Curriculum Vitae

Professional Experience

President, Purdue University, July 2007 - present
Chancellor, University of California, Riverside, 2002 - 07
Distinguished Professor of Physics & Astronomy, UCR 2002 - 07
Vice Chancellor for Research, University of California at Santa Barbara, 1996 - 2002
Professor of Physics, University of California at Santa Barbara, 1996 - 2002
Chief Scientist, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, 1993 - 96
Department Head, Astronomy & Astrophysics, Pennsylvania State University, 1989 - 93
Professor of Astronomy & Astrophysics, Pennsylvania State University, 1989 - 96
Deputy Group Leader, Space Astronomy & Astrophysics Group, Los Alamos National Lab, 1989
Staff Scientist, Earth and Space Science Division, Los Alamos National Lab., 1979 - 89

Degrees

BA cum laude, English, Stanford University, 1969
PhD, Physics, California Institute of Technology, 1979
Honorary Doctorate, Loyola-Marymount University, 1997
Honorary Professorship, China Agricultural University, 2005

Leadership and Service

Presidential

President's National Medal of Science Committee, 1991 - 94
Fundamental Science Committee of the National Science and Technology Council, 1993 - 96
Subcommittee on Public Communication of Science, Chair, 1994 - 96
Antarctica Working Group, 1995 - 96
Research Integrity Panel, Chair, 1996

University of California

Advisory Board, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, 2006 - present
Chair, Board of Advisors for Casa de California, 2005 - 06
Long-Range Guidance Team, 2005 - 06
President's Council on the National Laboratories, 2002 - present
California Mexico Commission on Education, Science, and Technology, 2002 - present
Policy Board, U.C. Microelectronics Innovation and Computer Research Opportunities, 2000

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Co-Chair, NASA Strategic Roadmap Committee on Education, 2004
Chair, Hubble Space Telescope Time Allocation Committee, 2001
Chief Scientist, 1993 - 96
Chair, Search Committee for Director of NASA Astrobiology Institute, 1998
Chair, Science Working Group, Constellation X mission, 1998 - 2000
NASA Science Council, Chair, 1994 - 96
NASA Program Management Council, 1993 - 96
Inventions and Contributions Board, 1994
Space Science and Applications Advisory Committee (SSAAC) of the NASA Advisory Council, member, 1991 - 93
Röntgen X-ray Observatory (ROSAT) International Users Committee, member, 1985 - 90
Extreme Ultraviolet Explorer (EUVE) Guest Observer Working Group (NASA), member, 1988 - 93
Management Operations Working Group, Science Operations Branch (NASA, Astrophysics), member, 1988 - 90
Hubble Space Telescope Advanced Camera Team, member, 1993
Chair, Exceptional Scientific Achievement Medal panel, 1993 - 96

National Science Foundation, Department of Energy, Other Federal Agencies

Commission on Science and Security, Department of Energy, 2000 - 02
Advisory Committee for Astronomical Sciences, NSF, member, 1990 - 93
External Advisory Board for NSF Particle Astrophysics Center, 1989 - 93
The National Science Foundation Advisory Council, 1981 - 84
Blue Ribbon Committee on Antarctica's South Pole Station, 1994

National Research Council, National Academy of Science, Other Nonprofit

NRC Committee on Scientific Communication and National Security, 2005 - present
National Panel of Presidents and Chancellors on Models for Flexible Tenure-track Faculty Career Pathways, American Council on Education (ACE), 2004 - 05
NAS Roundtable on Scientific Communication and Security, 2003 - 05
California Council on Science and Technology, 2003 - present
National Research Council, Policy and Global Affairs, Advisory Committee, 2001 - present
Scientific Program Committee, American Association for the Advancement of Science, 2000 - 02
NRC Fusion Science Assessment Committee, 1999 - 2000
NRC Astronomy & Astrophysics Survey Committee, High-Energy Astrophysics from Space Panel, 1999
NAS Policy Division, Advisory Committee, 1997 - 2000 [also: reviewer, monitor for numerous STEP and COSEPUP reports]
NAS Office on Public Understanding of Science, Advisory Committee, 1997 - 2000
Government-University-Industry Research Roundtable, 1995 - 97
Committee on Space Astronomy & Astrophysics of the Space Science Board of the NRC, member, 1987 - 90

Corporate Governing Boards

Mayo Clinic, Board of Trustees, 2008 - present
BioCrossroads, Board of Directors, 2007 - present
Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC), Board of Directors, 2007 - present
Edison International, Board of Directors, 2004 - present
Belo Corp., Board of Directors, 2003 - 07

Professional Societies and Boards

The Chronicle/New York Times Higher Education Cabinet, 2008 - present
Association of American Universities Council of Presidents and Chancellors, 2007 - present
Big Ten Council of Presidents and Chancellors, 2007 - present
Elected Vice Chair, Universities Research Association, Council of Presidents, 2007
American Council on Education, Board of Directors, 2006 - present
National Association of State Universities and Land-Grant Colleges (NASULGC), Board of Directors, 2006 - present
American Council on Education Commission on Women in Higher Education, 2005
AWU Board of Directors, 1998 - 2000
Fermilab Board of Overseers (URA), 1st term 1997 - 2000, 2nd term 2000 - 02
Vice-President, American Astronomical Society, 1993 - 96
Chair, High Energy Astrophysics Division, American Astronomical Society, 1990
Vice-Chair, High Energy Astrophysics Division, American Astronomical Society, 1989
Board of Directors, Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy (AURA), 1989 - 92, re-elected to new term 1992 - 95, elected Vice Chair 2007
AURA Nominating Committee, member 1990 - 91
Hubble Space Telescope Institute Council (STIC), member 1990 - 93
STIC Institute Visiting Committee, Nominating Committee for, 1992 U. S. National Committee for the International Astronomical Union, member, 1990 - 93
International Astronomical Union Working Group on "Multi-frequency & Multi-facility Astrophysics," co-founder, 1988

University and Town

64th Assembly District Woman of the Year, 2007
Monday Morning Group (Riverside Leadership) 2002
Board member, Santa Barbara Botanical Garden, 1998 - 99
Santa Barbara Downtown/Waterfront Visioning Committee, 1997 - 98
Santa Barbara Channel Aquarium Science and Education Committee, 1998 - 99
Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History Advisory Council, 1997 - 98
UCSB, Vice Chancellor for Research, 1996 - 2002
UCSB, Academic Planning Coordinating Committee, Co-Chair of Rankings Subcommittee, 1999 - 2000
UCSB, Campus (Strategic) Planning Design Committee, 1997
UCSB, Audit Committee, 1996 - 2002
UCSB, Campus Planning Committee, 1996 - 2002
Penn State, Head of Dept. of Astronomy & Astrophysics, 1989 - 93
Penn State, Applied Research Laboratory, Advisory Board, 1995 - 96
Penn State, Board of Visitors to Dept. of Astronomy & Astrophysics, 1995 - 96
Penn State, Chair of the University's Honorary Degrees Committee, 1992 - 93
Penn State, Search Committee for Sr. V.P. for Research and Dean of Graduate School, 1991
Penn State, Search Committee for Chair of Comp. Sci. Dept., 1991
Penn State, Search Committee for Penn State Research Park Marketing Director, 1992
Los Alamos National Laboratory Nonproliferation and International Security (NIS) Division Review Committee, 1997 - 2002 Science and Engineering Advisory Council(SEAC) 1987 - 88, Chair, 1988 - 89

Los Alamos National Laboratory

Nonproliferation and International Security (NIS) Division Review Committee, 1997 - 2002
Science and Engineering Advisory Council(SEAC) 1987 - 88, Chair, 1988 - 89
GSSA Activity Area (LANL, Lab-wide), member 1987 - 88
GSSA Category Team (LANL, Assoc. Dir. ERA), 1986 - 88, Chair 1986 - 88
Los Alamos Fellows' Selection Committee (LANL), 1987
Research Advisory Council (LANL, ESS Division), 1985 - 86, Chair 1985 - 86

Conference Organizing

Member, Planning Committee, NAS meeting "Balancing National Security and Open Scientific Communication," December 2001
Organizer, Jan van Paradijs Symposium, The Netherlands, June 2001
Organizer, NASA Administrator's Seminar Series on "America's Next Era in Space"
Ten interactive seminars distributed over calendar year 1995
Chair, Taos Conference on "Multiwavelength Astrophysics," August 1987
Chair, "11th North American Workshop on Cataclysmic Variables," Santa Fe, NM, Oct. 1989
Chair, "1st Spectroscopic Survey Telescope Workshop," University Park, PA, Oct. 1990
Organizing Committee for "Statistical Challenges in Modern Astronomy" Conference, University Park, PA, July 1991
Organizing Committee for "Status of Women in Astronomy" Conference, Baltimore, MD, Sept. 1992
Convener, Mini-workshop on "Compact Objects" for the 16th Texas Symposium on Relativistic Astrophysics, Berkeley, CA, Dec. 1992
Organizing Committee, "Interacting Binaries," ASP, San Diego, July 1993
Organizing Committee, "New Developments in X-ray and UV Astronomy," COSPAR, IAU, Hamburg, Germany, July 1994

Recognition, Awards

California Institute of Technology Distinguished Alumna, 2007
"101: The List of the Most Influential Leaders in the Latino Community Today" Latino Leaders national Magazine, Jan 2007
Fellow, American Association for the Advancement of Science, 2007
Robert H. Atwell Distinguished Lecture, American Council on Education, February 2006
Convocation Keynote Address, La Sierra University, 2005
Commencement Speaker, Eberly College of Science, Penn State, May 2004
Hispanic Lifestyle Award, Influential Latina of the Year, 2003
National Associate of the National Academies, 2002
Kilby Prize Laureate 2000, Jack Kilby International Awards Foundation
Woman of Distinction, Girl Scouts of Tres Condados, 2000
NASA Group Achievement Award for Outstanding Teamwork, Swift Midsize Explorer Team, 2000
PBS television documentary, "Life Beyond Earth," 1999, featured scientist
American Astronomical Society Second Century Lecturer
Fellow, Association for Women in Science, elected 1999
"100 Most Influential Hispanics", Hispanic Business Magazine, October 1997
Hispanic Achievement Award in Science & Technology, Hispanic Magazine, August 1997
Honorary Doctorate of Science, Loyola-Marymount University, 1997
Undergraduate Commencement Speaker, Loyola-Marymount, Spring 1997
NASA Distinguished Service Medal, 1996
Featured in several books on women in science and books for girls, including Cover of "Women in Physical Sciences Careers" (published by Capstone Press, Minnesota), 1999
Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy, Commencement Speaker, Spring 1996
University of Texas at El Paso, Commencement Speaker, Spring 1996
PBS television documentary "Breakthrough: The Changing Face of Science in America," 1996 premiere, featured scientist
Bishop Amat Memorial High School Alumnus of the Year, 1996
University of Maryland Commencement Speaker, Winter 1995
Penn State University Graduate Commencement Speaker, Spring 1992
Who's Who in America, 1992
Penn State Phi Eta Sigma Honor Society Induction Address, Winter 1993
Shapley Lecturer of the American Astronomical Society, 1993
Penn State Phi Beta Kappa Induction Address, Spring 1991
NASA Group Achievement Award for the Rosat Satellite Project, 1991
"America's 100 Brightest Scientists Under 40," SCIENCE DIGEST magazine, 1984
Who's Who in Frontier Science and Technology, 1984
The World Who's Who of Women, 1984
The International Who's Who of Contemporary Achievement, 1984
American Men and Women of Science, 1984
Who's Who in American Education, 1993
NATO Postdoctoral Fellowship, Mullard Space Science Lab, UK, 1983 (one year)
California Institute of Technology Postdoctoral Fellowship, 1979 (three months)
Mademoiselle Magazine Guest Editor, New York City, 1969

Societies

American Association for the Advancement of Science
International Astronomical Union (past)
American Astronomical Society (past)
American Women in Science (past)
Sigma Xi (past)
Caltech Alumni Association
Stanford Alumni Association
Los Alamos Mountaineers:
President, 1985-1986, Vice-President, 1984
Director, Technical Rock Climbing School, 1984

Publications

Authored more than 150 scientific papers and reports, and 12 policy papers
Editor, Multiwavelength Astrophysics, a book of selected review papers representing all aspects of this field: scientific application, data analysis, and instrumentation, published by Cambridge University Press in 1988
Editor, The Spectroscopic Survey Telescope, Workshop Proceedings, October 1990, Penn State University
Wrote short novel (as a contest entry), "The Women of Santo Domingo," based on my living and doing anthropology field work in a Zapotec Indian pueblo in Oaxaca, Mexico, as well as a Zapotec Indian cookbook— excerpts of which were published in the Los Angeles Times food section; for these writings, I won a Mademoiselle magazine Guest Editorship and wrote the magazine's feature travel article on Israel ("Shalom, We Echo Shalom," August 1969)
Authored and edited newspaper articles while working for the Los Angeles Times News Service, 1971

Personal

Married to Christian J. Foster with two college-going children
Activities: soccer mom, running, rock-climbing, hiking, canoeing, cross-country skiing, reading, writing