McNair Scholars Program

As we move through this week and the second week of the spring semester, many members of our University and broader community continue to experience heightened anxiety and uncertainty in response to recent events that have unsettled students, staff, and families across the Twin Cities. Amid continued safety concerns, the stability of our institutions, and the well-being of those we serve and work alongside, we must pause, acknowledge these realities, and reaffirm our shared commitment to...

Dear University of Minnesota McNair Alumni and Community Partners-- January 13, 2026 Introducing the University of Minnesota TRIO McNair Scholars Communication Hub The most enduring legacy of the University of Minnesota (UMN) TRIO McNair Scholars Program is not its longevity, funding history, success, or institutional continuity—it is the remarkable McNair Scholars themselves. Over the past 35 years, UMN McNair Scholars have pursued rigorous research, advanced knowledge across disciplines,...

This article was originally featured  on the University of Minnesota's Political Science website on November 5, 2025. After beginning her college career with an interest in clinical psychology, Caitlyn Barrett returned for graduate school to further explore the relationship between poverty and political participation. Today, as a graduate student at the University of Minnesota, she’s examining how early-life experiences shape political behavior in adulthood. Photo courtesy of Caitlyn Barrett....