Current McNair Scholars (2011)

Ciera Nicholson

Ciera Nicholson is a rising senior from Martinsburg, West Virginia. She is currently pursuing her Bachelor’s degree in Sport & Exercise Psychology and is expected to graduate in May 2012. At WVU, Ciera is involved in intramural sports, Sport & Exercise Psychology club, serves as the activities officer for Silver Wings Air Force and civilian community service club, and also serves as a student peer advisor for Sport & Exercise Psychology students. Following graduation, she plans to attain her Ph.D. in the field of Sport and Exercise Psychology, with hopes of developing more methods for troops to receive mental training prior to deployments. In her free time she enjoys camping, fishing, and playing basketball.

Hashmiru Sesay

Hashmiru Sesay comes from Stafford, VA. He is a junior majoring in Nursing and minoring in Biology, and is currently a cadet in the Army ROTC Mountaineer Battalion. He is also a member of the West Virginia University Rugby team and a member of Phi Kappa Psi Fraternity. For his McNair research project, he will be researching the availability of healthy foods in Monongalia County. After earning his bachelor’s degree, he would like to pursue his Ph.D. in Public Health upon completing his service in the United States Army.

Jocelyn Ellis

Jocelyn Ellis portrait

Jocelyn Ellis is from Charleston, West Virginia. She is a rising senior, and her majors are Public Relations (PR) and Chinese Studies. Jocelyn is a member of Salvation Praise Ministry, Debate Team, and National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ). Currently she is a Resident Assistant (RA) at Bennett Tower and is in the Phi Sigma Theta National Honor Society. For her McNair research project, she will be researching how Chinese trade is affecting the American economy. After earning an undergraduate degree in PR and Chinese Studies, she plans to attend graduate school for Public Administration and Chinese. Jocelyn enjoys writing, laughing, watching movies, and being around friends.

Joy Cox

Joy Cox, a rising senior, is from Philadelphia, PA. She is majoring in Communication Studies with a minor in Child Development and Family Studies. Before attending WVU, Joy received her Associate’s degree in culinary arts, and was ordained as a licensed minister in 2009. Her current research project is being conducted on the relationship satisfaction of military couples while a partner is deployed. Upon completion of her undergraduate program, Joy hopes to continue her education and receive a Ph.D. in Counseling. She also desires to create workshops and programs for those who are underprivileged. Joy’s interests include singing, cooking, teaching and volunteering.

Juan Franco Coronado

Juan Franco Coronado is from Pasadena, California. He is a senior in Horticulture. Before attending West Virginia University, he went to Glendale Community College in Glendale, CA. While attending school, he owned and operated a landscape construction business. At WVU, he has been a part of the WVU Horticulture Club where he served as the treasurer. He has also been closely involved with the Professional Landcare Network (PLANET), serving as a student ambassador and a student career day’s participant. He enjoys playing soccer and basketball in his free time. Upon graduation, he plans to attain a Ph.D. in Plant Science. For his McNair project, he will be working with Dr. Vagner Benedito on developing a gene promoter, which is able to sense gibberellic acid response and transcribe a visible marker (GUS).

Kristen Meadows

Kristen Meadows, a senior from Hinton, WV, is an advertising major with minors in business administration and communications. Upon graduation from WVU, she intends to pursue a Ph.D. in Strategic Communications, so that she can ultimately give back to her community and society. Her research interests are non-profit organizations, crisis management and communications. For her McNair project, she will be researching college students’ surveillance of media during natural disasters with her mentor, Dr. Jenson Moore-Copple in the department of Journalism. She enjoys working with non-profit organizations, reading interesting news, spending time with family and friends and exercising.

Matthew Bologna

Matthew Bologna is a 19 year-old rising junior in the Eberly College of Arts and Sciences, majoring in biology. He loves studying all areas of biology and chemistry. Matt is a member of The National Society of Collegiate Scholars and was recently named a most outstanding organic chemistry student for the 2010-2011 academic year. Under the guidance of his faculty mentor, Dr. X. Michael Shi, Matt’s McNair research project in organic chemistry will focus on the synthesis of different triazoles as ligands for novel photocatalysts. The native West Virginian, raised in Dunbar, plans to pursue his Ph.D. in molecular biology or immunology. After completion of his doctoral degree, Matt plans to work in-state on conducting research on various drugs and finding cures to terminal illnesses, such as cancer and AIDS. He also hopes to teach at the university level one day. In his free time, Matt enjoys basketball, fishing, video games, and intellectual pondering.

Michael Ibekwe

Michael Ibekwe 3

Michael Ibekwe is a rising senior in the West Virginia University (WVU) School of Medicine majoring in Exercise Physiology and minoring in Business. A native of Austell, Georgia, Michael is the president of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. Pi Mu Chapter, a member of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars, Golden Key International Honour Society, and the National Society of Leadership and Success. He has also excelled in his academics by making both the Dean’s and President’s List. Michael has a spurted role and interest in serving his community. He is currently the Assistant Project Coordinator for the WVU Center of Black Culture and Research. Upon graduation, he plans to pursue his Ph.D. and M.D. in Epidemiology and hopes to open his own health clinic one day. He enjoys working with kids, physical fitness, traveling, watching movies, and music.

Mikheal King

Mikhael King

Mikhael King is a rising senior in the Eberly College of Arts and Sciences majoring in International Studies and Spanish. He is from Ranson, West Virginia and is a member of the Honors College. Mikhael has studied abroad in Valencia, Spain and plans to study abroad again in Cochabamba, Bolivia for the Fall 2011 semester. As a McNair Scholar, Mikhael is going to research education policy in Bolivia. He would like to continue his studies by pursuing a Ph.D. in either Political Science or International Affairs. In his free time, Mikhael likes to listen to music, watch movies, and spend time with friends.

Nicole Fuller

Originally from Cleveland, Ohio, Nicole Fuller is now a resident of Morgantown, West Virginia and a rising senior. As a non-traditional student, Nicole is pursuing her bachelor’s in both Anthropology and History, with the intent of acquiring a Ph.D. in History. Her ultimate aspiration is to work with UNESCO in the determination and preservation of World Heritage cites or to work with the Smithsonian. As a McNair Scholar, she is studying 14th century sumptuary laws in Florence, Italy as a means of defining social stratification and gender inequality. In her free time, Nicole enjoys cooking, gardening, and belly dancing.

Olutoba Adewusi

Olutoba Adewusi is from Laurel, Maryland, and also a rising junior majoring in Psychology and minoring in Japanese. He is currently a member of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars (NSCS). He intends to pursue a doctorate degree in Clinical Psychology in order to become a therapist. He enjoys listening to music, writing poetry, and watching and translating Japanese programs in his spare time.

Shawn Jefferies

Shawn Jeffries

Shawn Jeffries, a Forest Resources Management major, is a senior from Cumberland, Maryland. He intends to pursue a Ph.D. in Natural Resource Management focusing on forest ecology. Before transferring to West Virginia University, Shawn attended Allegany College of Maryland where he graduated summa cum laude and received an Associate of Applied Science degree in Forest Technology. He is a member of the American Humanist Association, Society of American Foresters, and Xi Sigma Pi. For his McNair project, he will be researching the ectomycorrhizal infection rates between red oak seedlings under the direction of his mentor, Dr. John Brooks. In his spare time, Shawn enjoys traveling, hiking, camping, and kayaking.

Shawnna Mullenax

Shawnna Mullenax is a rising senior from Huttonsville, WV. She plans to graduate in May 2012 from the Eberly College of Arts and Sciences with a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science and a minor in Spanish Language. The months she spent abroad in Buenos Aires, Argentina and Cochabamba, Bolivia have stimulated her interest in Latin American politics. Her McNair research project will focus on women’s rights under Latin America’s leftist governments. After graduation from WVU, she plans to pursue a Ph.D. in Political Science with the goal of one day becoming a professor of Comparative Politics. Her favorite activity is traveling and one of her life goals is to travel the world.

Tandra Sias

Tandra Sias is a senior at West Virginia University from Weston, WV. She plans to graduate in May 2012 with a degree in Criminology and Psychology. She is a member of The National Society of Collegiate Scholars, TRIO Student Support Services and Alpha Lambda Delta. Her goal is to pursue her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology with a focus on adolescent behavioral problems. Tandra enjoys exercising, listening to music, and spending time with her family & friends.