UNIVERSITY OF WORCESTER AWARDS HONORARY DOCTORATE TO PRESIDENT OF WORCESTER POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE, MASSACHUSETTS, USA

8 November 2018 I attended the graduation ceremony in Worcester Cathedral on 8 November at which Dr Laurie Leshin, President of Worcester Polytechnic Institute, USA, was awarded an honorary doctorate by the University of Worcester. Dr Laurie Leshin has been President of the Worcester Polytechnic Institute since 2014 and is a world authority on space exploration. Dr Leshin was appointed by President Obama to the Advisory Board for the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum. Prior to this, she was the Deputy Director of NASA's Exploration Systems Mission Directorate, where she was responsible for oversight of NASA's future human spaceflight programmes and activities. She is the recipient of NASA’s Outstanding Leadership Medal and NASA’s Distinguished Public Service Medal. In 2001, the International Astronomical Union named an asteroid in recognition of her contributions to planetary science: Asteroid 4922 Leshin. Over a period of years I have taken a particular interest in promoting links between WPI and Worcester University, and was pleased to nominate Dr Leshin for this award.

---