Former NASA Astronaut Named Chair-Elect as Challenger Center Welcomes Five New Board Members

Dorothy Metcalf-Lindenburger to Lead Board Alongside New Directors Bringing Expertise Across Education, Aerospace, and Public Policy

Washington – September 4, 2025 – Challenger Center, a leading STEM education nonprofit, announced the election of former NASA educator astronaut Dorothy “Dottie” Metcalf-Lindenburger as Chair-Elect of its Board of Directors, with her term beginning in August 2026 when current Board Chair Josh Izenberg’s term concludes. The organization also welcomed five new members whose diverse expertise will help drive its mission forward.

Metcalf-Lindenburger began her career as a high school science teacher in Vancouver before she was selected to join the Astronaut Corps as part of NASA’s Educator Astronaut Project in 2004. She flew as a mission specialist on STS-131 to the International Space Station and later commanded NASA’s NEEMO undersea research mission.

Since retiring from NASA, she has been a passionate advocate for STEM education. Metcalf-Lindenburger has served on Challenger Center’s Board of Directors since 2018, volunteers on the Presidential Advisory Board for Whitman College, and is a trustee of the Museum of Flight in Seattle. In addition, she travels the country speaking to students, educators, and teachers about her personal experiences and the importance of STEM.

“Many of the complex challenges of today and tomorrow will be solved by people working in STEM,” said Metcalf-Lindenburger. “For nearly 40 years, Challenger Center has inspired students to see themselves in these roles and given them the hands-on experiences they need to succeed. I’m honored to help lead the organization into its next chapter, expanding opportunities for every learner to discover the power and possibility of STEM.”

“Dottie is the embodiment of our mission — an educator, an explorer, and a passionate advocate for students,” said Mike Kincaid, Challenger Center’s President and Executive Director. “I’ve worked with her over the past 20 years, so I know that her experience makes her the perfect leader to guide our Board as we continue sparking curiosity in today’s learners and tomorrow’s STEM workforce.”

Five additional members have been elected to Challenger Center’s Board of Directors:

David A. Altounian, Vice Provost for Graduate and Professional Studies at Salve Regina University

Daniel “Dan” Dumbacher, Chief Innovation and Strategy Officer at Aurex and former CEO of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA)

Jeffrey Ted “J.T.” Jezierski, Chief of Staff to U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito

Sandra “Sandy” Johnson, Owner & CEO of Barrios Technology

Kenneth “Kenny” Harris II, Senior Project Manager at The Aerospace Corporation and Challenger Center alum

“Challenger Center is fortunate to have an incredibly dedicated and talented Board, and Dottie’s leadership, combined with the diverse expertise of our newest members, will make us even stronger,” said Josh Izenberg, Challenger Center’s current Chair of the Board. “I’m thrilled to welcome these outstanding individuals and look forward to the impact we’ll make together in continuing to expand our reach and inspire the next generation of STEM leaders.”

The new leadership joins at an exciting time. In 2026, Challenger Center will celebrate its 40th anniversary. Since its founding in the wake of the Challenger tragedy, Challenger Center has reached more than 6.5 million students across the globe. Looking to the next 40 years, Challenger Center is committed to leading the charge—uniting partners and thought leaders to tackle the urgent needs of today’s students, prepare them for the rapidly evolving STEM workforce, and inspire the next generation of scientists, engineers, and innovators.

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About Challenger Center 

As a leader in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education, each year Challenger Center provides hundreds of thousands of students with experiential education programs that engage students in hands-on learning opportunities. These programs, delivered in Challenger Learning Centers and classrooms, strengthen knowledge in STEM subjects and inspire students to pursue careers in these important fields. Challenger Center was created by the Challenger families to honor the crew of shuttle flight STS-51-L. For more information about Challenger Center, please visit www.challenger.org or connect on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.