Campbell Named Manager of UA’s McNair Scholars Program

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — The University of Alabama has named Dr. Nancy R. Campbell as the new manager of the campus’s Ronald E. McNair Postbaccalaureate Achievement Program, known as the McNair Scholars Program.

The McNair Scholars Program was launched as a unit within the UA Center for Teaching and Learning in 1999, and is funded through the U.S. Dept. of Education TRIO Program. The first four-year cycle of the grant was completed in 2003 and a recent renewal proposal has been funded for five years.

Campbell, who began her duties in February, brings to the position an extensive background in higher education and many years of practice as a licensed psychologist. She earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology (magna cum laude) and was initiated into Phi Beta Kappa at Florida State University. She holds a master’s and a doctoral degree in clinical psychology from UA.

Prior to her appointment, Campbell served on the faculty of Birmingham-Southern College for 15 years, and she served 11 years on staff at the University. At UA, Campbell recently served as project director, Staff Training and Resources (STAR) Project at Brewer-Porch Children’s Center. Campbell was the principal investigator for the three-year, $900,000 STAR Project grant that focused on improving staff training and promoting broad organizational support for “best practice” in behavioral management and intervention with children and youth.

One of only five demonstration projects funded nationally, STAR monitors outcomes at the Brewer-Porch site and contributed to a national database employed to track progress across the country. At Brewer-Porch, Campbell also supervised UA doctoral students.

Named for Dr. Ronald E. McNair, one of the astronauts who perished in the Challenger Space Shuttle in 1986, the McNair Scholars Program provides opportunities for students from underrepresented groups to prepare for graduate studies leading to a doctorate or professional degree. In the four years since the UA McNair Scholars Program was initiated, it has become one of the top 10 programs in the country. To date, 62 students have been accepted into the UA McNair Scholars Program.

Twenty-five of the McNair Scholars accepted have completed undergraduate study and are enrolled in graduate studies. Three students who have completed undergraduate study have chosen to gain work experiences prior to enrolling in graduate study. Five McNair Scholars have completed a master’s degree program. Fourteen students are continuing scholars, and in January, 14 new UA students were accepted into the McNair Scholars Program. For two consecutive years a UA McNair Scholar has been named to USA Today’s All-USA College Academic Team.

The McNair Scholars Program is located in the Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL), 326 Osband Hall; for more information about the McNair Program call 205/348-0572 or visit the office.