The McNair Scholars Program
What is the McNair Scholars Program?
The McNair Scholars Program at Georgia Southern University is a TRiO program that prepares underrepresented, high-performing students for graduate school. Funded by the U.S. Department of Education, the McNair Scholars Program seeks to increase the number of first-generation, low-income, and/or underrepresented students in Ph.D. programs, and ultimately, diversify the faculty in colleges and universities across the country.
Our program is open to sophomores, juniors, and seniors from any academic major on every Georgia Southern campus.
Who is Ronald E. McNair?
Dr. Ronald McNair lived a full and accomplished life. He was a research scientist, karate expert, jazz musician — a family man who was devout in his faith. In 1976, at the age of 26, he earned his Ph.D. in laser physics from the prestigious Massachusetts Institute of Technology. In 1984, he also became the second African American astronaut to venture into space aboard the STS-41-B Challenger mission. Tragically, on January 28, 1986, the Space Shuttle Challenger exploded after launch from the Kennedy Space Center. He was one of the seven-person crew who died.
After his death in the Challenger Space Shuttle accident on January 28, 1986, members of Congress provided funding for the Ronald E. McNair Post-Baccalaureate Achievement Program. Their goal was to encourage low-income and first-generation college students, and students from historically underrepresented ethnic groups to expand their educational opportunities by enrolling in a Ph.D. program and ultimately pursue an academic career. This program is dedicated to the high standards of achievement inspired by Dr. McNair’s life.
