Image: CCSSE Board Chair William Readdy and Founder June Scobee Rodgers

Alexandria, VA - Challenger Center for Space Science Education is pleased to announce that in January 2008 William Readdy will assume the important leadership role, succeeding astronaut and business executive, Dr. Joseph Allen, Ph.D. as chairman of the board. Readdy brings over three decades of experience in the aerospace industry to Challenger Center. He had a distinguished career with NASA, as an astronaut and as associate administrator for space operations.

Dr. June Scobee Rodgers, Challenger Center founder said, "Joe served as Chairman of our Board for nearly 10 years and prior to that he was a tremendous supporter and advisor to me and the other family members. Joe's leadership helped to grow our great network, fine tune the organization, and we are all very pleased that Joe will remain an active member of our Board of Directors for many years to come."

Readdy has been serving on the board for the past two years and is actively engaged helping Challenger Center to engage over 400,000 students and their teachers nationwide. Challenger Center programs raise student's expectations of success by fostering a long-term interest in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) motivating them to pursue a career in these fields. The network of 50 Challenger Learning Centers across the U.S. train more than 25,000 teachers annually to incorporate project-based learning and use the theme of space exploration to engage students in critical thinking, decision-making, communication and teamwork.

Recently, Readdy participated in the Challenger Center STS-118 'learning from space' celebration this past August. This event brought together students from across the country in live Q & A sessions with Readdy and fellow astronauts Dr. Roger Crouch and Dr. Joseph P. Allen. The two-day event culminated with a live downlink with educator astronaut Barbara Morgan and astronaut Alvin Drew from the International Space Station. This milestone event was fulfillment of the 51-L Challenger Crew's educational 'Teacher in Space' mission, which had ended so tragically in January 1986.

To see the event webcasts please visit http://www.challenger.org/clc/sts118webcast.cfm.

To learn more about Challenger Center for Space Science Education's educational programs, to sign up for web casts and to locate a Challenger Learning Centers in your state, please visit http://www.challenger.org

Shannon Rush
Development & Communications Associate
Challenger Center for Space Science Education
1250 North Pitt Street
Alexandria, VA 22314

Inspiring, Exploring, Learning

It's been our mission for 20 years...And the mission continues.

About Challenger Center for Space Science Education

We are a non-profit 501 (c) (3) organization founded in 1986 by the families of the astronauts tragically lost in the Challenger 51-L mission. Dedicated to the educational spirit of that mission, Challenger Center programs continue the crew's mission of engaging students in science, math and technology and foster in them an interest to pursue careers in those fields. For more information on our diverse programs, including our network of Challenger Learning Centers, please click to www.challenger.org.