Evolving for Positive Change
I graduated Summa Cum Laude and Phi Kappa Phi with a B.A. in Psychology from the California State University, Long Beach. I received my Ph.D. in Psychology, specializing in Environmental Design Research and Social Psychology, from the University of California, Davis.
Over more than 20 years, I have worked professionally as a design research psychologist, applying formal research methods, findings and theory from the social sciences to the design of complex, often highly specialized human systems and settings ranging from challenging architectural problems to advanced informational environments and products.
Since 1984, I have served NASA in managing and conducting projects as a senior principal investigator and research psychologist, testbed development manager, government-industry liaison, and an information designer. I continue to serve as one of NASA's top international authorities on the psychological implications of long duration space flight. I have conducted extensive research and advised mission planners and designers on the human performance and environmental design determinants of living and working in isolating and confining settings.
For my 6 years of leadership on NASA's human factors design research for the International Space Station, I received the national Human Environment Award from the American Society of Interior Designers in 1989 for "significant contributions to enhancing the quality of life and improving the awareness of designers and users."
I have won numerous NASA Special Achievement Awards, including one for my work as a Project Manager for the NASA Human Exploration Demonstration Project; a highly multi-disciplinary testbed design and construction project involving the integration of various advanced technologies into a full scale simulator of a (real and virtual world) interplanetary space habitat. For this project, I also painted 2 large scale, photo-realistic murals of the lunar and Mars planetary surfaces (mural painting is one of my hobbies).
Prior to NASA, I worked for more than a decade in earth-based architecture. My architectural design research projects included such exotic environments as space-based and interplanetary habitats, facilities in Alaska and Antarctica, underground cities and habitat concepts, a super high-rise residential/commercial complex in Japan, an underground U.S. military command center, and remote desert communities in Saudi Arabia and the American Southwest. I have also conducted extensive human factors and design research to improve and guide the design and habitability of educational, office, laboratory and hospital settings, and other community and commercial facilities.
Having evolved through a dramatic career change, I am now applying my skills and experience toward the design of informational, rather than physical environments and products. I am currently designing and producing for NASA, customized video, television and multimedia communication products to explain, demonstrate and promote research projects underway in NASA's Center of Excellence for Information Technology.
I perform a great deal of professional community service involving positions on numerous panels, commissions, and boards including many years as an organizing official for the International Conference on Environmental Systems, and a member of the Scientific Advisory Committee of the National Space Society.
I was recently elected to the Board of Governors of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (NATAS), Northern California Chapter. For NATAS I also serve as an invited judge of documentary and cultural television programming for regional Emmy Awards. I currently serve as NASA's representative to the Broad Alliance for Multimedia Technology and Applications (BAMTA) for which I have served as an invited judge of commercial multimedia products in national competitions.
In addition, I serve as an Executive Producer for the international SAE Human Modeling Technology Standards committee, producing professional video publications to replace conventional "paper publications" at international aerospace conferences.
I have held long term Lecturer positions at both Stanford University and the University of California, delivered more than 200 invited professional lectures and briefings, written and edited numerous scientific and technical publications, and have been frequently featured in NASA public outreach as well as in televised news and educational programs.
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