The application process is still open. Apply today!
Applications for the Spring cohort are due by November 20. Applications for the Fall cohort are due by April 13 (first date) OR by July 24 (second date).
Due to the coronavirus outbreak, all applications should be submitted by email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Got questions about our program? We hold information sessions every Monday on Zoom from 12 p.m. until 1 p.m. with a live staff member or current McNair Scholar.
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
The benefits of our program include:
Opportunities for research and other scholarly activities
Summer internships
Seminars and other educational activities designed to prepare students for doctoral study
Free tutoring
Free printing
Assistance with personal statements
Academic Counseling
Activities that assist students in securing admission and financial assistance for enrollment in graduate programs
Education or counseling services that improve financial and economic literacy of students
Mentoring programs involving faculty members at institutions of higher education
Exposure to cultural events and academic programs
GRE preparation
Graduate School Tours
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 – with a limited income OR
a member of an underrepresented group in graduate education (African American, Hispanic, American Indian, Alaskan Native, Native Hawaiian, Native Pacific Islander)
Additionally, students must:
be a citizen or a permanent resident of the U.S.
be a sophomore, junior, or a 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 who is committed to attending graduate school and earning a doctorate degree. (Students must be interested in pursuing a Ph.D. or Ed.D. only. We are seeking students who are interested in pursuing a doctorate degree in a concentrated area: Art, Biology, Chemistry, Math, History, English/Literature, World Languages, Business, Psychology, Sociology, Engineering, Computer Science, Education, Philosophy, Physics, Theater, Music, Anthropology, MD/Ph.D., etc.) Majors that are excluded include JD, PharmD, MD, PT, OT, DNP, and DDS. See staff for additional exclusions.
Interested applicants may complete the application below:
Are you a faculty member at UAB who is currently conducting research and interested in mentoring students? Come join our team!
Faculty members are the key to quality research for our scholars and our program. Faculty mentors will provide individualized attention on all aspects of the student's research activities, as well as some academic and career advising. Faculty mentors will benefit by making a difference in a scholar’s life by assisting students in developing professional work habits, research skills, and personal relationships to assist them in future doctoral pursuits.
Please click the application below if you are interested in finding out more about the qualifications, training, and experience needed to become a faculty mentor.
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
7.1.18 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."
