NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Image left: Joyce Leavitt Winterton, Assistant Administrator for Education. Photo credit: NASA/Bill Ingalls.

Joyce Leavitt Winterton, NASA's Assistant Administrator for Education, directs the development and implementation of the agency's education programs that strengthen student involvement and public awareness of its scientific goals and missions. In this role, she leads the agency in inspiring interest in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, as few other organizations can through its unique mission, workforce, facilities, research and innovations.

As Assistant Administrator for Education, Winterton chairs the Education Coordinating Committee, an agency-wide collaborative structure that maximizes NASA's ability to manage and implement its education portfolio. The ECC works to ensure that the agency's education investments are focused on supporting the nation's education efforts to develop the skilled workforce necessary to achieve the agency's goals and objectives.

Before coming to NASA, Winterton served as the Director of Education Programs for USA TODAY, and developed educational strategies, resources and partnerships for its K-12 and collegiate programs. During her nine years at USA TODAY, she created innovative cross-curricular educational approaches, including case studies, content development and online collaborations.

She was the founder and president of Winterton Associates, a consulting firm that specializes in working on joint projects with business and industry, education, and government. The firm has served as the evaluator for National Science Foundation projects and U.S. Department of Education-funded programs, including six national skill standards projects since 1991.

Winterton's previous experience includes serving as the team leader for partner development for the National Future Farmers of America student organization, where she planned and developed partnerships and strategies to communicate the benefits of agricultural education and a student organization with over 450,000 members. She has also been an education training consultant for FranklinCovey Inc. where she facilitated time management and personal effectiveness workshops for national student leadership organizations.

In 1986, Winterton became the executive director of the National Council on Vocational Technical Education, a Presidential Advisory Council providing recommendations to the President, Congress and the secretary of education. Additionally, Winterton served as the deputy assistant secretary for vocational and adult education in the United States Department of Education and was the first director of the Presidential Academic Fitness Awards program. She also was a professional staff member for the U.S. Senate Committee on Labor and Human Resources. She has served on a number of national education boards and advisory panels.

Winterton has been a high school teacher, a teacher educator and a home economist in business. She received the Lawrence Prakken Professional Cooperation award from the International Technology Education Association and was recognized as an outstanding alumna from Colorado State University and also the Family, Career and Community Leaders of America. She earned her bachelor's and master's degrees in home economics education from Utah State University in Logan. In 1978, she completed her doctorate in teacher education and administration at Colorado State University in Fort Collins.

January 2006