N.C. A&T to Honor Ronald McNair with Annual Celebration Tonya Dixon EAST GREENSBORO, N.C. (Jan. 11, 2019) – In commemoration and honor of the life and legacy of alumnus Ronald E. McNair, Ph.D. who died in the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University will hold the 33rd Annual Ronald E. McNair Celebration at 11:30 a.m., Jan. 28, in the New Student Center Ballroom.
In 1978, McNair, was selected as a mission specialist astronaut for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Space Shuttle Program. On Jan. 28, 1986, he was aboard the Challenger for his second mission when it experienced fatal malfunctions upon takeoff. McNair died along with six other crew members. The celebration program will include greetings and presentations from students, faculty, staff, administrators, city officials and community leaders as well as a keynote speech by N.C. A&T alumnaDannellia Gladden-Green, Ph.D.
Dr. Ronald E. McNair  After graduating from N.C. A&T with a degree in physics, McNair continued his educational pursuits and earned a Ph.D. in laser physics from Massachusetts Institute of Technology. In 1978, he was selected as a mission specialist astronaut for the NASA space shuttle program and made history being among the first African American astronauts. McNair’s second mission aboard the space shuttle Challenger proved to be his final mission after the shuttle experienced fatal malfunction upon takeoff.   [NC A&T -NASA Photo] The tremendous level of academic success that McNair experienced in his lifetime underscores his numerous posthumous acclamations, honors and awards. North Carolina A&T McNair Scholars exhibit the same scholarly standard and pursue lofty educational and professional goals despite their disadvantaged background.
Gladden-Green is director of economic inclusion and social responsibility for Owens & Minor, a leading healthcare services and logistics company headquartered in Richmond, Virginia. Prior to joining the healthcare industry, she spent more than 20 years in microelectronics high-tech companies such as Dell Computers, Texas Instruments and Free scale Semiconductor. As a United States patent holder, she leverages an innovator’s platform and emphasizes the need to create and document intellectual property. Gladden-Green received a bachelor’s degree in physics from N.C. A&T; a master’s degree in electronic materials from Massachusetts Institute of Technology; and a doctorate in electronic materials from North Carolina State University.