>> A SUCCESS STORY: LAURIE LESHIN
Laurie came to ASU as a Diablos scholar in 1983.
Laurie is currently the Director of Sciences and Exploration at the NASA’s Goddard Space Center. This program is the largest science organization within NASA. Laurie graduated Summa Cum Laude with an undergraduate degree in Chemistry. She then received her Masters and Ph.D. degrees, both in Geochemistry, from the California Institute of Technology.
After four years of research at UCLA, she returned to ASU where she joined the Geology faculty as an assistant professor. Before being appointed to her current position with NASA, she was awarded numerous research grants to study the solar system, planetary materials and meteorites.
She also served in the following capacities:
• Antarctic Search for Meteorites Field Team
• Mars Architecture Review Team s Member of the Mars Polar Lander Science Team
• NASA Mars Expeditions Strategy Group
• NASA Mission to the Solar System Roadmap Team
• NASA Solar System Exploration Subcommittee
On January 14th, 2004, President George W. Bush appointed Laurie to the President’s Commission on the Implementation of U.S. Space Exploration Policy. She also received the NASA Distinguished Public Service Medal in 2004 and has a meteorite named after her.
