April 16, 2019
McNair Scholars alumna returns to inspire students
CARBONDALE, Ill. – Krystelle Jean-Michel, an alumna of Southern Illinois University Carbondale’s McNair Scholars Program, will present the keynote address next week when the program celebrates graduates and new scholars.
The ceremony is April 25, from 4:30 to 6 p.m. in Morris Library’s John C. Guyon Auditorium. Admission is free and open to the public.
Rhetta Seymour, interim program director, said Jean-Michel’s visit will inspire present and future scholars. A 2008 graduate from SIU with a bachelor’s degree in psychology, Jean-Michael is the fourth alumnus to return to campus.
“We are excited to be in the position to invite former participants back to SIU to share their professional journey with our current students,” Seymour said. “It’s important for students to hear from others who have traveled the road to graduate school and professional life.”
‘Extraordinary undergraduate with big dreams’
Seymour remembers Jean-Michel’s energy and enthusiasm for research when she was in the program. While at SIU, Jean-Michel’s activities included being part of the University Honors Program and the Acculturation Research team. She was a resident assistant and psychology teaching assistant.
After leaving SIU, Jean-Michel earned a master’s degree and doctorate, both in counseling psychology, from Western Michigan University in 2010 and 2014, respectively.
“She was an extraordinary undergraduate with big dreams,” Seymour said.
Jean-Michel is an assistant professor at the U.S. Air Force Academy, where she teaches undergraduate students and mentors students in capstone-related projects. Her experience includes more than three years active duty as a non-commissioned officer in the U.S. Army, with clinical experiences with military personnel, veterans and college students.
Event will celebrate achievements of 31 students
The event will recognize 14 fall 2018 and spring 2019 graduates, along with nine continuing scholars for 2019-2020. Eight new scholars will also be welcomed. Those students, along with their hometowns and majors are:
ILLINOIS
- Carbondale: Amanda Leppert Gomes, anthropology.
- Champaign: Diamond Palmer, radio, television, and digital media.
- Collinsville: Margaret Schlotter, psychology.
- De Soto: Shalane Scott, criminology and criminal justice.
- Huntley: Jacob Janicki, plant biology.
- Makanda: Kaitlin Faust, animal science.
- Charles: Joshua McCray, political science.
TENNESSEE
- Antioch: Jawaun Valentine, history.
SIU has received McNair funding since 2003
Named for the late Ronald E. McNair, a physicist and astronaut who died in the 1986 space shuttle Challenger explosion, the program’s goal is preparing undergraduate students for graduate school through research and scholarly activities.
Since receiving its first McNair grant 2003, SIU has provided opportunities to 200 students. Those students have gone on to earn 93 master’s degrees and 14 doctoral degrees. SIU’s program serves 29 students each year. The program links students to faculty members who provide intensive hands-on, mentored research experiences for eight weeks during the Summer Research Institute.
Students begin to see themselves in a ‘different light’
Through the years Seymour has watched as students in the program accomplish numerous “firsts,” from attending their first conference, a first published article, to traveling outside of Illinois.
“Each time there is a level of excitement and gratitude that is contagious,” she said. “They begin to imagine themselves in a different light. I am honored to continue to be a part of a program that continues to broaden the range of academic and professional opportunity for so many.”
Scholars receive a $2,800 research award and participate in workshops, classes, graduate school visits, conferences, and personal and professional development activities throughout the school year.
The program serves first generation, low- income students regardless of their ethnicity, and students underrepresented in graduate education including women in certain STEM fields. All participants must have a minimum 2.7 GPA, be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, and completed at least 56 hours of coursework.
More information on the program is available by contacting Seymour at 618/453-4585.