The 2026 University of New Mexico McNair Scholars Research Conference

Don't be late to our opening ceremony where we will prepare you for this awesome conference where you will discover the power of networking! You will get the most out of the conference if you are here for the entire session.

Highlights:

• Conference Overview & Welcome Address: Ricardo Romero, Director, UNM McNair & ROP
• Networking Activity: LaToya Walters, Associate Director of Graduate & Professional Recruitment, University of Pittsburgh, Office of the Provost- Graduate Studies
• Coffee, Tea, and water will be available.

Grab a quick box lunch to eat in SUB Ballroom C or outside if you prefer  in between sessions 1 & 2 of the poster presentations and grad school fair. The box lunches can be picked up in the area where you registered in the morning outside of the ballrooms.

Box Lunch Options - There will be a selection of the options below. Please do not take the vegetarian or vegan/dairy free/gluten free options unless your RSVP listed one of those restrictions: Vegetarians/Halal= Grilled veggie wrap, Vegans/Dairy free/Gluten free= Salad. (FYI, There are no nuts in any of the box lunches).

Turkey Breast & Provolone Box Lunch
Turkey breast and provolone cheese - Cookies and chips

Ham and Swiss Box Lunch 
Ham and swiss cheese - Cookies and chips

Grilled Veggie Wrap Box Lunch 
Cookies and chips

Roast Beef and Cheddar Box Lunch
Roast beef and cheddar - Cookies and chips

Salad - Dairy Free and Gluten Free 

UNM's Graduate School Ambassadors will lead group tours of UNM's Campus

Please come to SUB Ballroom C to get ready to board the buses for our excursion to the fabulous Sandia Peak Tramway and dinner at the stunning Sandia Resort and Casino.

Instructions for loading excursion buses
•Goal is to start loading into buses at 3:45 pm & leave at 4:00 PM!
•Students have a break between 2:00-3:30 PM

1. Campus Option - I recommend staying on campus & meeting by 3:30pm in SUB Ballrooms to stage for loading buses for the excursion (see details below)
2. Conference Hotels Option (Hilton Garden Inn/Homewood Suites or Springhill Suites on Central Avenue ): We will have excursion charter buses at the official conference hotels and you may board there. Be ready by 3:30! (see details below)

• Name Badge-EVERYONE must wear your conference name badge to participate. Do not leave it in your hotel room

Campus Option Instructions
•Meet in the SUB Ballrooms at 3:30 PM. At exactly 3:45 pm we will exit the SUB on the south side to meet at the far East end of Johnson Field by 4:00pm (see map below).
•Please begin boarding the buses once you are able in an orderly fashion.
•3 buses will go to the tramway first, and the remaining buses will go to dinner first.
•Please follow the tour guides instructions and stay on schedule.

Conference Hotels Option Instructions:
•Meet in the SUB Ballrooms at 3:30 PM. At exactly 3:45 pm we will exit the SUB on the south side to meet at the far East end of Johnson Field by 4:00pm (see map below).
•Please begin boarding the buses once you are able in an orderly fashion.
•3 buses will go to the tramway first, and the remaining buses will go to dinner first.
•Please follow the tour guides instructions and stay on schedule.

Updated 9/1/25

This opening session will prepare everyone for the full day of oral presentations. We have 135 oral presentations scheduled in 11 different rooms on the top floor of the SUB. So don't be late to this session so you can be sure to be prepared as a presenter or an audience member.

Conference shuttle buses are available to bring conference attendees from the official conference hotels to campus for registration. For detailed shuttle or campus parking information please click on the "campus transportation" tab in this app.
*Conference hotels are the Hilton Garden Inn, Homewood Suites, and SpringHill Suites all located on Central Ave.

Join us in SUB Ballroom C for a fantastic Mediterranean style lunch buffet. Enjoy!
Buffet choices: All items are labeled and there are options for almost all dietary restrictions. Nut allergies/gluten free/vegans/Dairy Free = sugar berries dessert.
(VG | EW | PF) Mejadra Lentils and Rice with Crispy Onions
(VG | PF) Mediterranean Salad Mix
Zaatar Chicken
(VG | EW | PF) Baked Falafel
(VG | EW | PF) Carrot Almond Salad
(VG | EW | PF) Kale Tabbouleh
(VG | PF) Baba Ghanoush
(VG) Lemon Tahini Dressing
(VG) Harissa Sauce
(VG) Dolma
(V) Feta Cheese Crumbles
(VG | PF) Half Grilled Pita
(V) Baklava
Sugar berries dessert  Nut allergies/gluten free/vegans/Dairy Free
Iced Tea
Lemonade

The closing ceremony will feature a formal sit-down dinner with a keynote address from Dr. Finnie Coleman and a cultural performance from the National Institute of Flamenco.

Cultural Performance: We are excited to present a fantastic New Mexican cultural experience for our conference attendees in the form of a flamenco performance from performers affiliated with the National Institute of Flamenco! Established in 1982, the National Institute of Flamenco has developed into an internationally significant arts organization, unparalleled in its breadth and depth of programming. While creating and maintaining international connections for the past thirty-nine years, the Institute has enriched the city of Albuquerque with the art of flamenco. Through performance, presentation, and education, the Institute impacts more lives than any other single flamenco arts organization around the world. Website: https://www.nifnm.org/

Shuttles will be available after the ceremony to take participants back to the official conference hotels.
Conference hotels are the Hilton Garden Inn, Homewood Suites, and SpringHill Suites all located on Central Ave.

PLATED MEAL (no nuts in this meal):
•All entrees are gluten free including the chicken.
•Vegans/vegetarians/Halal= Polenta entrée & fruit cup dessert (Place card from your neck wallet on table when you sit down)
•2 People with avocado allergies will get a salad w/o avocado (Place card from your neck wallet on table when you sit down & inform the server you will need another salad)
Menu:
-Mexican Cobb Salad - romaine, black olives, roasted corn, avocado, tomatoes, cilantro with creamy avocado lime dressing and balsamic dressing on the tables.
-Cilantro lime rice
-Calabacitas (squash)
-Dinner rolls and butter
Entrees (based on RSVP):
--Pan seared chicken with hatch green chile cream sauce (gluten free)
--Polenta and vegetable stack with red pepper coulis (vegetarian/vegan/dairy free option/gluten free)
Deserts:
Caramel flan egg custard
fruit cups ((vegetarian/vegan/dairy free option)
Drinks:
Ice water and Iced tea

Updated 9/5/25