USD TRIO McNair Scholars Program Celebrates Graduating Cohort

This week, the University of San Diego’s TRIO McNair Scholars Program celebrated its latest cohort of students who are graduating from USD, many of whom are taking the leap to graduate school.

The McNair Scholars Program, named after late astronaut Ronald McNair provides resources and mentorship to underrepresented students, helping guide them toward a PhD or research-based graduate degree. The program connects students with USD faculty members who serve as mentors.

It was clear from the event that the students and faculty members form close, lasting bonds. The luncheon was bittersweet, with many of the students leaving USD after years working closely with their mentors and program leaders, but everyone was excited about what comes next.

Nine of the twelve graduates already have been accepted into graduate school programs — USD and Harvard among them. With the help of their mentors and the McNair Scholars Program they accomplished incredible things as undergraduates, and learned what was possible.

And they didn’t have to imagine. At the luncheon celebration, they saw one person who was the living embodiment of all the program sets out to accomplish. The keynote speaker of this year’s event was Yessica Green Rosas, PhD. She joined USD’s faculty this fall as an assistant professor of psychology. Less than a decade ago she was an undergrad at USD, and a member of the McNair Scholars Program.

She was emotional returning to talk to students in the program, and beaming with pride.

“I was hustling constantly, financially, emotionally and mentally. McNair gave me the opportunity to truly focus, not just work hard. To dedicate my time and attention to research, to ideas, to deeper levels of understanding — and that changed everything,” she said, before imparting some words of advice. “You are your ancestors’ wildest dreams. Trust the wisdom that you already hold within you. Trust the intuition that has carried you this far. Remember that you belong.”

USD TRIO McNair Scholars Program By the Numbers:

• 21 cohorts
• 287 alumni
• 51 doctoral degrees
• 10 professional doctoral degrees
• 137 master’s degrees
• 69% graduate degree attainment rate