The McNair Scholars Program

“Helping Turn Dreams into Doctoral Degrees”

The Renowned McNair Scholars Program is a U.S. Department of Education TRIO Program.

Contact

Charles T. Morris, Director
mcnairscholars@uab.edu
Sterne Library - Room 222

Schedule An Appointment Opens an external link.

Purpose

The purpose of the Ronald McNair Scholars Program is to increase the attainment of PhD degrees by students from underrepresented segments of society. We are NOT a scholarship program.

Benefits
- Opportunities for mentor-guided research and other scholarly activities
- Summer research stipends
- Opportunities to travel to research conferences to present their research
- Free tutoring
- Free printing
- Academic Advising
- Personalized Graduate School Admissions Coaching
- McNair-specific graduate school application fee waivers and scholarships/fellowships offered by a variety of universities throughout the country
- Assistance locating funding for graduate studies and financing graduate education
- Exposure to cultural events and academic programs
- Graduate School Tours
- Opportunities to attend professional development
- Workshops/seminars/discussions on how to successfully navigate the rigors of graduate education
Interested Applicants
Unfortunately we do not offer scholarships. Program benefits are listed above. Students who are interested in this program must be:
- A first-generation college student [an individual whose parents and/or guardians still need to complete a four-year (bachelor's) degree; for more information, visit the Center for First Generation Student Success] WITH a limited income (an individual whose family's taxable income for the preceding year did not exceed 150% of the poverty level amount. See the Department of Education's website for information on income limited levels)
  OR
- A member of an underrepresented group in graduate education or underrepresented in certain academic disciplines as documented by standard statistical references or other national survey data submitted to and accepted by the Secretary on a case-by-case basis (CFR §647.7)
Additionally, students must:
- Be a citizen or a permanent resident of the U.S.
- be a sophomore, junior, or senior who is enrolled full-time at UAB
- have a minimum of a 3.0 GPA
- have an interest in conducting research (research is required one or two summers with the program)
- be a student committed to attending graduate school and earning an academic doctorate. Professional doctorate degrees such as JD, PharmD, MD, PT, OT, DNP, and DDS are excluded. See staff for additional exclusions.
Apply Now Opens an external link.
Faculty Mentoring

A significant part of providing this service to scholars is the invaluable contribution of our faculty members, who guide scholars through research opportunities. Faculty members are key to quality research for our scholars and our program. McNair Faculty mentors provide individualized attention to all aspects of the students' research activities and some academic and career advising. They benefit by making a difference in a scholar’s life by assisting students in developing professional work habits, research skills, and personal relationships that will help them in future doctoral pursuits.

Are you a faculty member at UAB who is currently conducting research and interested in mentoring students? We would love for you to join our team!

Please click the application below if you want to learn more about the qualifications, training, and experience needed to become a faculty mentor.

Faculty Mentoring Application Packet Opens an external link.
About Dr. McNair

Dr. Ronald E. McNair (1950-1986) was born and raised in Lake City, South Carolina. He came from a low-income family but was determined to excel in academia and life. He graduated as the valedictorian of Carver High School in 1967, and in 1971, he received his bachelor’s degree in Physics, magna cum laude, from North Carolina A&T University in Greensboro, N.C. In 1976, at the age of 26, he received his Ph.D. in Physics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Ronald McNair was nationally recognized for his work in laser physics and was one of the thirty-five applicants selected by NASA from a pool of ten thousand. In 1984, McNair became the second African-American to make a flight into space. He was a mission specialist on the space shuttle Challenger. He was a member of the crew when the Challenger exploded nine miles over the Atlantic shortly after take off from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida on January 18, 1986.

Dr. McNair exemplified excellence and was the recipient of several honorary doctorates, fellowships and commendations. He had a sixth degree belt in karate and was an accomplished saxophonist. Dr. McNair was also a dedicated husband and the father of two children, Reginald Erwin and Joy Cheray.
Awards

The McNair Scholars Program is an award winning program. Please see our achievements below:

12.6.21
Micah Williams
2nd place, Oral Presentations
UAB Fall 2021 Expo

12.6.21
Shameria Baker
3rd Place, Poster Presentations Live
UAB Fall 2021 Expo

12.6.21
Shameria Baker
1st Place, Arts
UAB Fall 2021 Expo

12.6.21
Destyni Cravens
3rd Place, Social & Behavioral Sciences
UAB Fall 2021 Expo

12.8.20
Micah Williams
2nd place, Oral Presentations
UAB Fall 2020 Expo

12.8.20
Veronica Mixon
3rd place, Oral Presentations
UAB Fall 2020 Expo

Kiana Little
3rd place Oral Presentations
UAB Fall 2020 Expo

12.3.19
Kiara Aaron
1st Place, Health Sciences Division
UAB Fall 2019 Expo

12.3.19
Jasmine Cunningham
3rd place, Oral Presentations
UAB Fall 2019 Expo

7.25.19
Tammara Westbrook
1st place, Division of Education
UAB’s Summer Expo 2019

7.26.18
Sari Terrazas
3rd place, Oral Presentations
UAB’s Summer Expo 2018

7.1.18
Sari Terrazas
1st place, Poster Presentations
SAEOPP 2018 McNair/SSS Scholars Research Conference (Atlanta, GA)

7.1.18
James Boyett
1st place, Oral Presentations-Division of Health Sciences
2018 McNair/SSS Scholars Research Conference (Atlanta, GA)

Student Testimonials

"This program helps young scholars learn how to become a better version of themselves. Not only do you learn about research, professionalism, and graduate school; you learn about yourself. I have had the opportunity to gain better boundaries with work/school and how to be more confident in my capabilities. Additionally, you meet like-minded students within your cohort and from the ones before you. I am so glad that I got the opportunity to be a part of this amazing program and to meet some of the most hardworking individuals in my cohort."

Veronica Mixon, McNair Alumni - Spring 2021
"The program helped me develop into an individual who can feel comfortable in professional settings and express my desires to achieve. The program also helped give me the tools to do it."

Demetrius Smith, McNair Alumni - Spring 2021
"The McNair Scholars program has been invaluable to my future by providing a nurturing environment for scholars to grow through exposure to research fairs, research mentorship, and professional development training to help me on the pathway to destiny. My advice to future scholars is to take the opportunities the program provides seriously."

Alivia Moore, McNair Alumni - Spring 2021
"The program helped me by showing me the importance of graduate school and the requirements and pathway to get there myself."

Kristina Johnson, McNair Alumni - Spring 2021
"The program helped me by showing me the importance of graduate school and the requirements and pathway to get there myself."

Myeshia Jenkins, McNair Alumni - Spring 2021
"Don’t give up! You can achieve what is deemed impossible or not likely for a first-generation college student. This program prepares you for everything you will need to pursue a doctoral degree if your career field of choice. It can be challenging at times, but not impossible. Achieve what others say that you can’t. Prove them wrong! This is your life to live, so live it! This is just the beginning of your amazing story!"

Kiana Little, McNair Alumni - Fall 2021
"McNair was my light at the end of the tunnel. In moments when I couldn’t see myself finishing strong my McNair family has always been there to put me back on track."

Tammara Westbrook, McNair Alumni - Spring 2021
"Take this program serious, and utilize all the resources given to you from the workshops, the GRE preps, the campus visits, the amazing staff, and the research. USE IT!! It is there for you to be successful in pursuing your Ph.D. Do not waste your opportunity to get accepted into some of my most amazing programs in the country. Show up and show out because you are going to be great!"

Trishuna Holt, McNair Alumni - Fall 2020
"Being a part of the McNair Scholars Program is a great achievement, so take advantage of every opportunity that is presented to you. Even if you believe that it is not within the range of your professional goals, still take advantage because you never know who or what is out there, and it may be the one element that allows you to become who you are destined to be. The McNair Scholars Program rocks!"

Dorelle Wilson, McNair Alumni - Spring 2020
"The McNair Scholars Program is a program like no other. Take advantage of the resources while they are there and the networking opportunities that Dr. Russell provides. An opportunity like this is rare and should be taken seriously. It is not common to be able to speak directly with Deans and Presidents of graduate schools and universities, but McNair provides this. McNair scholars truly are the standard."

Jasna Williams, McNair Alumni - Spring 2020
"This program organizes and offers sound and knowledgeable advice for understanding what happens after undergraduate. There were things here that never crossed my mind and that I’d never heard of! And, the culture here is encouraging even when you mess up (I’m talking about saying you’re going to take a gap year), and it was encouraging enough for me to keep trying and not give up."

Amanda Duplain, McNair Alumni - Spring 2021
"McNair can provide you with a group of like-minded individuals who you can grow alongside of personally, academically, and professionally. Your peers along with the services offered will be a great support system for you in your undergraduate experience!"

Dana Quintero, McNair Alumni - Spring 2021
"McNair is a great program for students of color. I always felt welcomed and at home with the McNair staff."

Claudia Datnow, McNair Alumni - Spring 2021
"Don’t be afraid to take risks and go outside your comfort zone. You never know what kind of opportunities are out there for you. Also, take this program and the resources provided seriously because you’re getting it for free where others would have to pay to get this kind of information and knowledge."

Taylor Witt, McNair Alumni - Spring 2021
"I think that the McNair Scholars Program helped me both academically and professionally. The MCAT preparation that was built into the program helped me learn how to study for the test, which I believe is a key reason that I was able to increase my score following my first practice test. I also gained a lot of knowledge from the professional workshops on topics such as financial planning and etiquette. I previously did not see the importance in these things, so I am grateful that this program helped me better myself in that way."

Joshua Rodgers, McNair Alumni - Spring 2021
"Because of McNair, I was able to work funded positions over the summer, as well as qualify for paid research positions over my undergraduate career. I felt more academically and financially prepared applying to grad schools, and I got to travel to present my research. I also made some amazing friends through McNair."

Ari Villanueva, McNair Alumni - Spring 2021
"McNair Scholars’ program is a program like no other. Take advantage of the resources while they are there and the networking opportunities that Dr. Russell provides. An opportunity like this is rare and should be taken seriously. It is not common to be able to speak directly with Deans and Presidents of graduate schools and universities, but McNair provides this. McNair scholars truly are the standard!"

Jasna Williams, McNair Alumni - Fall 2020
"Being a part of the McNair Scholars Program is a great achievement, so take advantage of every opportunity that is presented to you. Even if you believe that it is not within the range of your professional goals, still take advantage because you never know who or what is out there, and it may be the one element that allows you to become who you are destined to be. The McNair Scholars Program rocks! "

Dorelle Wilson, McNair Alumni - Fall 2020
"Take this program serious, and utilize all the resources given to you from the workshops, the GRE preps, the campus visits, the amazing staff, and the research. USE IT!! It is there for you to be successful in pursuing your Ph.D. Do not waste your opportunity to get accepted into some of my most amazing programs in the country. Show up and show out because you are going to be great!"

Trishuna Holt, McNair Alumni - Fall 2020
"The McNair Scholars Program opened many opportunities that I wouldn’t have had otherwise. Specifically, research mentorship and conference presentations. The experience has been invaluable, and I have been extremely fortunate to have it."

James Boyett, McNair Alumni - Spring 2020
"The McNair program has afforded me countless opportunities. From weekly GRE Prep to the McNair Conferences, this program clearly defined what I needed to do in order to achieve a doctorate degree. I thank the McNair Program for its investment in me as well as the preparation the program has given me."

Orielle Caudle, McNair Alumni - Summer 2020
"As a McNair Scholar, it is important to understand and take advantage of the resources that are being provided to you as a McNair scholar. Most importantly, attending conferences and meeting new people, being familiar with your cohort, and working with your mentor will help you a lot in your career and sets you aside from a lot of people."

Kiara Aaron, McNair Alumni - Summer 2020
"The McNair Scholars Program has been immensely helpful with helping me understand and decide the direction for my future and with learning about the many resources that can help me succeed. Dr. Russell and the others show that they want the students to succeed and just knowing this keeps inspiring me to push forward."

Jacobi McGrew, McNair Alumni - Summer 2020

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“Helping Turn Dreams into Doctoral Degrees”

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Benefits

Interested Applicants

Faculty Mentoring

About Dr. McNair

Awards

Student Testimonials