Astronaut Benjamin Alvin Drew Jr. to visit Dillard University campus today and address prep pre-engineering students

Benjamin Alvin Drew Jr., a NASA astronaut and retired Air Force colonel, will address Dillard University’s Pre-Freshman Engineering Program on Wednesday, June 22 at 5:30 p.m. in the Georges Auditorium of the Professional Schools Building. The Pre-Freshman Engineering Program (PREP), a four-week summer session for rising ninth and tenth grade students, is designed to increase the number of women and minorities who pursue careers in the science and engineering professions.



Drew, who was selected by NASA to be a mission specialist in 2000 and has logged more than 600 hours in space, will speak to students on the day of their white coat ceremony. The ceremony is a tradition inspired by medical schools that speaks to PREP students’ dedication to the study of science and engineering.


In February and March, Drew participated in the 39th and final mission of the space shuttle Discovery. On the mission, Drew became the 200th person to walk in space, and the crew delivered Robonaut 2, the first humanlike robot in space, to the International Space Station. In 2007, Drew flew on the 20th flight of the space shuttle Endeavour.

Astronaut Benjamin Alvin Drew Jr. to visit Dillard University campus today and address prep pre-engineering students