For seven years, Ronald McNair, now 63, worked two different jobs on weekdays and weekends, carving out time to study for online college classes. keizer university.
On a sunny day in early September in Pembroke Pines, Florida, McNair's seven-year educational journey (second bachelor's degree, then master's degree, and finally a doctorate degree) finally came to an end.
Ronald McNair, a former security guard and Home Depot employee, became Dr. Ronald McNair.
His PhD is in criminal justice and criminology, and McNair has too many goals to achieve in his new qualification to think about retiring anytime soon.
When McNair walked across the stage to receive her degree on Sept. 8, it was as if a weight had been lifted from her shoulders, said her daughter, Latasha McNair.
“No one could calm him down before he got on that stage,” she said. But once he got up there, “he was completely relaxed and he was just excited,” she said.
For most of her life, McNair said, she “hated school with a passion.”
Growing up in Gulfport, Mississippi, he said he didn't enjoy learning because the schools had limited resources. They were some of the first desegregators in the South, he said.
After joining the Army, McNair took a “hands-on” approach to rising through the ranks, earning a bachelor's degree in communications. But McNair was discouraged by the stigma he felt as one of the few black students at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, he said.
However, with his bachelor's degree, McNair was eligible to become a captain. McNair said the more time he spent in the military, the more he realized that his education offered not only status but also the opportunity to “learn the beauty of certain things.”
“At the time, I was getting a degree because I wanted to move up in the military,” McNair said. “But when I started the master's and doctoral programs, it was something I wanted to do.”
McNair's strongest desire is to use the lessons learned from his criminal justice education and life experiences to provide mentorship to young people with limited opportunities.
“The biggest thing is that I want to inspire young people, especially young African-Americans, and let them know that if I can do it, you can do it,” McNair said.
Mr McNair said earning his PhD required years of willingness to challenge himself and work tirelessly.
Overcome challenges and achieve educational goals
In addition to working weekends in the flooring department of a hardware store, McNair spends his time preserving buildings in Maricopa County. Tohoku District Court Center As a security constable in the judicial branch.
“Ron works regularly with Phoenix Police Department and Maricopa County Sheriff's Office deputies to ensure the safety of all patrons who enter the facility, as well as judicial officers, court staff and personnel.” said Sean Gibbs, director of security for the judicial branch. Maricopa County, Arizona. “We are all proud of Dr. Ronald McNair’s accomplishments.”
In addition to working two jobs while studying, McNair had to overcome her own educational hurdles. McNair said she has struggled with grammar and spelling all her life. He finished his second undergraduate program with his 2.6 GPA and was therefore on probation for a while while pursuing his master's degree.
On September 8, Mr. McNair graduated summa cum laude from Keizer University's online division, becoming the first person to earn a doctorate in criminology from the university.
Keizer University President Arthur Keizer said the school is “incredibly proud of Dr. McNair's accomplishments and for never giving up on his educational goals.”
Angela Clark, a longtime friend of McNair's who is pursuing a doctorate in criminology, said she didn't think McNair fully understood the importance of his work.
“I got to witness him realize a dream that he never thought he could do at first,” Clark said. “It feels great.”
McNair's career in criminal justice motivated him to pursue his studies.
Prior to working at the Maricopa County Courthouse, McNair served as a corrections officer at the jail. That's how he and Clark met and worked together at a company. core civic detention center. She worked as a case manager and he was a prison guard.
Clark said employment in the criminal justice system inspired them both to pursue education related to the field.
“When you work in a prison, you see a lot of things that shouldn't be happening,” Clark said. “The only way to change this is to educate ourselves and then educate the people around us.”
McNair said the young people he saw in prison reminded him of his former self. They were men trying to overcome difficult circumstances without a mentor to guide them. McNair said he wants to become a professor or mentor who helps young people of color who face discrimination and other challenges in life.
“Maybe we can grab some people before they get to that point and let them know, 'Yes, you're going to have challenges ahead, you're going to have obstacles in your life.'” McNair said. “But we have to look at those challenges and obstacles and make something positive out of them instead of a negative.”
McNair said he became interested in the relationship between law enforcement and communities of color through his work in state prisons and courthouses.
McNair's paper focused on the factors that lead to police shootings. As a Black man who has watched coverage of the killing of George Floyd and other Black men by police officers, he said he felt the paper's themes were timely and personal.
“We have to show both sides,” McNair said, arguing that people need to be open to understanding the perspectives of law enforcement and victims of police abuse.
Ms Clark said she encouraged Ms McNair to pursue further education to gain the qualifications to make her dreams a reality. They have talked about creating a mentorship program that would provide scholarships and other resources to young people of color.
“He won't let us stop because he's the backbone of everything,” Clark said of their dream project. “That's one thing I can say about him: If he starts something, we're going to finish it because he won't let us quit.”
Matt Valenzuela, 21, a Home Depot employee, said his mentorship from McNair stemmed from a friendship they formed while working together in the flooring department.
Mr. McNair quit his job at a hardware store a few weeks before graduation. But after months of deep conversations with McNair, the young man said Valenzuela will continue to think of McNair as his “grandfather at work.”
“He's definitely one of those guys you meet once in a lifetime,” Valenzuela said. “It's rare to meet someone who actually helps you and actually doesn't care about you.”
