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Workshops and Events

Fall 2026 McNair Workshops

Each semester, the McNair Scholars program holds weekly workshops on a range of topics that aim to prepare students for the graduate school application process. These workshops are open to the campus community. If you are interested in attending, please join us on the dates listed below. For more information about becoming a McNair Scholar, please review the eligibility requirements and application procedures and contact our Program Director, Dr. Daniel Malpica at daniel.malpica@sonoma.edu.

Fall 2026 McNair Workshop Schedule: All Workshops are held in Salazar Hall, Room 1049, unless otherwise listed below.

Fall 2026 Workshop Schedule

Fridays 12:00- 1:00 PM

Salazar Hall 1049

August 28, 2026

Presenters: Dr. Daniel Malpica and Malinalli López, MFA

Welcome To The Fall 2026 Semester!

Introductions, requirements, expectations and getting to know the team.

September 4, 2026

Presenters: Dr. Daniel Malpica and Malinalli López, MFA

The Graduate School Application Package

September 11, 2026

Presenters: Dr. Daniel Malpica and Malinalli López, MFA

Preparing Your CV

September 18, 2026

Presenters: Dr. Daniel Malpica and Malinalli López, MFA

Preparing Your Statement Of Purpose For Graduate School

September 25, 2026

Presenter: Sakina Bryant, Writing Center Faculty Director 

Writing Tips To Create The Statement of Purpose 

October 2, 2026

Presenters: Dr. Daniel Malpica and Malinalli López, MFA

Statetment of Purpose Structure

October 9, 2026

Presenter: Gillian King-Bailey

How To Pick A Graduate Program? How Important Is Fit?

October 16, 2026

Please Note: This workshop will be presented on Zoom, https://SonomaState.zoom.us/j/82773850215

Presenter: Panel of Recent Grads: Jared Iverson, Ph.D. student in Nuclear Chemistry, University of Maryland 

and 

Andres Castellanos, Ph.D. student in Applied Mathematics, University of Virgina

Open Forum on Applying To Graduate School

October 23, 2026

Presenters: Dr. Daniel Malpica and Malinalli López, MFA

Navigating Graduate Application Portals

October 30, 2026

Presenter: Dr. Heather Smith, IRB Chair and Department of Psychology

Advice On Preparing An IRB Proposal

November 6, 2026

Presenters: Dr. Daniel Malpica and Malinalli López, MFA

The Craft of Research: Developing A Research Topic/Question

November 13, 2026

Please note : this workshop to be presented on Zoom, https://SonomaState.zoom.us/j/85307891335

Presenters: Alejandra Johnson, Ph.D. student in Biology, Purdue University 

and 

Edgar Muñoz, MA student in Geogrpahy and Environment, Syracuse University

What Is It Like To Be A Graduate Student?

November 20, 2026

Please note: this workshop will be presented on Zoom, https://SonomaState.zoom.us/j/87995696257

Presenters: Gabriela Arango, Post Doctoral Scholar and Comparative Physiologist, University of California, San Diego and Alexa Rayas, Ph.D. Student in Psychology, University of Illinois, Urbana Champaign

How To Stay Sane In Grad School?

November 27, 2026

No Workshop In Observance of Thanksgiving

Please work on your graduate school and REU applications.

December 4, 2026

End Of The Semester Celebration!

   

Events & Opportunities

Three students in graduation regalia
California Pre-Doctoral Program-Sally Casanova Scholars

The California Pre-Doctoral Program is designed to increase diversity within the pool of university faculty by supporting the doctoral aspirations of students in the CSU.  Recipients of this award will receive funding designed to enable students to explore and prepare for doctoral programs in their chosen field of study, such as participation in a summer research experience program at a doctoral-granting institution, visits to doctoral-granting institutions to explore opportunities for doctoral study, travel to a national symposium or professional meeting, and graduate school application and test fees.

Awards are based on competitive review of student applications and given to current upper-division undergraduate or graduate students who demonstrate academic excellence, while having experienced economic or educational disadvantage, and are committed to a career in teaching and research at the college or university level. All students enrolled on a CSU campus are eligible to participate.

The application cycle opens in December of each year.  Interested candidates must work directly with the SSU campus coordinator, Dr. Daniel Malpica: daniel.malpica@sonoma.edu or (707) 664-2264.