France Córdova

President at Science Philanthropy Alliance

Santa Fe, New Mexico, United States Contact Info
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About

France Córdova is a leader in science, engineering and education with more than three decades experience at universities and national labs. She has served in five presidential administrations, both Democratic and Republican. She is an internationally recognized astrophysicist for her contributions in space research and instrumentation. She currently serves as president of the Science Philanthropy Alliance, whose mission is to advance science through visionary philanthropy.

Córdova was the 14th Director of the National Science Foundation (NSF), a presidential-appointed, Senate-confirmed executive position. NSF is the only government agency charged with advancing all fields of scientific discovery, technological innovation, and STEM education.

Through her leadership at NSF, the agency grew by over one billion dollars, strengthened existing partnerships while forging new ones, and launched a strategic framework defined by 10 Big Ideas—promising areas of research for targeted investment. She initiated NSF’s Convergence Accelerator to leverage external partnerships to accelerate research in areas of national importance.

She is the only woman to serve as president of Purdue University, where she led the university to record levels of research funding, reputational rankings, and student retention and graduation rates. She established a College of Health and Human Sciences at Purdue, as well as a Global Research Policy Institute.

Córdova is also chancellor emerita of the University of California, Riverside, where she was a distinguished professor of physics and astronomy.

Previously, Córdova served as NASA's chief scientist, representing NASA to the larger scientific community. She was the youngest person and first woman to serve as NASA's chief scientist and was awarded the agency's highest honor, the Distinguished Service Medal.

She has published more than 150 scientific papers. She has been awarded several honorary doctorates, including ones from Purdue, Duke and Dartmouth Universities. She was awarded the Kennedy-Lemass Medal from Ireland. She is a Kilby Laureate for "significant contributions to society through science, technology, innovation, invention and education." She has been inducted into the California Hall of Fame and the Stanford University Multicultural Hall of Fame. Córdova received her Bachelor of Arts degree from Stanford University and her PhD in physics from the California Institute of Technology. A nunatak in Antarctica, a Recreational Sports Center at Purdue, and a cocktail in Las Vegas have been named for her.

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Experience

Organizations

  • Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

    Advisory Board

    - Present

  • Santé Venture Capital

    Advisory Board

    - Present

  • American Institute of Physics Foundation

    Chair, Board of Trustees

    - Present

  • California Institute of Technology

    Board of Trustees

    - Present

  • Museums of New Mexico Foundation

    Advisory Board

    -

  • Smithsonian Institution

    Board of Regents (served as Chair 2012-2014)

    -

  • Mayo Clinic

    Board of Trustees

    -

  • SAIC

    Board of Directors

    -

  • Edison International / Southern California Edison

    Board of Directors

    -

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