McNair Scholars

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Alumni

Over the years, our program has produced a remarkable 271 alumni. Among them, 47 earned doctoral degrees, with an additional 10 having achieved professional doctoral degrees. Furthermore, 131 alumni have gone on to attain master’s degrees, demonstrating the program’s effectiveness in fostering academic and professional excellence.

The overall graduate degree attainment rate among USD TRIO McNair alumni is an impressive 69.37%. This highlights the program’s success in preparing scholars not just to enter, but to thrive in graduate programs across the nation. As the program continues to produce highly skilled and motivated scholars, the McNair legacy grows stronger, paving the way for future generations of leaders and demystifying the route to the Ph.D.

USD TRIO McNair Alumni in Tenure Track Faculty Positions

Denise Ambriz, Ph.D

Assistant Professor

Pitzer College, Department of Sociology

Alaysia Brown, Ph.D

Assistant Professor

University of Illinois, Department of Human Development and Family Studies

Olivia Gonzalez, Ph.D

Assistant Professor

Santa Clara University, Department of Communication

Yessica Green Rosas, Ph.D

Assistant Professor

University of San Diego, Department of Psychological Sciences

Bianca N. Haro, Ph.D

Assistant Professor

Cal Poly Pomona, Department of Sociology

Jane Henderson, Ph.D

Assistant Professor

Dartmouth College, Department of Geography

Denise Meda-Lambru, Ph.D

Assistant Professor

University of North Texas, Department of Philosophy and Religion

Michael W. Murphy, Ph.D

Assistant Professor

Occidental College, Department of Black Studies

Vuvi H. Nguyen, MS, Ph.D

Assistant Professor

University of Texas School of Dentistry at Houston, Department of Diagnostic and Biomedical Sciences

Alyssa Rodriguez, Ph.D

Assistant Professor

Occidental College, Department of Biology

Jose-Benito Rosales Chavez, Ph.D

Assistant Professor

Arizona State University, Department of Geographical Sciences and Urban Planning

Daina Sanchez, Ph.D

Assistant Professor

UC Santa Barbara, Department of Chicana and Chicano Studies

Catherine Wineinger, Ph.D

Associate Professor

Western Washington University, Department of Political Science

2025-26 USD McNair Alumni Mentors

Brent Allman, PhD – Population Biology, Ecology & Evolution

Joshua Barrio, MS – Aerospace Engineering

Alexander Blanco, MS – Environmental Sciences (Current Doctoral Student)

Alaysia Brown, PhD – Human Development and Family Science

Viviana Castro, PhD Student in Neuroscience at Boston University

Turley Duque, PhD Student in Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences at Boston University

Olivia Gonzalez, PhD – Communication

Bianca Haro, PhD – Education

Raechel Hill, PhD – Marine Ecology

Akemi Ito, PhD Student in Neuroscience at Boston University

Denise Meda-Lambru, PhD – Philosophy

Jesse Magana, EdD Student at University of the Pacific

Jessica Noe, PhD – Communication

Kevin Pelaez, PhD – Math and Science Education

Rachyl Pines, PhD – Communication

Camron Proctor, PhD – Mechanical and Aeronautical Engineering

Kyle Proctor, PhD – Water Resources Engineering

Ivonne Ramirez Salas, MA – Communication (Current Doctoral Student)

Veronica Ramirez, PhD Student in Psychological Sciences at UC Irvine

Anahi Salazar, PhD Student in Neurobiology at University of Chicago

Danielle Sather, MA in Performance Studies & MFA Theatre

Melinda Sevilla, MA – Communication

Maria Tavares, Masters Student in Clinical Research at UC San Diego

Tatiana Zamora, PhD student in Developmental and Psychological Sciences at Stanford University

Angela Vanella, M.Arch

Kayleigh Ward, PhD – Sociology and Environment Science & Policy

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