Area UA Students Named to McNair Program

TUSCALOOSA, Ala — Ashley Al-Sayyad of Tuscaloosa, Renee Driskel of Cottondale, Crystal Murry of Aliceville, Wesley Nixon of Greensboro, and Antwon Prince of Duncanville, have been selected as 2005 McNair Scholars at The University of Alabama.

Driskel, a UA senior, under the guidance of Dr. Cassandra Simon, assistant professor in the UA School of Social Work, is conducting research comparing the effectiveness of different educational and support services provided in transitional shelters serving homeless mothers.

Murry, a UA junior, is conducting research on family living arrangements as a predictor of crimes committed by juveniles under the guidance of Dr. Randy Salekin, UA associate professor of psychology, and Dr. Jimmy Williams, UA associate professor of criminal justice.

Nixon, a UA senior, under the guidance of Dr. Marysia Galbraith, UA associate professor of anthropology and New College, is conducting research on the development and current status of “B-Boying,” a form of Hip Hop dance.

Al-Sayyad, a UA senior, is conducting research on issues of body image and disordered eating across the gender identity spectrum among lesbians under the guidance of Dr. Natalie Adams, UA associate professor of educational leadership, policy and technology studies.

Prince, a UA senior, is conducting research on church responses to the federal government’s faith-based initiatives program under the guidance of Dr. Ted Trost, UA associate professor of religious studies and New College, and Dr. David Klemmack, UA professor in New College.

The McNair Scholars Program is a prestigious scholarship and research program that helps prepare accomplished undergraduates for graduate study. A U.S. Department of Education TRIO program, McNair Scholars serves first-generation college students and students from other groups underrepresented in doctoral study.