Press Release 06-087
National Science Foundation Announces New Director for Legislative and Public Affairs

May 19, 2006

Arlington, Va.--Jeff Nesbit, a senior communications strategist with 25 years of experience working in the national media, Congress, the Food and Drug Administration, the White House and Private Industry, has been appointed director of the Office of Legislative and Public Affairs at the National Science Foundation (NSF).

Nesbit will oversee the agency's communication activities with the public, Congress, the news media, states and governors, and various scientific, engineering and education organizations. He begins his duties at NSF on June 12, 2006.

Nesbit has managed a successful strategic communications consulting business for more than a decade. His clients and projects have included dozens of national non-profit, trade associations, media companies, Fortune 500 companies, major health foundations, public relations agencies and advocacy organizations such as the Discovery Health Channel, the American Heart Association, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the American Red Cross, Porter-Novelli, CTIA-the Wireless Association, the Koop-Kessler Committee on Tobacco Policy and Public Health, Burson-Marsteller, the Kaiser Family Foundation and a number of major pharmaceutical companies.

Prior to forming his own communications consulting business in 1992, Nesbit was the Director of Communications to former Vice President Dan Quayle at the White House; Associate Commissioner for Public Affairs at the FDA for David Kessler, M.D.; a U.S. Senate press secretary and a national journalist with media organizations such as Knight-Ridder Newspapers. In addition, Nesbit is the author of 17 novels for children and adults.

-NSF-

Media Contacts
Leslie Fink, National Science Foundation (703) 292-5395 lfink@nsf.gov

The National Science Foundation (NSF) is an independent federal agency that supports fundamental research and education across all fields of science and engineering. In fiscal year (FY) 2009, its budget is $9.5 billion, which includes $3.0 billion provided through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. NSF funds reach all 50 states through grants to over 1,900 universities and institutions. Each year, NSF receives about 44,400 competitive requests for funding, and makes over 11,500 new funding awards. NSF also awards over $400 million in professional and service contracts yearly.

 Get News Updates by Email 

Useful NSF Web Sites:
NSF Home Page: http://www.nsf.gov
NSF News: http://www.nsf.gov/news/
For the News Media: http://www.nsf.gov/news/newsroom.jsp
Science and Engineering Statistics: http://www.nsf.gov/statistics/
Awards Searches: http://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/