McNair Scholars
Mailing Address
McNair Scholars Program
2121 Euclid Ave., SR155
Cleveland, Ohio 44115
Campus Address
Science Research, Room 155
Contact Us
Phone: 216.802.3360
Fax: 216.802.3368
mcnairprogram@csuohio.edu
2025 Scholars
Electrical Engineering
Michael Angelo De La Cruz Ortiz
Discipline Faculty Mentor: Dr. Ulrich Zurcher (Physics)
Non-Discipline Faculty Mentor: Dr. Adam Sonstegard (English Literature)
Summer Research Project (2025): "An Iterative Quadratic Solution to the True Anomaly for Keplerian Orbits"
Summer Research Project (2024): "Thought Recognition with Machine Learning and a non-surgical BCI"
Former Discipline Faculty Mentor: Dr. Eric Schearer (Mechanical Engineering)
Psychology
Dalton Hundt
Discipline Faculty Mentor: Dr. Elizabeth Goncy (Psychology)
Non-Discipline Faculty Mentor: Dr. Linda M. Quinn (Mathematics and Statistics)
Summer Research Project (2024): "Examining the Relationship Between Intimate Partner Violence, Trauma, Attachment, and Help-Seeking Self-Efficacy"
Psychology
Elisha (Kat) Sledge
Discipline Faculty Mentor: Dr. Shereen C. Naser (Psychology)
Non-Discipline Faculty Mentor: Dr. Brittany Wishart (Psychology)
Summer Research Project (2025): "Religious Practices and Faith Alongside Queer Identities: Understanding Queer Muslims"
Summer Research Project (2024): "Assessment of the Intersection of Muslim and Queer Identities"
Electrical Engineering
David Stack
Discipline Faculty Mentor: Dr. Mehdi Rahmati (Electrical Engineering and Computer Science)
Non-Discipline Faculty Mentor: Dr. Sara Froelich (Mathematics and Statistics)
Summer Research Project: "Underwater Adaptive Relay Optical Wireless Networking"
Computer Science
Lewis Davis
Discipline Faculty Mentor: Dr. Sunnie Chung (Computer Science)
Non-Discipline Faculty Mentor:
Summer Research Project (2025): "Enhancing Intellectual Property Recommendation Systems Through Preprocessing Replication and Updating Data"
Summer Research Project (2024): "Generating a Dataset for Deep Reinforcement Learning"
Former Discipline Faculty Mentor: Dr. Sathish Kumar (Electrical Engineering and Computer Science)
Anthropology
Dominique Ryder
Discipline Faculty Mentor: Dr. Linda Goodall-Martin (Theological and Pastoral Studies, Ursuline College)
Non-Discipline Faculty Mentor: Dr. Jeff Karem (English)
Summer Research Project (2025): "Extra-Liminal Adaptation: Resilience in Hostile Sociopolitical and Digital Environments"
Summer Research Project (2024): "The Examination of the Forbidden Fruit"

Mechanical Engineering
Justin Gliha
Discipline Faculty Mentor: Dr. Hanz Richter (Mechanical Engineering)
Non-Discipline Faculty Mentor: Dr. Jessica Bickel (Physics)
Summer Research Project (2024): "Hybrid Electric Aircraft Propulsion Motor Design"

Social Work
Evelyn Buchanan
Discipline Faculty Mentor: Maria Rowlett (Psychology)
Non-Discipline Faculty Mentor: Dr. Beth Nagy (Urban Studies)
Summer Research Project (2025): "Parenting and the Self: Examining the Impact on Self-Esteem, Guilt, and Shame"

Psychology, Criminology
Nyana Campbell
Discipline Faculty Mentor: Dr. Michael Horvath (Psychology)
Non-Discipline Faculty Mentor:
Summer Research Project (2025): "Interviewing AI: Exploring Large Language Model Decision-Making"

Biology
Layla Seder
Discipline Faculty Mentor: Dr. Michael Hammonds (Human Performance)
Non-Discipline Faculty Mentor: Dr. Merlin Gnanaprakasam (Biological, Geological, and Environmental Sciences)
Summer Research Project (2025): "Percent-Change Normalization of IL-6 Following Brainstem Stimulation in Mice"

Social Work
Merel Walker
Discipline Faculty Mentor: Dr. Eunice Lee (Social Work)
Non-Discipline Faculty Mentor:
Summer Research Project (2025): "Racial Disparities in Rape Reporting in Cleveland: A Quantitative Analysis of Black Women's Reporting Rates"

Latifa Zakaria
Discipline Faculty Mentor: Dr. Olivia Pethtel (Psychology)
Non-Discipline Faculty Mentor:

Daysean Scott
Discipline Faculty Mentor: Dr. Thomas Bynum (Africana Studies)
Non-Discipline Faculty Mentor:
Summer Research Project (2025): "Black Power Movement and Black Nationalism Impact on the Black Community in Cleveland, Ohio"

Nikylah Smith
Discipline Faculty Mentor: Dr. Wendy Bilgen (Social Work)
Non-Discipline Faculty Mentor: Prof. Denise Sadler (Social Work)
Summer Research Project (2025): "Homeless in Cuyahoga County: A Case Study of One Mother Accomplishing Family Preservation"

Rebecca (Maria) Shields
Discipline Faculty Mentor: Dr. Aaron Severson (Biology)
Non-Discipline Faculty Mentor:

Jashona Broome
Discipline Faculty Mentor: Dr. Blair Baker (Psychology)
Non-Discipline Faculty Mentor: Dr. Gwen Hullman (Public Affairs and Education)
Summer Research Project (2025): "Racial Discrimination in the School System: A Policy Review of Northeast Ohio Schools"

Aaliyah Byrd
Discipline Faculty Mentor: Dr. Anne Su (Health Sciences)
Non-Discipline Faculty Mentor: Dr. Vania De Paoli (Chemistry)
Summer Research Project (2025): "Segregated in Life, Divided in Death: Mortality and Racial Trauma in Cleveland Cemeteries"

Nichole Gamble
Discipline Faculty Mentor: Dr. Julia Phillips (Psychology)
Non-Discipline Faculty Mentor:
Summer Research Project (2025): "Feelings of Inclusivity and Sense of Belonging for Students with Physical Disabilities on College Campuses"

Claude Brown II
Discipline Faculty Mentor: Dr. Blair Baker (Psychology)
Non-Discipline Faculty Mentor:

Keroles Beshay
Discipline Faculty Mentor: Dr. Zhiqiang Gao (Computer Engineering)
Pursuing a Bachelor of Computer Engineering and a B.S. in Computer Science
Non-Discipline Faculty Mentor:
Summer Research Project (2025): "From Ladder Logic PID to Generic PID: Developing a PLC-Based Control Testbed"

Jakobe Cook
Discipline Faculty Mentor: Dr. Carol Olszewski (Music Therapy)
Non-Discipline Faculty Mentor:

Natasha Lopez
Discipline Faculty Mentor: Dr. Kimberly Fuller (Social Work)
Non-Discipline Faculty Mentor: Dr. Olivia Pethtel (Psychology)
Summer Research Project (2025): "The Sociological Effects of Witnessing Domestic Violence on Romantic Relationship Development Among Young Hispanic Adults Age 18-26"
Joshua Loomis
Discipline Faculty Mentor: Dr. Ruchi Bhattacharya (Biology, Geology, Environment)
Non-Discipline Faculty Mentor: Dr. Julie Wolin (Biology, Geology, Environment)
Summer Research Project (2025): "Assessment of Shifting Precipitation Regimes in Western Lake Erie Basin"
Mailing Address
McNair Scholars Program
2121 Euclid Ave., SR155
Cleveland, Ohio 44115
Campus Address
Science Research, Room 155
Contact Us
Phone: 216.802.3360
Fax: 216.802.3368
mcnairprogram@csuohio.edu