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 * WOMEN@NASA HONORS SALLY RIDE
   
   In a space agency filled with trailblazers, Sally K. Ride was a pioneer of a
   different sort. The soft-spoken California physicist broke the gender barrier
   29 years ago when she launched aboard space shuttle Challenger's STS-7
   mission on June 18, 1983 to become America's first woman in space. She was…
   [more]


 * JULIE ANN RIVERAPEREZ
   
   If I had to choose a quote that describes me, it is the following: “Strength
   does not come from physical capacity. It comes from an indomitable will.”-
   Gandhi My name is Julie Ann Rivera Perez. I work for NASA, and this is my
   story. As a young girl, I always said I wanted to be a singer. Music… [more]


 * ASPIRE 2 INSPIRE
   
   NASA has expanded the Women@NASA website to include Aspire 2 Inspire, a new
   feature aimed at helping middle school girls explore education and careers in
   science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields. Click here
   to discover your own inspiration!… [more]


 * CAREERS
   
   Many women dream of careers in science, technology, engineering and
   mathematics. Those dreams have come true for some at NASA. Have you always
   wanted to work for NASA? Today there are more opportunities than ever before
   to join us as we reach for the stars. These opportunities might lead to
   adventures… [more]


 * WOMEN IN AMERICA: INDICATORS OF SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC WELL-BEING
   
   In support of the Council on Women and Girls, the Office of Management and
   Budget and the Economics and Statistics Administration within the Department
   of Commerce worked together to create the Women in America (pdf) report
   which, for the first time in recent history, pulls together information from…
   [more]


WOMEN@NASA HONORS SALLY RIDE

In a space agency filled with trailblazers, Sally K. Ride was a pioneer of a
different sort. The soft-spoken California physicist broke the gender barrier 29
years ago when she launched aboard space shuttle Challenger's STS-7 mission on
June 18, 1983 to become America's first woman in space. She was… [more]


Featured Articles

 * Johnson Space Center
   
   
   VICKIE GUTIERREZ
   
   One of Vickie’s earliest memories of growing up in San Antonio, Texas is
   being in a kindergarten class and watching Neil Armstrong walk on the moon.
   Her teacher chose to include her class in what would become a defining moment
   in history.
   
   2015
 * Marshall Space Flight Center
   
   
   SEUNGHEE LEE
   
   When Seunghee Lee’s parents told her about the decision to immigrate to
   America, she was not happy. She was 17 years old and didn’t want to leave all
   her friends in South Korea and was afraid of moving to a foreign country that
   spoke a different language. Although English is taught in South Korean
   schools, it was limited to reading and writing simple sentences with no
   speaking lessons.
   
   2015
 * NASA Headquarters
   
   
   SARAH NOBLE
   
   Sarah Noble grew up in rural Minnesota, where from a very young age she was
   fascinated with space exploration, staring up at the moon and making plans to
   visit it one day.
   
   2015
 * Stennis Space Center
   
   
   RENA PERWIEN
   
   Since Rena’s parents could not afford to pay for any of her college costs,
   she worked her way through school as a waitress. When she started at the
   University of Minnesota, she wanted to be a Forest Ranger because she loved
   the outdoors. Working at NASA never entered her mind.
   
   2015
 * NASA Headquarters
   
   
   DAVA NEWMAN
   
   Dava remembers watching multiple moon landings on TV in her hometown of
   Helena, Montana and being fascinated that human beings could actually be
   walking on the moon that she saw from her backyard. From the moon, Dava’s
   attention turned to the solar system and stars, of which there are many
   visible in Big Sky country. She learned to dream, to explore, and that nature
   and machines had much to teach her.
   
   2015
 * Goddard Space Flight Center
   
   
   RAYMONDA YEH
   
   Raymonda was born in Kiev, Ukraine and her family moved to Brooklyn, New York
   when she was 6 with only $1,500 to begin their life anew. Raymonda is a fifth
   generation member of a deaf family and started school in the United States at
   the age of 8, knowing no English.
   
   2015
 * NSSC
   
   
   SANDRA DUNCAN
   
   Having lived on the Mississippi Gulf Coast all of her life, Sandra remembers
   coming to Stennis Space Center on a field trip with her elementary school
   many years ago. She remembers the first day as an employee at Stennis Space
   Center, driving through the South Gate and the moment she saw the National
   Aeronautics and Space Administration sign by the entrance gate. To say she
   was excited was an understatement.
   
   2015
 * Langley Research Center
   
   
   MARY BETH WUSK
   
   Growing up in a small town in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley, the daughter of
   an educator and a social worker, Mary Beth never imagined her path would lead
   her to where she is today. Her parents provided a wide range of opportunities
   to help her find her passion. But most importantly, they drove home the idea
   that one has to enjoy what she is doing to do it well.
   
   2015
 * Goddard Space Flight Center
   
   
   JUDITH BRUNER
   
   Judy Bruner grew up in rural Ohio, where she developed an early love of space
   and aviation, which would become the cornerstones of her future professional
   life. Her love of space began as she peered through a small telescope in the
   backyard looking at the moon and then followed NASA’s journey to the first
   moon landing.

 * Johnson Space Center
   
   
   DOTTIE METCALF-LINDENBURGER
   
   Dorothy “Dottie” Metcalf-Lindenburger, the daughter of two teachers with a
   love of the space program, has “The Right Stuff.” As a NASA astronaut who
   flew with the crew of STS-131 to the International Space Station, Ms.
   Metcalf-Lindenburger has risen to heights that make those of the Mile High
   City of Denver, in which she grew up, pale by comparison.

 * Glenn Research Center
   
   
   MICHELLE MADER
   
   Creativity and a sense of adventure have benefitted Michelle Mader throughout
   her lifetime. Growing up in Cleveland, OH she loved to read, draw, and write
   poetry and stories. Travelling around the country with friends she discovered
   the love of exploring new places. That sense of adventure brought her to the
   NASA Lewis Research Center as a co-op student while pursuing a management
   degree.

 * Langley Research Center
   
   
   LELIA VANN
   
   For Lelia Vann, moving forward in her life meant stepping back from
   everything she had worked so hard to accomplish, and asking the big question:
   Why?

 * Ames Research Center
   
   
   LAURA IRACI
   
   It seemed to Laura Iraci that kids always asked “What do you want to be when
   you grow up?” as if there were one single right answer. It seemed as if
   “grown up” was a static condition, never changing. Laura did not have a
   single childhood passion that shaped her view of who she would be when she
   reached the destination called “grown up”.

 * Glenn Research Center
   
   
   RULA CORONEOS
   
   Rula Coroneos was born in Crete, Greece and immigrated to Salt Lake City,
   Utah in her junior year of high school. Even though her English was limited,
   she understood and studied mathematics—the universal language of science—with
   ease.

 * NASA Headquarters
   
   
   MONICA BOWIE
   
   Monica’s mother’s example taught her that hard work pays off. She was a
   single parent raising five children, and she remains Monica’s inspiration.
   From her mother, she learned three fundamental life lessons: to be true to
   herself; to be honest, regardless of the situation; and for every blessing
   she receives, to help someone else.

 * Kennedy Space Center
   
   
   MARY COAN
   
   Mary grew up as the middle child surrounded by three sisters. Communication
   and prioritization was key to keep a peaceful home. From an early age, Mary
   set her goals high and set out to work for NASA as an Astronaut. Many
   children would change their minds but Mary never did.

 * NSSC
   
   
   LATONIA KIRKSEY
   
   Growing up on the Gulf Coast in Mississippi, Latonia Kirksey always had a
   desire to live her life as an opportunity to make a difference in the world.
   She was fortunate to have a loving family and the chance to grow up in a
   small and friendly community where everyone knew each other. She continually
   received encouragement from her family, friends, and members of her church
   which motivated her to try to make the most out of her life.

 * Goddard Space Flight Center
   
   
   JENNIFER EIGENBRODE
   
   The opportunity to explore Mars for signs of life is what inspired Dr.
   Jennifer Eigenbrode to join NASA. She wants to answer the question that has
   been asked for thousands of years — is “life” unique to Earth.

 * Ames Research Center
   
   
   SHARMILA BHATTACHARYA
   
   For Sharmila Bhattacharya, success is not measured by medals or money but by
   seeing her experiments flown in space, a dream of flight fuelled by her
   father, a pilot, who told her that being a girl would not deter her from
   earning a pilot’s license or from being “absolutely anything she wanted to be
   …”

 * Goddard Space Flight Center
   
   
   MARIA NOWAK
   
   Maria Nowak’s search for a broader meaning in life took her from the floor of
   a 1950s-themed restaurant where she worked as a dancing waitress, to the
   esteemed grounds of NASA where she has taken a leading role in the field of
   physics.

 * Johnson Space Center
   
   
   SARAH RUIZ
   
   Sarah Ruiz’s interest in NASA began as a high school freshman when she was
   challenged by her high school physics teacher to enter a contest. She won the
   regional prize and traveled to KSC to present a Mars experiment design—an
   experience which exposed her to the variety of amazing things NASA was doing,
   including preparations for the STS-61 Hubble repair mission. For the first
   time, she realized that doing “space stuff” was a viable career option.

 * Ames Research Center
   
   
   RHONDA BAKER
   
   Rhonda Baker knew at an early age she wanted to work for the federal
   government. She just wasn’t sure in what capacity. She had a great deal of
   admiration and respect for the such occupations since many members of her
   family served in the military and worked as civil servants.

 * Marshall Space Flight Center
   
   
   LORIA WEST
   
   When Loria West was 9 years old, she suffered the loss of her parents in a
   tragic car accident. That same accident left her paralyzed from the waist
   down; however, her new circumstances did nothing to slow her down

 * Ames Research Center
   
   
   CAROLINE TO
   
   The stories of Vietnamese Boat People had begun soon after April 1975. This
   story was also a part of Caroline’s life.

 * NSSC
   
   
   ANNA TURNER
   
   Anna Turner’s first day at NASA was exciting. Every step was well organized
   and professional. She could tell that working at NASA was going to be
   different than any previous job.

 * Ames Research Center
   
   
   SYLVIA JOHNSON
   
   Sylvia was born in Sydney, Australia to a family that had a great interest in
   science. Although she has four brothers, Sylvia was the one most interested
   in pursuing a scientific career. However, that was easier said than done in
   those times in a country where women were not that common in science and
   especially in physical sciences and engineering.

 * Stennis Space Center
   
   
   DINNA COTTRELL
   
   Dinna LeDuff Cottrell, whose professional life has been focused on
   information technology, believes “the key to increasing the number of women
   and minorities in information technology careers begins by mentoring future
   generations.”

 * Glenn Research Center
   
   
   MEG NAZARIO
   
   Dr. Margaret Nazario began her journey into engineering when she was a senior
   in high school taking physics. While her love of inventing and problem
   solving provided an architectural roadmap for her future, it was the
   encouragement and guidance of the teachers who recognized her special talents
   that put her life on a trajectory that would land her at NASA, where she
   continues to be inspired and challenged to reach even greater heights.

 * Glenn Research Center
   
   
   AMY BOWER
   
   Being open to new opportunities has brought Amy Bower many great adventures.
   Growing up in a rural community in central Ohio, she explored the farm, the
   fields and the surrounding woods. She loved school, especially math and
   science.

 * Johnson Space Center
   
   
   ANNETTE MOORE
   
   Growing up with six siblings, Annette Moore quickly grasped the appreciation
   for working as a team. Today she employs the principles she learned as a
   child in working with her NASA teammates in helping to accomplish the mission
   of the Agency.

 * Johnson Space Center
   
   
   KATIE BOYLES
   
   Born and raised in a suburb outside of Sacramento, California, Katie grew up
   in a close-knit family and had a very happy childhood. She absolutely loved
   school and learning, and when she was in 5th grade, Katie had the opportunity
   to attend a week of Space Camp in Huntsville, Alabama which sparked her love
   of NASA.

 * Ames Research Center
   
   
   KATHARINE LEE
   
   When Katharine was young, she wanted to be a doctor or some kind of
   scientist. Katharine feels that she was lucky growing up-no one was trying to
   tell her that girls could not do anything they wanted to do or that girls
   should only be in certain careers. If anyone did say that, Katharine
   certainly wasn’t listening.

 * Dryden Flight Research Center
   
   
   KATHLEEN HOWELL
   
   The daughter of an educator and an aeronautical engineer, Kathleen Howell
   grew up in southern California with varied influences, among them interests
   in dance, mathematics and aviation.

 * Glenn Research Center
   
   
   ANNE MILLS
   
   To some, the way Anne Mills came to where she is today might seem like
   serendipity, but she would tell you that it was destiny. At age 16, she
   started her first day at NASA as a summer intern in the Procurement Division.

 * NASA Headquarters
   
   
   NANCY SEARBY
   
   Nancy Searby was raised by a dad in the Air Force and a mom who stayed home
   to take care of her four daughters. One of her worst school memories, and yet
   one that was so formative, was when she attended elementary school in Bossier
   City, Louisiana in the 1960’s. Nancy attended school on the first day of
   desegregation, black and white students coming together.

 * Stennis Space Center
   
   
   PAT FAIRLEY
   
   While growing up in a small town in Mississippi only 35 miles from Stennis
   Space Center, Pat never imagined she would one day be the Deputy Chief
   Financial Officer at a NASA Facility. Growing up, her family had extremely
   limited resources. Truth be known, they were very poor.

 * Goddard Space Flight Center
   
   
   JULIE ANN RIVERAPEREZ
   
   While growing up in Puerto Rico, Julie Ann Rivera Perez never imagined she
   would work for NASA. Most people might say they could only hope or dream to
   work for NASA, but Ms. Rivera never even imagined it would be her who would
   eventually get a job in what is now the #1 Place to Work in the Federal
   Government.

 * Dryden Flight Research Center
   
   
   CYNTHIA BIXBY
   
   C.J. grew up in the shadow of Edwards Air Force Base in California, where
   looking up from the playground to watch an experimental aircraft streak
   across the sky was not uncommon. While she was fascinated by the space
   program and the pioneering aeronautics work happening next door, the idea of
   making a career in aerospace was never in the forefront of her mind.
   
   2015
 * NSSC
   
   
   SUZANNE HONEYCUTT
   
   One evening in September of 1991, the earth shook, the sky burst into a huge
   glow, and the loud rumbling sound lingered what seemed like for hours.
   Actually lasting only minutes, that was Suzanne’s first viewing of a space
   shuttle launch. Not knowing what to expect since it was dark outside, she
   didn’t bother bringing a camera or binoculars. But the sight of that glowing
   magical masterpiece still burns in her memory.
   
   2015
 * Goddard Space Flight Center
   
   
   YING SHI
   
   During Ying’s recent visit to the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, she took a
   selfie with Ms. Curiosity–a full size model of Curiosity Mars Rover. She
   believes they share the same characteristic—always curious about what is
   going on in space, what is happening on other planets, and whether there is
   another Earth.
   
   2015
 * Glenn Research Center
   
   
   KAREN MEINERT
   
   When Karen was a young girl growing up in Milan, Ohio, her father took her to
   NASA’s Plum Brook Station Open House in the early 1970’s to see a moon rock.
   She never imagined on her tour that day that she would grow up to have a NASA
   career.
   
   2015
 * Marshall Space Flight Center
   
   
   ROSALIND CYLAR
   
   Growing up in the inner city of the Bronx, New York, Rosalind had no idea she
   would work for NASA. Her mother, sister and she lived in a small apartment
   with her aunt and uncle. But, as a young girl, she always knew she wanted to
   be a lawyer.
   
   2015
 * Langley Research Center
   
   
   JENNIFER KEYES
   
   Jennifer’s parents tell her that there were signs she was going to be an
   engineer from when she was little. She was the one that would sit at the
   family desk and take apart all the pens and mechanical pencils in the
   drawers. Her family went camping every summer and using a construction toy
   set, with pieces sort of like PVC pipes, elbows, and connectors, Jennifer
   would make things like a clothes closet or an enclosure for the outdoor
   shower they used after going swimming.
   
   2015
 * Langley Research Center
   
   
   DONNA LAWSON
   
   Despite growing up in Newport News, Virginia, the neighboring city of NASA
   Langley Research Center, and developing a love for space and academics, Donna
   never dreamt that she would one day work at NASA.
   
   2015
 * NASA Headquarters
   
   
   TUESDAY DODSON
   
   Tuesday Dodson was young, unemployed and needed work. Her inspiration for
   working with NASA came from her oldest sister. She was at NASA when the
   Challenger tragedy happened and it helped to shape her into a proud and
   dedicated employee who truly understands that NASA is a place where she could
   make a difference.
   
   2015
 * Kennedy Space Center
   
   
   TIFFANEY MILLER ALEXANDER
   
   Tiffaney Miller Alexander knew by the time she was in sixth grade that she
   wanted to become an electrical engineer. Sparked by her interest to know how
   electronic devices worked coupled with the inspiration of her mother becoming
   the first in her family to earn a college degree, overcome a battle with
   cancer, and her faith in God, Tiffaney believed she had a great motivational
   example of determination and resilience to help her along her career journey.

 * Kennedy Space Center
   
   
   JOSEPHINE SANTIAGO-BOND
   
   Josephine Santiago-Bond didn’t grow up wanting to work for NASA. Having grown
   up in the Philippines, NASA was half a world away, and was something she had
   only read about in old history books, or occasionally heard about on
   television.

 * Johnson Space Center
   
   
   GINGER KERRICK
   
   As a child, Ginger Kerrick dreamed of growing up to be either a basketball
   player or an astronaut. When neither dream came to fruition, Ms. Kerrick
   developed a fresh perspective – best summed up by the phrase “It just wasn’t
   meant to be” – and is today part of NASA, serving in the Mission Control
   Center at the NASA Johnson Space Center as a Flight Director.

 * Dryden Flight Research Center
   
   
   JEANETTE LE
   
   Jeanette Le’s road to NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in California
   started in Vietnam, which she, with her parents, fled when she was 8 years
   old – leaving Ms. Le with the feeling that she is, in her own words, the
   eternal “new kid on the block.”

 * Johnson Space Center
   
   
   MELANIE SAUNDERS
   
   Melanie Saunders found out, in the most joyous way, that “work-life” balance
   can be tipped – in triplicate – in the direction of “life” when she
   discovered that she was pregnant with triplets. Being the high achiever she
   has always been, Ms. Saunders found a way to put family first without putting
   her career on permanent leave.

 * Marshall Space Flight Center
   
   
   ELIA ORDONEZ
   
   For Elia Ordóñez, giving back to her native Hispanic community is paramount
   in her life. Ms. Ordóñez was born in Moctezuma, Chihuahua, Mexico, and
   immigrated to the United States in 1974.

 * Dryden Flight Research Center
   
   
   NIKKI MARTIN
   
   Nikki’s greatest inspirations growing up were her parents. Neither had a
   college degree but they encouraged her and her siblings to do well in school.
   From a very early age, she knew that she was going to college.

 * Goddard Space Flight Center
   
   
   BONITA SEATON
   
   For Bonnie Seaton, the path to NASA was anything but straight-forward. She
   initially studied nursing at the State University of New York at Buffalo and
   after three years of study realized that nursing was not the right career
   path for her.

 * Marshall Space Flight Center
   
   
   CHANA JOHNSON
   
   Chana Johnson grew up in Tuskegee Institute, Alabama, and is a daughter of
   educators. So it probably wasn’t a surprise when Chana’s affinity for math
   and science combined with her curiosity about how things work to lead her to
   an engineering degree and, eventually, a career at NASA.

 * Langley Research Center
   
   
   ROSEMARY BAIZE
   
   Rosemary Baize began her career in 1988, working as an aerospace technologist
   in wind tunnels at NASA’s Langley Research Center in Hampton, Va. She
   supported tests on Pegasus boosters, was a project engineer and served as a
   facility safety head. But she didn’t stop there.

 * Dryden Flight Research Center
   
   
   HEATHER MALISKA
   
   At a very young age, Heather became a very driven girl. Inspired by the
   Challenger disaster in 1986, she has turned her childhood dream to work for
   NASA into a reality. As a college student looking for her opportunity to work
   for NASA, Maliska participated in an internship at NASA’s Armstrong Flight
   Research Center in Edwards, Calif.

 * Ames Research Center
   
   
   JENNIFER HELDMANN
   
   Jennifer Heldmann studies recent water on Mars through spacecraft data
   analysis, numerical modeling, and fieldwork in Mars-analog environments.
   Perhaps more exciting for her personally are her studies into the moon, with
   “a focus on improving our understanding of the lunar poles.”

 * Glenn Research Center
   
   
   DOVIE LACY
   
   Dovie Lacy, who first and foremost sees herself as a teacher, took a
   circuitous route to arrive at NASA – yet arrive she did in 1984.

 * Langley Research Center
   
   
   NANCY HOLLOWAY
   
   One of Nancy’s earliest memories of NASA was in 1969 when her mom anxiously
   called her inside the house to look at the television. At the time, Nancy
   assumed adults could do almost anything, and she wondered why her mother made
   such a big deal about it. It was not until Nancy became an adult that she
   finally realized what a monumental achievement sending a man to moon really
   was.

 * Goddard Space Flight Center
   
   
   CYNTHIA SIMMONS
   
   Cynthia Simmons remembers her fascination with space started early in life
   watching TV shows like Star Trek. Watching the first moon landing gave her
   more reason to dream of designing spaceships like the Starship Enterprise. At
   night, she would look at the stars imagining herself traveling in space
   spending a lifetime exploring.

 * Glenn Research Center
   
   
   TERRIAN NOWDEN
   
   Before coming to NASA, Terrian Nowden worked part-time in the Co-operative
   Education Office of the junior college she’d been attending. One of her
   duties was to receive incoming calls from employers who wanted to list co-op
   positions for the students. When NASA Lewis Research Center (now Glenn
   Research Center (GRC) at Lewis Field) called to post various technician
   positions, she was very excited.

 * Goddard Space Flight Center
   
   
   WANDA PETERS
   
   Wanda Peters remembers, as a child, having her cartoons interrupted by the
   Apollo 11 lunar landing. While it was an unwelcomed interruption at the time,
   those feelings only lasted a moment; however, the impression that the landing
   made on her young mind would last a lifetime.

 * Ames Research Center
   
   
   MISTY DAVIES
   
   For Misty Davies, it was all about making the world a better place. She grew
   up wanting to be a veterinarian, a writer, a mother, and a scientist.

 * Dryden Flight Research Center
   
   
   LAURIE GRINDLE
   
   As an engineer and a project manager working in aircraft flight research,
   Laurie Grindle is familiar with the saying: “You can learn more from failure
   than success.”

 * Johnson Space Center
   
   
   TRICIA MACK
   
   In high school, when other students may have asked for a spring break trip to
   the beach, Tricia Mack asked to go to Florida to tour the Kennedy Space
   Center. She still remembers the tour and excitedly taking photos of the space
   shuttle launch pads (even empty). Years later, she’d actually work in the
   shuttle on the pad days before launch as part of her duties as an Extra
   Vehicular Activity (EVA) or “spacewalk” flight controller and instructor at
   NASA’s Johnson Space Center (JSC) in Houston.

 * Langley Research Center
   
   
   WENDY PENNINGTON
   
   Wendy Pennington discovered her natural passion and inclination for
   engineering while enrolled in a mechanical drafting class in high school.
   While her love of drawing and design provided an architectural roadmap for
   her future, it was the encouragement and guidance of the teachers who
   recognized this young woman’s special talents that put her life on a
   trajectory that would land her at NASA, where she continues to be inspired
   and challenged to reach even greater heights.

 * Langley Research Center
   
   
   CONNIE SNAPP
   
   Connie Snapp aspired to be an artist and a writer with the long-ago dream of
   writing and illustrating her own books. She would never have predicted that
   she would one day work for NASA.

 * Goddard Space Flight Center
   
   
   MARY ANN ESFANDIARI
   
   For Mary Ann, her path to NASA began as a cooperative education (co-op)
   student in 1974. She hailed from the University of Maryland in College Park
   as she found her place at NASA. Little did she know that she would lead two
   careers, one at NASA and one in the Navy Reserve.

 * Langley Research Center
   
   
   JULIE WILLIAMS-BYRD
   
   Taking advantage of opportunities and challenges has been the mantra for
   Julie Williams-Byrd’s career at NASA. These opportunities have allowed Ms.
   Williams-Byrd the ability to excel and to experience the career of a lifetime
   by working on exciting projects and working with exceptionally talented
   people from a variety of disciplines.

 * NASA Headquarters
   
   
   TONI MUMFORD
   
   For Toni Mumford, a “positive attitude and a willingness to take risks” …
   really paid off in career at NASA

 * Stennis Space Center
   
   
   MONICA CERUTI
   
   For Monica Ceruti, the trick has been to learn how to balance work and family
   without compromising either. Today, in addition to having a rewarding home
   life, her two sons are on the road to having rewarding careers: her oldest
   son is a college graduate and her youngest son is a cadet at the United
   States Coast Guard Academy.

 * Stennis Space Center
   
   
   WENDY HOLLADAY
   
   For Wendy Holladay, the trick has been to balance her large family of 6 with
   her fast moving career at NASA. To accomplish both, she spent 20 of her 29
   years at NASA Stennis Space Center as a part-time employee. And, for Ms.
   Holladay, it has made all of the difference.

 * Goddard Space Flight Center
   
   
   DEBORAH AMATO
   
   Maybe it is not surprising that Deborah ended up in engineering. Growing up,
   she loved math and science in school. Algebra is one of her favorite things.
   There is also the influence of her family: her dad is an electrical engineer
   and her mom is a chemist.

 * Langley Research Center
   
   
   JILL MARLOWE
   
   In elementary school, Jill was that girl who loved Barbies, but mostly
   because she was all about modifying and constructing new and improved
   versions of her ‘Dream House’ from whatever she could find. Her family spent
   most of their weekends sailing together on the Chesapeake Bay. Looking back
   now, she realizes that it was her desire to design and build improved
   structures and her respect for teamwork that led her to find her dream career
   in aerospace engineering.

 * Kennedy Space Center
   
   
   MAYNETTE SMITH
   
   Star Trek spurred Maynette’s interest in space. While a little too young to
   remember watching John F. Kennedy talk about the United States sending a man
   to the moon and returning him safely to the Earth, the memory of the crew of
   Apollo 8 reading from the Book of Genesis as they orbited the moon on
   Christmas Eve still resonates with her. At 8 years of age, she sat with her
   father watching Neil Armstrong set foot on the moon. From that point on,
   Maynette dreamed of working for NASA.
   
   2015
 * Johnson Space Center
   
   
   HELEN VACCARO
   
   When Helen was in elementary school, she vividly remembers watching the movie
   Apollo 13 and being so intrigued – she wanted to be one of those people in
   Mission Control solving technical problems for the astronauts.
   
   2015
 * Marshall Space Flight Center
   
   
   CYNTHIA STEMPLE
   
   Cynthia never had aspirations to be an engineer or become a manager. She
   simply took steps that were shaped by caring people and took a life-altering
   detour. As a result, her career unfolded before her.
   
   2015
 * Goddard Space Flight Center
   
   
   COURTNEY RITZ
   
   Shortly after birth, Courtney was diagnosed with retinoblastoma, a form of
   eye cancer caused by a genetic defect. She became a patient at the St. Jude
   Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee, where she underwent
   radiation and chemotherapy treatments. Despite the numerous out-of-state
   trips for treatments by exceptional doctors and nurses, and the removal of
   the cancer itself, she eventually lost her eyesight completely around the age
   of five. But Courtney retained a vivid memory of shapes and colors. Despite
   her vision loss, she could turn the corner of any room into a spaceship or an
   alien planet.
   
   2015
 * NASA Headquarters
   
   
   MADHULIKA GUHATHAKURTA
   
   As a child growing up in middle-class India, Lika would drive her father up
   the wall with her curiosity. Even at tender age of high school, she knew if
   she did not pursue science, her desire to pursue questions of physics and
   meta-physics would never be a reality.
   
   2015
 * Dryden Flight Research Center
   
   
   KATE MCMURTRY
   
   Kate was never certain what she wanted to be when she grew up. She enjoyed
   science, had a desire to serve in the military, and wanted to go to college.
   She struggled with how to put her interests together. During her junior year,
   she found some direction. She took a multiple-aptitude test that measured
   developed abilities and helped predict future academic and occupational
   success in the military.
   
   2015
 * Kennedy Space Center
   
   
   GAIL VILLANUEVA
   
   Growing up as the daughter of a military officer, Gail had what some might
   consider a privileged life. They lived all over the world, and she had the
   opportunity to see and experience an abundance of this world’s great
   offerings and be exposed to many cultures that benefitted her throughout her
   life.
   
   2015
 * NSSC
   
   
   VENETIA GONZALES
   
   Venetia was very determined to go as far in her career as she could, but she
   never imagined she would work for NASA. She always wanted to become an
   artist, but there were many obstacles she would have to overcome to become a
   successful artist. yet, Venetia was very determined to go beyond the limits
   to what was offered to her as a young girl and not become just another
   statistic.
   
   2015
 * Glenn Research Center
   
   
   QUIANA REESE
   
   Quiana Reese was born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio, but admits to not
   knowing that there was a NASA facility in Cleveland, located right next to
   the airport which she had frequented often.

 * Stennis Space Center
   
   
   ANITA DOUGLAS
   
   As the mother of three daughters and spouse to a NASA employee, Anita Douglas
   had to quickly learn how to balance work and family without compromising
   either. Today, in addition to having a rewarding home life, all three of her
   daughters are in college.

 * NASA Headquarters
   
   
   LORI GARVER
   
   My interest in space stems from my belief that what we have done, are doing,
   and can do in space is critical to the future of humanity. Throughout my
   career—whether it was working directly for NASA, training in Russia to become
   a space flight participant, advising aerospace corporations how best to help
   NASA be successful, or having the honor of being the lead for civil space
   policy for the Obama Presidential Campaign and transition team—I have worked
   toward that goal.

 * NASA Headquarters
   
   
   HASHIMA HASAN
   
   Hashima Hasan’s love for space started when as a five-year old she stood in
   her grand parents’ backyard in India and watched Sputnik go by overhead. She
   had no idea how she would achieve her dream to become a scientist and attend
   Oxford University, as her uncle and grand uncles had done. But achieve it,
   she did.

 * Glenn Research Center
   
   
   QUYNHGIAO NGUYEN
   
   When QuynhGiao Nguyen immigrated from Vietnam to the United States at age 7,
   she didn’t speak a word of English and had no idea she would grow up to be a
   NASA scientist.

 * Marshall Space Flight Center
   
   
   TERESA FOLEY-BATTS
   
   As a child, Teresa Foley-Batts really did not think about or plan her life
   toward any particular career. She was the oldest of five children, and after
   her parents divorced, the family moved from Nashville, Tenn. to Huntsville,
   Ala.

 * Marshall Space Flight Center
   
   
   ROBIN HENDERSON
   
   Robin Henderson’s life changed forever and for the better when, in her first
   year of college, a man offered her the opportunity to serve as a co-op
   student with Martin Marietta, then a NASA Marshall Space Flight Center
   contractor

 * Johnson Space Center
   
   
   TRACY CALDWELL-DYSON
   
   At the age of 16, Tracy Caldwell Dyson—like so many others—found an admirable
   role model in certain teacher who had accomplished the seemingly impossible.
   “Christa McAuliffe inspired me to search and reach for a goal that I thought
   was unreachable,” Caldwell Dyson said, even though at the time she had no
   idea how to get there.

 * Marshall Space Flight Center
   
   
   VICTORIA GARCIA
   
   Growing up, Victoria Garcia had a knack for being the “handyman” of the
   family. Being deaf and a daughter of Cuban immigrants motivated her to work
   hard to prove herself. Today, she uses her problem solving skills performing
   analysis as a system engineer.

 * Johnson Space Center
   
   
   KAREN RODRIGUEZ
   
   Karen Rodriguez is known as a talented project manager. But as a teenage mom,
   she was often told she would never amount to anything. With determination,
   dedication, and the support of her husband, she earned a Bachelor’s degree in
   mechanical engineering from New Mexico State University.

 * Ames Research Center
   
   
   KAREN GUNDY-BURLET
   
   For Karen Gundy-Burlet, Walter Cronkite’s broadcasts of the Apollo moon
   missions were particularly inspirational. The thrill of watching the moon
   landings and excursions extended her interest in aircraft to the aerospace
   field and a desire to work for NASA.

 * Glenn Research Center
   
   
   MARY LOBO
   
   Growing up as both a left-brained and right-brained child led Mary Lobo to
   excel in both academics and the arts, but it was her mother who influenced
   her to keep her artistic endeavors as hobbies and pursue a career as an
   engineer.

 * NASA Headquarters
   
   
   SARAH DEWITT
   
   Sarah spent four years falling in love with the natural world. As a geology
   major, she spent the bulk of her college career exploring national parks,
   volcanoes, and canyons all over the western United States. But when it came
   time to graduate, she faced a tough realization. She did not want to pursue a
   career in science. She did not have the burning desire to get a Ph.D. or be a
   professor. She just wanted to be outside.

 * Kennedy Space Center
   
   
   ANDREA MEYER
   
   Andrea Meyer’s life was changed irrevocably when, on one cold Nebraska
   morning while practicing emergency landing procedures with her flight
   instructor, her airplane went into a flat spin before crashing into an empty
   cornfield.

 * Kennedy Space Center
   
   
   HIBAH RAHMANI
   
   Hibah Rahmani was born in Pakistan, raised in Kuwait and moved to the United
   States after high school. Being fascinated with the beautiful night sky, she
   developed a passion for science, space and astronomy at a very young age.

 * Marshall Space Flight Center
   
   
   DONNA LEACH
   
   As a child, Donna didn’t think about or plan her life toward a career. As the
   oldest of five sisters and one brother growing up in a home challenged with
   poverty, alcoholism and violence, her earliest focus became survival.

 * NASA Headquarters
   
   
   ANNE-MARIE NOVO-GRADAC
   
   Anne-Marie Novo-Gradac is a planner—one who puts an extraordinary amount of
   effort into mapping out what should happen next in life. So perhaps it’s a
   bit ironic that all planning in the world ultimately landed her in a career
   that she never dreamed she would achieve

 * Kennedy Space Center
   
   
   CLARA WRIGHT
   
   Although Clara Wright had to learn a new language and adapt to a different
   culture and the age of 8, when her family moved from Colombia to the United
   States, she was always fluent in the language of hard work, perseverance, and
   integrity – thanks to the example set forth by her parents.

 * NASA Headquarters
   
   
   DARLENE BOYKINS
   
   For Darlene Y. Boykins, her path to NASA began as a cooperative education
   (co-op) student for NASA. Ms. Boykins was born in Washington, D.C. and is a
   native Washingtonian.

 * Dryden Flight Research Center
   
   
   MICHELLE HAUPT
   
   From the time she was a little girl, Michelle Haupt has loved flying on
   airplanes. As she grew, she wondered what it would be like to travel in
   space. She discovered that mathematics was her favorite school subject. These
   interests led Haupt’s decision in seventh grade to become an aerospace
   engineer.

 * Stennis Space Center
   
   
   DIANE SIMS
   
   For Diane Sims, Hurricane Katrina was a not only a moment of destruction and
   guilt but also of belief and compassion in the human spirit. She recalls, “I
   remember having a huge sense of guilt because my house survived, and I was
   the only one in my office that wasn’t displaced.”

 * Ames Research Center
   
   
   CORAZON MILLENA
   
   For Corazon Millena, NASA was an ocean away since she was born in the
   Philippines. Her family immigrated to the US in 1975 to San Jose, Calif.,
   where she immediately secured a job as a customer service representative at
   J. C. Penny Co.

 * Glenn Research Center
   
   
   DEBRA ZAMOSTNY
   
   Debbie always wanted to play the piano. It was the love of her life. While
   other kids were playing outside, she was inside practicing. It was the same
   in music college and playing with the band. She missed countless parties,
   holidays, and many life-changing events because she was working. But the
   sacrifice was worth it for her.

 * Kennedy Space Center
   
   
   CHARMEL JONES
   
   For Charmel Jones, the journey to NASA was unexpected. Although she strived
   to be an engineer since the age of 10, she never imagined in a million years
   that she would be, or could ever be, a part of the NASA family. Growing up in
   a single-parent household in Palmetto, Fla., Ms. Jones was faced with the
   stereotypical persona that she would not amount to anything because of
   growing up in an “unbalanced” family.

 * Langley Research Center
   
   
   JANET SELLARS
   
   Service has always been Janet’s goal and motivation. It is a sense of purpose
   passed down to her from her mother. She instilled in Janet a strong work
   ethic. She didn’t have a lot. They weren’t rich. But she taught her how to
   give and not expect things in return. That has stayed with Janet.

 * Stennis Space Center
   
   
   LINDA MCCAIN
   
   Linda’s earliest memory of space was hearing about the Russians and Sputnik
   and monkeys flying in space. The world was much different then. There was no
   Internet or Google. Television offerings were limited, but this was big news
   at the time. Little did she know that one day NASA would be in her future.

 * Kennedy Space Center
   
   
   JANET PETRO
   
   Janet Petro took an impressive step when, at the age of 17, she began
   leadership training at the highly esteemed United States Military Academy at
   West Point at a time when women had just begun to be accepted into the
   nation’s military academies.

 * Johnson Space Center
   
   
   JANELLE HOLT
   
   Despite being a Houston, Texas native, Janelle Holt thought that only
   engineers and scientists could work for NASA. She was introduced to NASA
   career possibilities for business students during a Career Fair at her alma
   mater, the University of Houston.


Women of 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011


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