Keynote Speaker, April 27, 2002

Dr. Kathryn D. Sullivan joined COSI -- one of the premier science museums in the nation -- as President and CEO in April of 1996. During her time at COSI, Dr. Sullivan has led the institution through its biggest time of growth, including a move to the new state of the art facility on Columbus' Riverfront. Under Sullivan's leadership, COSI has deepened its commitment to expanding science and learning opportunities throughout the state of Ohio and beyond.

COSI Columbus – the Center of Science and Industry – was just named the nation’s top science center by Child Magazine, one of the country’s premier parenting/education publications. The COSI Web site (www.cosi.org) was also ranked at the top of the magazine’s ‘Best of the Web’ list.

COSI's staff is composed of 195 full-time employees, 183 part-time employees, and approximately 1,020 volunteers!

Dr. Sullivan, a former astronaut and the CEO of COSI, will be the featured keynoter April 27 at the OCUS 2002 Convention & Expo, where she is expected to share her thoughts on her pioneering achievements in space (she was the first American woman to walk in space) and on the ground (as the leader of an organization that relies on professionals and volunteers for its success).

Before taking on her role at COSI, Dr. Sullivan headed up the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration where she held the title Chief Scientist. At NOAA, she oversaw research and technology programs in several areas, including climate and global change, marine biodiversity and satellite instrumentation. Currently she is a member of the prestigious Pew Ocean Commission, a national committee tasked with reviewing policies to restore and protect the oceans.

Click photo to view. Astronaut Kathryn D. Sullivan, 41-G mission specialist, uses binoculars to view Earth through Challenger's forward cabin windows. (NASA)

Dr. Sullivan is a former NASA astronaut, serving on three shuttle missions. As a member of the first Space Shuttle astronaut class she spent six years preparing for the mission aboard Challenger in 1984, when she became the first American woman to walk in space. In subsequent missions aboard Discovery and Atlantis, she served as a Spacewalk Specialist for the Hubble Telescope and a Payload Commander for ATLAS-1.

Throughout her life, Dr. Sullivan has spent a great deal of time focused on educating children. She led the design of the original Challenger Center Program model and has served as an advisor for numerous exhibit and multimedia projects for groups including National Geographic, the Smithsonian Institution and WGBH.

Dr. Sullivan has a Bachelor of Science degree in Earth Sciences from the University of California at Santa Cruz and a Ph.D. in Geology from Dalhousie University, Nova Scotia. She has received countless honorary degrees and awards, most recently being her election as a Fellow in the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

Dr. Sullivan will keynote the Saturday, April 27, General Session at the Ohio Credit Union System's 2002 Convention & Expo at the Hyatt Regency Columbus.

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