President Biden appoints Dr. Bevlee A. Watford to the National Science Board

President Biden has appointed Bevlee A. Watford to the National Science Board. The National Science Board has two important roles. First, it establishes the policies of NSF within the framework of applicable national policies set forth by the President and the Congress. In this capacity, the Board identifies issues that are critical to NSF’s future, approves NSF’s strategic budget directions and the annual budget submission to the Office of Management and Budget, and approves new major programs and awards. The second role of the Board is to serve as an independent body of advisors to both the President and the Congress on policy matters related to science and engineering and education in science and engineering. In addition to major reports, the NSB also publishes occasional policy papers or statements on issues of importance to U.S. science and engineering. The NSB is made up of 25 Members appointed by the President. The NSF Director is an ex officio Member. Members serve six-year terms.

Dr. Bevlee A. Watford is the Associate Dean for Equity and Engagement and Professor of Engineering Education in the College of Engineering at Virginia Tech. As the founding executive director of the Center for the Enhancement of Engineering Diversity (CEED), she has worked to broaden participation in engineering through outreach and student support activities. She has secured more than $17 million dollars in funding and support for CEED and other student initiatives. Her research activities have focused on the recruitment and retention of students in engineering, with a particular emphasis on minoritized students. CEED received the 2010 Claire Felbinger Diversity Award from ABET and the 2011 NSBE-ExxonMobil Impact award for implementing successful research-based efforts to improve retention. In 2019, the College of Engineering was recognized as a Bronze Exemplar institution in the ASEE Deans Diversity Recognition program, largely based on CEED’s activities.

From 2005-2007, Watford served as a program manager in the Division of Undergraduate Education for the National Science Foundation, returning from 2013-2015 to serve as the program director for broadening participation in the Division of Engineering Education and Centers. In 2010, she was elected as a Fellow of ASEE and she served as ASEE president for the 2017-2018 year. Watford was the 2004-2005 President of the Women in Engineering ProActive Network and has served on the Board of Directors of the National Association of Multicultural Engineering Program Administrators.

President Biden appoints Dr. Wanda Elaine Ward to the National Science Board

President Biden has appointed Dr. Wanda Elaine Ward to the National Science Board. The National Science Board has two important roles. First, it establishes the policies of NSF within the framework of applicable national policies set forth by the President and the Congress. In this capacity, the Board identifies issues that are critical to NSF’s future, approves NSF’s strategic budget directions and the annual budget submission to the Office of Management and Budget, and approves new major programs and awards. The second role of the Board is to serve as an independent body of advisors to both the President and the Congress on policy matters related to science and engineering and education in science and engineering. In addition to major reports, the NSB also publishes occasional policy papers or statements on issues of importance to U.S. science and engineering. The NSB is made up of 25 Members appointed by the President. The NSF Director is an ex officio Member. Members serve six-year terms.

Dr. Wanda E. Ward is Executive Associate Chancellor for Public Engagement, Office of the Chancellor, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. She joined the university in 2018 as the Executive Associate Chancellor for Administration and University Relations, where she served as Chief of Staff to the Chancellor. Prior to joining the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Ward served in several senior leadership positions throughout her 26 years at the National Science Foundation, including in the Office of the Director (where she headed the former Office of Integrative and International Activities); the Directorate for Social, Behavioral and Economic Sciences; and the Directorate for Education and Human Resources. She also served as Assistant Director for Broadening Participation at the Office of Science and Technology Policy, White House Executive Office of the President.

Ward has served on several of the President’s National Science and Technology Council subcommittees and interagency working groups in the areas of the social, behavioral and economic sciences, and science education and workforce development. At the international level, she served as a member of the International Social Science Council (ISSC) Committee for Developing and Transition Economies and the ISSC Executive Committee. Ward earned a BA in psychology and an Afro-American Studies Certificate from Princeton University and a PhD in psychology from Stanford University. She was awarded the U.S. Presidential Rank Award for Distinguished Executive; the American Psychological Association Presidential Citation; and the Federation of Behavioral, Psychological and Cognitive Sciences Richard T. Louttit Award.