National Aeronautics and 

Space Administration 

NASA’S OFFICE OF STEM ENGAGEMENT UPDATE 

NASA ADVISORY COUNCIL STEM ENGAGEMENT COMMITTEE 

MIKE KINCAID

Dec. 4, 2018 ASSOCIATE ADMINISTRATOR FOR STEM ENGAGEMENT 
NASA’S OFFICE OF STEM ENGAGEMENT 

STEM Engagement Updates 

Transformation 

Meeting Agency and CoSTEM Strategies 

Members Questions, Feedback, Input 
NASA ADVISORY COUNCIL 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Aimee Kennedy 

Vice President, Education STEM Learning & Philanthropy 

Battelle Memorial Institute 

Michael Lach 

Director, STEM Policy & Strategic Initiatives 

University of Chicago 

Ray Mellado 

Founder & Chairman 

Great Minds in STEM 

Carl Person 

Undergraduate Research Preceptor 

Fayetteville State University 

Cristin Dorgelo 

President & CEO 

Association of Science-Technology Centers 

Daniel Dumbacher 

Executive Director 

American Institute of Aeronautics & Astronautics 

Norman Fortenberry 

Executive Director 

American Society for Engineering Education 

Darryl Williams 

Senior Vice President of Science and Education 

The Franklin Institute 

Current Team: New Members: 

STEM ENGAGEMENT COMMITTEE INAUGURAL MEETING 
MISSION-DRIVEN STRATEGIC ENGAGEMENT
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mission-Driven Programs Enabling STEM Engagement NASA’S 

THEMATIC

AREAS

SPACE GRANT 

• National network of 52 Consortia 

with 850 Affiliate members 

• Stimulates cooperative programs 

among universities, industry, 

federal/state/local governments 

• Encourages interdisciplinary 

education and research programs 

• Incorporates State priorities, 

needs, and goals 

MUREP 

• Limited to Minority-Serving 

Institutions 

• Increases retention of underserved 

and underrepresented groups in 

STEM 

• Enhances infrastructure at MSI 

institutions 

• Portfolio with 7 funded elements 

EPSCoR 

• 27 eligible jurisdictions (States and 

Territories) 

• Contributes to development of 

research infrastructure and 

capabilities 

• Fosters partnerships between 

NASA research entities, industry, 

and academic institutions 

• Incorporates state priorities, needs, 

and goals 

Next Gen STEM 

• Informal education and K-12 STEM 

engagement initiatives aligned to 

mission priorities 

• Richer, more comprehensive STEM 

engagement opportunities 

• NASA’s museum alliance 

Graduate Undergraduate High School Middle School K-Elementary School

STEM ENGAGEMENT 

BENEFICIARIES 

5 
 

 

 

 

NEWARCHITECTUREENABLINGSTUDENT

OPPORTUNITIES&CONTRIBUTIONS

FOCUS AREAS 

NASA MISSION DIRECTORATE

DRIVERS & REQUIREMENTS 

Evidencebased 

strategies 

Rigorous 

planning 

Integrated 

operational 

model 

Create unique opportunities 

for students to contribute to 

NASA’s work. 

Build a diverse future STEM 

workforce by engaging 

students in authentic learning 

experiences. 

Strengthening public 

understanding by enabling 

powerful connections to 

NASA’s mission and work. 

Strategic, 

balanced 

portfolio 

NASA-unique 

learning 

experiences 

Student 

contributions to 

NASA’s work in 

action 

K-Elementary 

Graduate Undergraduate High School Middle School School

BENEFICIARIES OF NASA’S 

STEM ENGAGEMENT PORTFOLIO 

SCALABILITY TO MAGNIFY NASA’S REACH AND IMPACT 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

FEDERAL STEM EDUCATION 5-YEAR STRATEGIC PLAN 

Purpose: 

Coordinate federal STEM education strategy and 

investment, and serve as a ‘North Star’ to guide state 

and local STEM education initiatives 

Opportunity for Agency Input: 

• FC-STEM Agency Meetings: August, September and

October 

• Co-STEM Meeting: Thursday, November 15th 

• FC-STEM Meeting: Friday, November 16th 

• Agencies/OMB Review: November 2018 

• Roll-out of Strategic Plan: December 4 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

STEM ENGAGEMENT TRANSFORMATION 

FY18 ACCOMPLISHMENTS 

Systemic Programmatic

•Chartered and established STEM Engagement Council. 

(03/30/18) Convened inaugural session of the Council. 

(04/12/18) 

•Completed development of new STEM Engagement NASA 

Policy Directive. (02/21/18) Will undergo formal agency process. 

(Sep-Oct 2018) 

•Established new Office of STEM Engagement. (effective 

08/29/18) 

•Completed definition of new performance measurement and 

assessment approach. (07/15/18) 

•Conducted analysis of existing infrastructure, tools & systems. 

(03/15/18) 

•Developed NASA Strategy for STEM Engagement. (Council 

approval 08/22/18) 

•Streamlined and improved agency websites, platforms and 

social media tools. 

•Developed and deployed a new NASA Internships and 

Fellowships website for students. 

•Put in place an integrated program management approach for 

EPSCoR, MUREP and Space Grant, with corresponding staff 

changes. 

•Overhauled SEAP, incorporating significant changes to approach 

for awards to informal education institutions (TEAM II) and 

innovative new mission-driven pilot initiatives. 

•Achieved improvements in interfaces and relationships with 

Space Grant Consortia and their key stakeholders. 

•Streamlined MUREP with more focused, strategic award 

initiatives. 

•Incorporated more rigorous, systematic program and fiscal 

management practices. 
National Aeronautics and 

Space Administration 

THANK YOU!