Kevin Ung
Lee University has named Kevin Ung as the director of the new McNair Scholars Program, designed to prepare students for future graduate and doctoral studies in their chosen field through involvement in research and other scholarly activities.
Mr. Ung previously was the assistant director of the Union University EDGE Program, which worked with local businesses and national companies to maintain a 100 percent employment rate for all students and graduates of the program’s select cohort. Prior to that he served as a residence director at East Texas Baptist University.
Mr. Ung received his master’s degree at Wheaton College and his bachelor’s degree at Union University, where he is pursuing a doctorate of education in education leadership.
“We are so pleased to welcome Kevin Ung to Cleveland and to the Lee University campus,” said Dr. Debbie Murray, vice president for academic affairs. “He brings the perfect balance of experience, discipline, and inspiration to this new McNair Scholars Program. We look forward to the life-changing impact Kevin and this program will have on our students.”
The Lee University McNair Scholars Program serves 25 juniors and seniors annually to prepare them for success in graduate school. The program provides eligible undergraduate participants with summer research internships guided by Lee faculty mentors, seminars, conference travel, presentation opportunities, and assistance obtaining financial support for graduate education.
Lee University began its McNair program in October upon receipt of a federal grant from the U.S. Department of Education. The Ronald E. McNair Postbaccalaureate Achievement Program is named after an American physicist and NASA astronaut who died during the launch of the Challenger space shuttle in January of 1986. The goal of the DOE program is to increase the attainment of PhD degrees by students from underrepresented segments of society, particularly those with strong academic potential coming from disadvantaged backgrounds.
Lee University was awarded $1.16 million over five years ($232,265 per year) in federal funds, covering 72 percent of program costs. Lee’s McNair Program receives 28 percent of its funding from non-governmental sources, including Lee institutional contribution. This year a total of 187 McNair grants were awarded to colleges and universities across the United States, benefitting more than 5,200 students.
For more information about Lee’s McNair Program, visit http://leeuniversity.edu/mcnair.