Melinda Blackman, associate professor of psychology, right, is a mentor to McNair Scholar Michele Gomez.

McNair Scholar, Michele Gomez

January 3, 2008

McNair Scholar Michele Gomez joined the program last year and is in the process of finalizing her
research paper. Here is what she says about the program:

Project: “My research is titled, ‘Skin Color Perception and the Effects on Self-Esteem of Undergraduate Latino Students.’ I chose this project because I wanted to find out how undergraduate students’ self-esteem, specifically in Southern California, was affected, if at all, by their skin color perception.”

Goal: “I wanted to prove that skin color no longer plays a role in determining a student’s self-esteem, and my hypothesis proved to be correct. The research part (data collection) of my project is complete. I’m now working on writing the findings and hope to have this done soon.”

Faculty mentor: “I worked with Dr. Melinda Blackman, associate professor of psychology, and it has been such a great learning experience. This is my first research project and my first time working with a faculty mentor. She is so approachable, friendly, knowledgeable, flexible and helpful — all the characteristics one could want in a mentor. ”

McNair experiences: “The McNair Program has been crucial in my academic career. It has allowed me to attend symposiums, see research being presented, tour universities and find out what’s offered. It has provided valuable workshops, including programs on how to contact a potential faculty mentor, how to apply for graduate school, how to write a statement of purpose, how to obtain strong letters of recommendation, how to fund graduate education, how to manage time and so much more. Our director, Gerald Bryant, believes in this program so much and his passion for our success is what makes our McNair Program standout. He sets high standards and pushes us to be better than the best.”

Why undergraduate research is a benefit: “The research project itself is a tool. To any student who is serious about pursuing higher education, I would say, ‘Never give up.’ The road to graduate school is full of hurdles and there are many opportunities to take the easy way out and simply quit. If I have learned one thing about being a McNair Scholar, it’s what Gerald Bryant tells us: ‘If you want the things you’ve never had before, you must do the things you’ve never done before.’”