Dr. Mary M. Atwater ’69 Endowed Scholarship

Approximately one-third of the MU student population is comprised of students who are African American, American Indian, Asian/Asian American, Hispanic/Latino American, Multi-racial American, or international citizens.

The Methodist University Black Alumni Chapter recently established the Dr. Mary M. Atwater ‘69 Endowed Scholarship to benefit Black students at MU and honor Dr. Atwater’s groundbreaking achievements.

Mary Monroe Atwater was the first African American student to enroll in and graduate from Methodist University. She graduated in 1969, magna cum laude, with a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry. Following this, she earned a Master of Arts in Organic Chemistry in 1972 from University of North Carolina and a Doctorate in Science Education in 1980 from North Carolina State University.

Dr. Atwater was the first African American tenure-track professor at Clark Atlanta University and served most of her career as a tenured professor at the University of Georgia. Dr. Atwater was instrumental in establishing multicultural science education as a focus of scholarship in the United States. Inside and outside the classroom, she has been tireless in advancing worldwide scholarship on science teaching and learning.

Dr. Atwater’s professional, groundbreaking career now spans more than fifty years. She has earned countless accolades, not just for who she is, but for what she has offered to the academy and the field of education. Dr. Atwater has shaped generations of undergraduate and graduate students. Her scholarship has impacted science education around the world.

All MU alumni and friends are invited to contribute to the Atwater Scholarship. To connect with the Black Alumni Chapter and hear more details about alumni events in your area, sign up for the Alumni Newsletter or contact Alumni Relations at [email protected] or 910.630.7485.