First Generation Award Scholarship, Dean’s List (4x), REU internship at Sanford Research in Cancer Biology
The McNair Scholars Program is home to students who embody resilience, curiosity, and a commitment to advanced education. This page introduces each scholar and celebrates their unique stories, research, and goals.
Sandra Bustamante
Social Work
L.S. Wood Scholarship Fund, Drs. Jackie and Hal Watson Scholarship, Massa Social Work Scholarship, Ambassador of the Year (Office of Admission 2023-2024), Legendary Ambassador Award (2025)
Child welfare – risk & protective factors
Jaellyn Erickson
Environmental Engineering
National Residence Hall Honorary (2024–Present), Order of Omega Honor Society (2023–Present), Green and Gold Scholarship (2022–2026), George & Lois Henry Scholarship (2025–2026), Leonard P. Zick Scholarship (2025–2026), Richard P. Arber Civil Engineering Scholarship (2023–2024), Geenen Legacy Scholarship (2023–2024), Deans Advisory Board Engineering Scholarship (2022–2023), Regional Leadership Conference School of the Year – Colorado State University (2025), Regional Leadership Conference Top 3 Educational Sessions 1st Place (2025), Regional Leadership Conference Program of the Year – Rams on Ice (2024), Regional Leadership Conference Top 3 Educational Sessions 3rd Place (2024), Society of Women Engineers National Member (2024–Present), Alpha Sigma Kappa – Women in Technical Studies Alumna Association (2025–Present)
Ecological and environmental engineering, using nature-based solutions to improve water quality, enhance climate resilience, and restore ecosystems. I am especially interested in applied, interdisciplinary work that integrates fieldwork, data analysis, and community-informed design to develop scalable and sustainable environmental solutions.
Megan Hoover
Ecosystem Science and Sustainability
McNair Scholar, undergraduate research affiliate at the Landscape Modeling lab (CSU), Deans List
Interested in wetland ecosystems, water quality, and using data science to inform decision making about land use change and restoration.
April Gonzalez Lopez
Neuroscience
McNair Scholar, Undergraduate researcher through the MURALS program at Colorado State University, Undergraduate researcher at CU Anschutz, Research presenter at MURALS, Invited workshop presenter at the New American Youth Leadership Summit
My research interests include Alzheimer’s disease, mechanisms underlying stroke treatment and recovery, cancer, and neuroplasticity related to stroke, brain injury, and aging.
Khu Hser
Human Development & Family Studies
Dean’s List (Spring 2025), Bright Futures Award recipient, Green and Gold Scholarship
My research interest is in family dynamics specifically within low-income or minoritized communities and how that affects the mental health of and their children.
Kimy Hernandez-Delacruz
Biological Science – Botany
I am interested in how epigenetic regulation drives cancer progression and therapeutic resistance. I aim to apply molecular and genomic approaches to identify mechanisms that can be targeted to improve treatment outcomes.
Jo Carroll
Jennifer Litzau
Sandrín Calixto Molina
Ethnic Studies
Best Overall Oral Presentation at CURC 2024, 2022 CSU Dean’s List, CSU Green & Gold Performing Arts Grant (2022–present), CSU Elizabeth Woodworth Memorial Scholarship (2023), Page Jones Richards Palmquist Families Scholarship (2023), Paul Hudson Memorial Scholarship (2023), CSU Osher Re-Entry Scholarship (2023–present), Karen & Scot Barker Scholarship (2024–present), CSU McNair Scholars Program (2023–2025), Outstanding Advocate for Inclusivity (2024), Ethnic Studies Undergraduate Scholarship (2024–present), Fine Art Exhibition at the Directions Gallery at CSU (Fall 2023)
I research historical eras and events through critical analysis, focusing on issues of race, gender, sexuality, class, and related topics. I typically engage in qualitative research.
Dani Rosario
Fish, Wildlife, & Conservation Biology
McNair Scholar, Linda S. Hamilton “Conserving Colorado” Award, Undergraduate Poster Presentation Award at FRSES (2024)
My research interests include examining how bat behavior andpopulations are impacted by anthropogenic factors, particularlyland-use conversion.
Samrawit Shewanargaw