National Science Foundation Director to Speak at UA’s Winter Commencement Dec. 17

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Dr. Rita Colwell, director of the National Science Foundation, will be the featured speaker for The University of Alabama’s winter commencement ceremony Monday, Dec. 17 at Coleman Coliseum on the UA campus.

Colwell will also receive an honorary doctor of humane letters during the 9 a.m. ceremony. Approximately 1,100 degrees will be conferred.

Having served as director since 1998, Colwell has spearheaded the NSF’s emphases in K-12 science and mathematics education, graduate science and engineering education/training and the increased participation of women and minorities in science and engineering. Under her leadership, the Foundation has received significant budget increases, and its funding recently reached a level of more than $4.5 billion.

Before coming to NSF, Colwell was president of the University of Maryland Biotechnology Institute, where she remains professor of microbiology and biotechnology. She was also a member of the National Science Board from 1984 to 1990.

She is a nationally respected scientist and educator and has authored or co-authored 16 books and more than 600 scientific publications. She produced the award-winning film, Invisible Seas, and has served on editorial boards of numerous scientific journals.

Colwell holds a bachelor’s degree in bacteriology and a master’s degree in genetics, both from Purdue University, and holds a doctorate in oceanography from the University of Washington.

For more information, contact UA’s office of media relations at 205/348-5320.