Academic Access and Leadership Development

2022-23 McNair Scholars pose for group photo.

The Office of Academic Access and Leadership Development enhances MU’s ability to engage and impact students from underrepresented and underserved populations throughout the various stages of the K-20 pipeline thereby positively affecting student access, development and educational and career outcomes.

K-12 engagement, outreach and access initiatives

Our K-12 engagement, outreach and access initiatives are designed to expose underrepresented and underserved students to various educational and academic opportunities, providing them with access and opportunities to encourage the pursuit of post-secondary education.

Undergraduate access, leadership and outreach initiatives

Our undergraduate pipeline initiatives are designed to help underrepresented and underserved students successfully complete their degrees by providing resources that support student success and retention, promote leadership development and career readiness opportunities, as well as expose participating students to graduate studies.

Graduate student professional development programs

We provide underrepresented graduate students personal, academic, cultural, social, professional and leadership support with the goal of increasing faculty recruitment of underrepresented PhD students.