News Release

BOISE STATE NEWS RELEASE / June 19, 2008

Educator, Astronaut Barbara Morgan Joins Boise State as Distinguished Educator in Residence

Boise State University announced today that astronaut and Idaho educator Barbara R. Morgan is joining the university as the Distinguished Educator in Residence, a new position designed to fit her unique ability to provide vision and leadership to the State of Idaho on science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education.

“We live in a time when our state needs a strong voice to advocate for the importance of science, technology, engineering and math education to benefit our children, our economy, and our nation,” said Boise State President Bob Kustra. “As a respected teacher, mission specialist and astronaut, Barbara is uniquely qualified to provide this voice and this leadership.”

The Idaho State Board of Education approved Morgan’s appointment today, just weeks after Boise State awarded Morgan an honorary doctorate degree for her accomplishments as NASA’s first Educator Astronaut. Morgan flew aboard the space shuttle Endeavor last August.

Morgan, through a dual appointment to Boise State’s colleges of engineering and education, will advise, lead and represent the university in its policy development, advocacy and fundraising in STEM-related programs, scholarships and initiatives. She will serve as a Boise State ambassador for scientific literacy in the community and help guide education policy in Idaho. Also, she will direct Boise State’s efforts to bring NASA education programs to area school districts, and serve as a guest lecturer and student mentor in departments across campus.

Morgan joined NASA in the 1980s as part of the Teacher in Space program and served as the backup to Christa McAuliffe for the ill-fated mission of space shuttle Challenger. She later trained as a mission specialist for NASA. From 1975-78, Morgan taught remedial reading and math and second grade at McCall-Donnelly Elementary School. After a year in Ecuador, she taught second, third, and fourth grades at McCall-Donnelly from 1979-98.

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The Boise State University admission deadline for the fall semester is June 30. Admission materials must be submitted if degree-seeking students plan to take more than seven credits or apply for federal financial aid. More information is available at http://admissions.boisestate.edu.



 

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Last reviewed on Thursday, July 10, 2008