Oct. 11, 2006 Dean Acosta/Sonja Alexander Headquarters, Washington 202-358-1400/1761 RELEASE: 06-329 NASA SELECTS NEW EDUCATION ASSISTANT ADMINISTRATOR NASA Deputy Administrator Shana Dale announced Wednesday the selection of Joyce L. Winterton as the agency's new assistant administrator for education, effective Oct. 16. She succeeds John M. Hairston, Jr., who has served in an acting capacity since June. Before joining NASA, Winterton was director of national education programs for USA Today, the nation's largest circulated newspaper. She has also directed a number of highly visible and successful education initiatives during the past three decades. "I look forward to Joyce's contribution to our education programs. She has devoted her career to inspiring students as both an educator and an administrator committed to excellence and advancing knowledge," Dale said. "I want to thank John for agreeing to come to headquarters and serve as acting AA. His outstanding stewardship during this period of transition for our education office has been deeply appreciated." Hairston will return to NASA's Glenn Research Center in Cleveland as director of the external programs directorate. Winterton will be responsible for the development and implementation of the agency's education information and outreach programs that strengthen student involvement and public awareness about NASA's scientific goals and missions. "I look forward to joining NASA at this crucial time for the agency as it looks to inspire student interest in science, technology, engineering and mathematics," Winterton said. "This is an exciting challenge, and I look forward to joining my new colleagues in pushing new frontiers." She earned her bachelor's and master's degrees in Home Economics Education from Utah State University in Logan. In 1978, she completed her doctorate in Teacher Education and Administration at Colorado State University in Fort Collins. Winterton is no stranger to Washington, serving as executive director for the National Council on Vocational Education in 1986 and deputy assistant secretary at the Department of Education in 1983. She has served on a number of national boards and advisory panels, and she created her own successful education and business consulting firm in 1991. For more information about NASA and agency education programs, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/education -end- To subscribe to the list, send a message to: hqnews-subscribe@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx To remove your address from the list, send a message to: hqnews-unsubscribe@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
