Commencement speaker Kathryn D. Sullivan, Ph.D.

Kathryn D. Sullivan, Ph.D., the first American woman to walk in space, will give the commencement address at The University of Findlay on Saturday, May 5, in the Koehler Fitness and Recreation Complex. Ceremonies will begin at 2 p.m.

As a NASA mission specialist astronaut from 1978 to 1993, Sullivan logged more than 500 hours in space and is a veteran of three shuttle missions. She received numerous awards from NASA including the Medal for Outstanding Leadership, Exceptional Service Medal, Spaceflight Medal and other group and personal achievement awards.

In addition, Sullivan was nominated by both the Bush and Clinton administrations and then confirmed in 1993 as chief scientist for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. She served in that role until 1996.

Sullivan worked for 10 years as president and CEO and then science adviser for COSI, the hands-on educational center that serves nearly 900,000 people annually throughout Ohio and surrounding states. During her tenure, she oversaw final design and construction of a $125 million facility, and she launched the COSI Academy, a first-of-its-kind program providing high school students with professional research opportunities. She also worked to develop innovative new community partnerships.

Currently, Sullivan is the director for the Battelle Center for Mathematics and Science Education Policy at The Ohio State University. As director, she leads the formulation of the inaugural program plan for the new center, which was developed to catalyze changes in science education that will better equip young Americans for 21st century life.

Since 1988 Sullivan has been a member of the Naval Reserve. She holds a doctoral degree in geology from Dalhousie University, Nova Scotia, and a bachelor of science degree in earth sciences from the University of California, Santa Cruz.