Ronald. E. McNair, Ph.D.
(adapted from http://mcnairscholars.com/about/)
Dr. Ronald Erwin McNair was born October 21, 1950 in Lake City, South Carolina. He graduated as valedictorian from Carver High School in 1967. In 1971, he graduated magna cum laude and received a Bachelor of Science degree in Physics from North Carolina A&T State University (Greensboro). McNair then enrolled in the prestigious Massachusetts Institute of Technology. In 1976, at the age of 26, he earned his Ph.D. in laser physics. His dissertation was titled, “Energy Absorption and Vibrational Heating in Molecules Following Intense Laser Excitation.”
While working as a staff physicist with Hughes Research Laboratory, Dr. McNair became a recognized expert in laser physics. His many distinctions include being a Presidential Scholar (1971-74), a Ford Foundation Fellow (1971-74), a National Fellowship Fund Fellow (1974-75), and a NATO Fellow (1975). He was also a sixth-degree black belt in karate and an accomplished saxophonist. Because of his many accomplishments, NASA selected Dr. McNair for the space shuttle program in 1978. His first space shuttle mission launched successfully from Kennedy Space Center on February 3, 1984. Dr. Ronald E. McNair was the second African American to fly in space. Two years later he was appointed to serve as mission specialist aboard the ill-fated U.S. Challenger space shuttle. In 1986, members of Congress provided funding for the TRIO Ronald E. McNair Post-Baccalaureate Achievement Program with the goal of encouraging first-generation and low income students to expand their educational opportunities by enrolling in a PhD program and ultimately pursuing an academic career.
