Challenger Center Lauds NASA’s New Associate Administrator for Education, Leland Melvin

Challenger Center for Space Science Education congratulates astronaut Leland Melvin on his selection as Associate Administrator for Education at NASA.

Melvin has an exceptional background for this position, both through his flight experience as an astronaut, and his educational leadership as co-director of NASA’s Educator Astronaut program, and his current work developing NASA’s educational strategic plan. “Leland is an extremely talented astronaut, engineer, scientist and athlete. Moreover, he is a great friend of educators and students. His selection as NASA’s Associate Administrator for Education bodes well for Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) education in our country. Challenger Center looks forward to supporting him in this new role.” said Scott Parazynski, astronaut and Chair of the Board for Challenger Center.

There could hardly be a more important position at NASA, as the nation defines the future path of space exploration. Regardless of technological path, NASA must continue to educate and inspire. NASA has a decade’s long history of educational innovation, and Melvin has the “right stuff” to sustain, extend and deepen this educational work.

Challenger Center had its genesis with the Educator Astronaut program, by honoring teacher Christa Corrigan McAuliffe and the other astronauts of the Challenger mission. Now entering its 25th year, the Challenger Center program now includes 48 Challenger Learning Centers, each dedicated to inspiring the next generation of explorers through its award-winning simulated space missions and other educational innovations. Challenger Learning Centers reach over 400,000 students every year.

Challenger Center for Space Science Education has a Space Act Agreement with NASA, enabling the two organizations to work closely in a variety of educational innovations. Challenger Center looks forward to working closely with Melvin in the coming years.

About The Challenger Center for Space Science Education

Using space exploration as a theme and simulations as a vehicle, the Challenger Center for Space Science Education and its international network of 48 Challenger Learning Centers create positive educational experiences that raise students’ expectations of success, fosters a long-term interest in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), and inspires students to pursue studies and careers in these areas. Challenger Center’s network of Challenger Learning Centers across the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and South Korea reach more than 300,000 students each year through simulated space missions and educational programs, and engage over 40,000 educators through missions, teacher workshops and other programs. To learn more about Challenger Center for Space Science Education, visit http://www.challenger.org.

Angie Tenne
info@challenger.org
www.challenger.org
Challenger Center for Space Science Education
300 N. Lee Street, Suite 301, Alexandria, VA 22314
1.888.682.9740