Faculty Mentors
Faculty Mentors are the heart of scholar research and graduate school activities in
the Ronald E. McNair Post-Baccalaureate Achievement Program. Each year, we work with
individual McNair Scholars to identify faculty that will serve as research and academic
mentor for the duration of the scholars time in the program.
Dr. Kathryn Anderson, PhD
Professor of Psychology
College of Professional Studies
Faculty Profile
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Dr. Anderson's research focuses on personality and situational causes of impulsive and thoughtful aggression and on the development of violent beliefs, as well as violence prevention. She has also published on personality characteristics associated with interpersonal aggression, acculturation effects and how gender interacts with social factors in influencing behavior. She is the Past-President of the Society for the Psychology of Women (Division 35 of the American Psychological Association), which is an intersectional feminist psychology organization. Dr. Anderson has greatly enjoyed working with McNair scholars at ÄûÃʵ¼º½ over the past 28 years. |
Valerie Martinez, PhD
Assistant Professor of History
History Program Head
Dr. Valerie A. MartÃnez specializes in 20th Century Mexican American history, U.S. Military and
Labor History, and Women’s and Gender Studies. Her current National Endowment for
the Humanities-funded project, Embajadoras: Latina Servicewomen and Hemispheric Politics during World War II, reconceptualizes traditional notions of diplomacy and international actors by investigating
how the recruitment and service of Latina women in the Benito Juárez Squadron during
World War II embodied the Pan-American ideal of an imagined hemispheric system of
unity and reciprocity in the Americas. Her transnational research in both Mexico and
the U.S. has been funded by several entities. She is also the co-recipient of an NEH
grant to create an oral history project dedicated to women veterans. Dr. MartÃnez
is currently an Assistant Professor of History and History Program Head at Our Lady
of the Lake University in San Antonio, Texas.
Marlo Mitchell-Gonzalez, MA, LSSP
School Psychology Instructor
College of Professional Studies
Faculty Profile
As a school psychologist in public education for the last twenty years, I have been privileged to witness first-hand the crucial role that schools play in the lives of students. I have also seen the various challenges, including inequalities in education. I am passionate about empowering families and communities as well as promoting non-discriminatory practices as a school psychologist. My research interests include Promoting Social Justice and Advocacy in School Psychology through Graduate Preparation, Self-Regulation and Reading Fluency of Students in Special Education, Effective Response to Intervention/Multi-Tiered System of Supports prior to referral, recruitment and retention of LSSPs in Texas, ELL (Spanish) Students and Special Education Evaluations, Anxiety and Counseling in Schools, and Parent Training and Collaboration.
Emily Sauers, PhD
Assistant Professor
Kinesiology
College of Arts and Sciences
Faculty Profile
Dr. Sauers research interests involve eating behaviors and appetite following exercise.
Her research in the past has focused on steady state compared to high intensity interval
aerobic exercise. Through her research, she has questioned the role of the menstrual
cycle in eating responses and appetite to exercise. Thus far, her research projects
have focused on acute (single bout) exercise, but she would like to expand to exercise
training, including resistance (strength) training, and populations beyond a healthy,
college-aged individual.
Dr. Manpreet K. Semwal (she/her)
Assistant Professor of Biology
Dept of Math & Science
Faculty Profile
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With a background in immunology and previous research on diabetes and obesity in aging, I aim to expand my work by studying the effects of natural compounds on cellular senescence. Senescence, a state in which cells lose their ability to divide and function properly, increases with age and plays a crucial role in aging and age-related diseases. Many regional foods and traditional dietary practices are believed to help slow down senescence. One of my research objectives is to explore and understand whether natural compounds and some specific food/food groups can influence the cellular and immunological senescence markers. |
Melissa Shiplett-Jupe, Ph.D., LPC, NCC,
PMH-C
Program Leadership, Assistant Professor of Counseling
College of Professional Studies
Faculty Profile
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Dr. Shiplett-Jupe has a deep passion for clinical mental health. From clinical practice to education of counselors-in-training, Dr. SJ focuses on decolonizing mental health, creating space for clients as experts of their lived experiences, and providing safety through learning and exploring. These foundations are also evident in her research interests and practices. She seeks to expand current understandings and knowledge of the intersection of reproductive health and sexual wellness on mental health, overall LGBTQ+ mental health, family forming, and perinatal through postpartum mental health of all birthing people. Additionally, Dr. SJ is invested in researching ethical clinical training practices focusing on theories of learning, creativity in curriculum, and ethical incorporation of new technologies. |
Samantha Galvan, PhD
Assistant Professor of Marketing/Business Analytics
Department of Business
Faculty Profile
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Dr. Galvan's research focuses on public policy and marketing with a particular emphasis on social matters and public health questions. Within these domains, she leverages an applied empirical approach to address research questions and provide practical and actionable insights for managers and policymakers. Overall, Dr. Galvan is motivated to investigate issues that have large real-world implications with immediate applicability. Her research is approachable and timely to both scholars and practitioners alike. Dr. Galvan's key project looks at the simultaneous impact of Uber on sales of alcohol and instances of drunk driving. The project is currently being reviewed at the Journal of Public Policy and Marketing. |