RONALD E. MCNAIR BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH

Dr. Ronald E. McNair, the second African-American to fly in space, was born on October 21, 1950, in Lake City, South Carolina. He graduated as valedictorian from Carver High School in 1967 and received the bachelor’s degree magna cum laude in physics from North Carolina A&T State University in 1971. He received the Ph.D. degree in physics from Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1976.

Dr. McNair was selected for the astronaut program in 1978 and was the recipient of many honorary degrees, fellowships and commendations. He was also nationally recognized for his work in the field of laser physics. Dr. McNair was a husband, father of two children and accomplished saxophonist and sixth degree belt in karate. Ronald E. McNair and six other astronauts perished in a fiery explosion aboard the space shuttle Challenger on January 28, 1986.

In 1986, the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Trio Programs, established the Ronald E. McNair Postbaccalaureate Achievement Program to target financially challenged, first-generation college students, or individuals from groups that are under-represented in graduate education. The goal of the Program is to increase the number of students successfully completing requirements for the Ph.D.

Fisk University officially began its McNair Program in October 2003. Support is given for four years and will average over $200,000 per year. Fisk joins 155 other institutions across the country preparing scholars to enter and complete graduate programs offering the doctorate degree.