Introducing the University of Minnesota TRIO McNair Scholars Communication Hub

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, and gone on to serve as scholars, professionals, faculty, and leaders whose work strengthens communities and institutions and advances the safety, prosperity, and health of Minnesota and the United States.

Their intellectual curiosity, persistence, and commitment to impact define the program. Any success or longevity the UMN McNair Program has achieved is first and foremost a testament to the scholars who challenged themselves and carried forward the values of inquiry, service, and excellence.

This year, UMN TRIO McNair marks 35 years of continuous federal funding, placing it among the longest continually funded McNair programs in the nation. Later this month, on January 28, we also pause to remember the 40th anniversary of the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster, a moment that forever shaped the legacy of Dr. Ronald E. McNair and the national program created in his honor. Together, these milestones invite reflection—not only on history, but on the living legacy carried forward by McNair Scholars today.

In an era of increasing complexity and constraint in higher education, McNair’s mission remains as vital as ever.

The UMN TRIO McNair Scholars Communication Hub is being launched to serve several purposes. It is intended to help keep McNair Scholars connected across cohorts, disciplines, and generations. It will function as a living historical archive, preserving the program’s institutional memory and honoring the many contributions that have shaped UMN McNair over time. Just as importantly, it will spotlight the dynamic scholars we have been fortunate to work with and amplify their ongoing work and impact.

Capturing the full scope of UMN McNair Scholars’ accomplishments over the past 35 years is no small task. Alumni are contributing across fields as researchers, faculty, physicians, scientists, public servants, educators, and innovators. Their work often extends beyond traditional measures of success, influencing systems, policies, and communities in ways that are both visible and quietly transformative.

Supporting this work has required an unusual degree of continuity and commitment. In 35 years, UMN McNair has had only two directors, and the current staff are all TRIO alumni, bringing decades of lived experience and professional expertise to the program. This continuity builds on the foundational leadership of long-serving colleagues such as former director Sharyn Shelske (1991–2012), TRIO/McNair Office Manager Fran Stark (1991–2021), and the many faculty mentors and community partners who have supported McNair Scholars over the decades. Their dedication reflects deep mission alignment and a sustained commitment to students.

At its core, McNair exists to ensure that educational opportunity pipelines to graduate education remain open to all students. Graduate education still matters. Its return on investment is measurable—in higher earnings, greater job stability, and professional advancement—but its broader impact is exponential. McNair Scholars are positioned not only to succeed individually but to generate knowledge, lead institutions, inform policy, strengthen critical systems, and expand opportunity for others. In this way, McNair functions as both an educational equity initiative and a national investment in research, leadership, and public service.

This Communication Hub is one small but intentional step in honoring the scholars who make this work possible while creating space to connect, reflect, and look ahead. We invite McNair alumni, scholars, mentors, and partners to engage with this space, share updates and reflections, and help shape the next chapter of UMN TRIO McNair. (MCNAIR@UMN.EDU) 

Be well, 

Anthony AlbeckerDirector, TRIO McNair Scholars ProgramUniversity of Minnesota

P.S. Thank You and acknowledgments to: Kayla Cory for amazing design prowess in creating this Hub, along with amazing alumni who also served as student colleagues creating content over the years: Cristaly Mercado, Maria Zavala Garcia, Nahrissa Rush, Mya Reeves, Jenny Meraz Barrera, Muna Bishar, Leslie Luces Saavedra.