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GREENSBORO, N.C. - North Carolina A&T State University will sponsor a commemorative celebration in honor of the late astronaut, Dr. Ronald E. McNair. The commemorative breakfast will be held 9 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 28, in the Memorial Union - Stallings Ballroom. This event is free and open to the public.The theme of the celebration is “The Role of HBCUs in Shaping Intellectual Capital by Advancing Women and Minorities in Higher Education.” The keynote speaker will be Dr. Frederick Humphries, chief executive officer of the National Association for Equal Opportunity.
Humphries, a chemist by training, has achieved a distinguished 27 year career as president of Florida A&M and Tennessee State Universities.
During his nearly 17 year tenure at FAMU, he more than doubled enrollment while simultaneously raising academic standards. Under his leadership FAMU was the number one producer of African-Americans with baccalaureate degrees and third in the nation as the baccalaureate institution of origin for African American doctoral degree recipients. While at FAMU, Humphries raised more than $60 million, making the university’s endowment the largest in the nation among public historically black colleges.
The late McNair, who was a 1971 A&T graduate, received his B.S. degree in physics. He received his Ph.D. from Massachusetts Institute of Technology. McNair died on January 28, 1986, while serving as a mission specialist aboard the space shuttle Challenger.
For additional information regarding the McNair commemorative breakfast, call (336) 334-7792.