What is MSSI and MSSI: Continuum?
A proven Institute + FREE additional structured support
The McNair Scholars Success Institute (MSSI) is a national, virtual program designed to support graduating McNair Scholars as they transition into graduate school. This two-day institute focuses on building the academic, professional, and personal skills necessary for success during the critical first year of graduate study, with sessions on topics such as imposter syndrome, professional branding and LinkedIn, financial planning, and mental health and well-being.
The MSSI: Continuum goes beyond the institute, where participants receive two years of FREE structured graduate transition and persistence support, including completion of an Individual Development Plan (IDP), access to the McNair IDP Lab, ongoing mentoring and semester check-ins, and continued career development and wellness programming each of their first four semesters to support long-term success in graduate education.
Students must participate in the MSSI to receive the free MSSI:Continuum services.
Why choose the MSSI: Continuum?
McNair Directors....do you have any questions?
We hope you will consider MSSI as a strategic investment in your scholars’ graduate persistence and success. Please reach out for additional details and registration information.
(954) 417-4244
Our Leaders
Michael Aldarondo-Jeffries
MSSI Director
Michael Aldarondo-Jeffries has worked in higher education for over 25 years. He has spent 19 of those years in TRiO. Michael currently serves as the Director of the Academic Advancement Programs (McNair) at the University of Central Florida (UCF).
Abe Peña
MSSI Presenter
Abe Peña, Ph.D., is the Executive Director of the Center for First-Gen and Educational Equity at Suffolk University in Boston, where he leads institutional efforts to support first-generation and historically underrepresented students. A proud McNair Scholars alumnus from the inaugural cohort at the University of Texas at Austin, his professional journey reflects a deep commitment to access, equity, and graduate education pathways.
Lynn Curry
MSSI Presenter
Lynn Curry has been working with McNair scholars for over twenty years and is passionate about supporting students in well-being. She is the creator and host of 365 Mindful Days Community, a peer-based learning community teaching students how to prioritize their well-being so they can truly thrive. She is a certified meditation teacher with the Open Heart Project.