Dr. Kathryn D. Sullivan

Biography

Kathryn D. Sullivan was named Director, Battelle Center for Mathematics and Science Education Policy at the John Glenn School of Public Affairs, Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, in October 2006. The center addresses the nation's global competitiveness by developing policies and practices to increase the number of students in the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics fields.

Sullivan had served as Science Advisor of the Center of Science and Industry (COSI), a dynamic center of hands-on science learning, and as President and Chief Executive Officer of COSI from 1996 to 2006. As President of COSI, Sullivan managed all activities and programs at the center's facility in Columbus. From 1996 to 2003, she also served as President of the COSI Building Development and Financial Resources Corporation. In this capacity, she oversaw the successful design, construction, and opening of COSI's new $125 million state-of-the-art home on the riverfront of downtown Columbus.

Prior to joining COSI, Sullivan was the Chief Scientist of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). At NOAA, she oversaw a broad portfolio of research and technology programs in such diverse areas as fisheries biology, climate and global change, satellite instrumentation and marine biodiversity.

Sullivan is a former astronaut and veteran of three space shuttle missions. She joined the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) in 1978 as a member of the first Space Shuttle astronaut class. On her first spaceflight, in October 1984, she became the first American woman to perform a space walk. In 1990, she flew on the Hubble Space Telescope Deployment mission, and in 1992 was the Payload Commander for the ATLAS-1 Spacelab mission.

Education has been a major theme of Sullivan's volunteer activities for many years. She led the design of the original Challenger Center program model, which is now in service at over 33 Challenger Learning Centers in the U.S. and Canada. She has also served as an advisor for numerous exhibit and multimedia projects under the auspices of the National Geographic, the Smithsonian Institution, WGBH, and others.

Sullivan's professional affiliations include the American Association for the Advancement of Science, where she is a Fellow, and the Wood's Hole Oceanographic Institution, where she is a member of the Corporation. She has received numerous national honors and awards, including induction into the Astronaut Hall of Fame, NASA medals for Exceptional Service and Outstanding Leadership, the Lone Sailor Award from the U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation, the National Air and Space Trophy from the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum, and the U.S. Jaycees' Ten Outstanding Young Americans Award.

Sullivan has received honorary degrees from a number of institutions, including the Steven's Institute of Technology.

She was appointed to the National Science Board in 2004, and served as Vice Chairman from 2006-2008.

February 2009