The Rock, The River, The Tree: USD Ronald E. McNair Postbaccalaureate Achievement program currently mentors 25 1st generation, low-income USD students in a variety of majors (Biology, Chemistry, Economics, Anthropology, Marine Science, Engineering, Mathematics, Computer Science, Physics, Philosophy, Sociology, Ethnic Studies, Psychology, Political Science) through their undergraduate years and into graduate school, expecting that they will consider careers in college teaching. It includes a summer research mentoring program at USD, loan of a laptop computer, field trips and travel to graduate school sites. One of 177 McNair programs in the US, in June 2003 USD McNair received its first 5-year award ($1.1 million) from the US Department of Education. In 2007 its second cycle was funded for $900K. Staff: Cynthia Villis, Ph.D., Executive Director; Noel Salunga, M.A., Director; Shelley Barajas-Leyva, Academic Coordinator; Ramiro Frausto, Administrative Assistant.