor of pharmaceutical science, for Nguyen; Elizabeth Birmingham, assistant professor of English, for Nordahl; Davis Hamilton, assistant professor of chemistry, for Powell; Ann Hinderliter, assistant professor of pharmaceutical science, for Roller; Linda Langley, assistant professor of psychology, for Stark; Jagdish Singh, professor and chair of pharmaceutical science, for Traut; Weihong (Katie) Zhong, associate professor of mechanical engineering, for Winkenwader; Allan Ashworth, professor of geology, for Wright; and Mark Sheridan, professor of microbiological science, for Yak.
Library mentors include Kathie Richardson, Alan Stevens, Jeremy Brown, Fran Fisher, Kathy Enger and Mark England. Stevens is the library mentor for Roller, Traut and Yak. Brown is the library mentor for Jones, Morstad, Nguyen, Powell and Wright. Enger is the library mentor for Nordahl and Stark; and England is the library mentor for Ghylin, Phan, Torrens and Winkenwader.
Students chosen for the McNair Scholars program are college juniors and seniors who show interest in research and have the aptitude to pursue a doctorate. In addition to a monthly research stipend and an opportunity to attend conferences related to their studies, the program provides educational and support services to help prepare the scholars for post-graduate work. It is anticipated that the scholars will pursue careers in college teaching and research upon completion of their doctorates.
The program is named after Ronald E. McNair, a member of the Challenger space shuttle crew. The NDSU McNair Scholars Program, one of the original 14 programs in the nation, has been on campus since 1989. The program is funded by the U.S. Department of Education and is administered by the Office of TRIO Programs in the Division of Student Affairs.
For additional information, contact Kay Modin, program director, at 1-8029.