Alumni
Profiles of Success
Dr. Rita Colwell
Chairman
Canon U.S. Life Sciences, Inc.
B.S. in Bacteriology and an M.S. in Genetics
Dr. Rita Colwell became the 11th Director of the National Science Foundation on August 4, 1998.
Since taking office, Dr. Colwell has spearheaded the agency's emphases in K-12 science and mathematics education, graduate science and engineering education/training and the increased participation of women and minorities in science and engineering.
Her policy approach has enabled the agency to strengthen its core activities, as well as establish support for major initiatives, including Nanotechnology, Biocomplexity, Information Technology, and the 21st Century Workforce. In her capacity as NSF Director, she serves as Co-chair of the Committee on Science of the National Science and Technology Council.
Under her leadership, the Foundation has received significant budget increases, and its funding recently reached a level of $4.4 billion.
Before coming to NSF, Dr. Colwell was President of the University of Maryland Biotechnology Institute, 1991-1998, and Professor of Microbiology at the University Maryland. She was also a member of the National Science Board (NSF's governing body) from 1984 to 1990.
"It was a truly gratifying experience to talk with the excellent students and faculty at Purdue. I am very proud of my alma mater.. . My congratulations on the excellent work being done."
Dr. Colwell began her career as a Research Assistant at the University of Washington, where she also held the position of Predoctoral Associate and Assistant Research Professor. She served as Guest Scientist at the National Research Council of Canada after earning her Ph.D. From 1963 to 1972, she was a member of the biology faculty at Georgetown University.
Dr. Colwell has held numerous advisory positions in the U.S. Government, international community, and private foundations. She is a nationally respected scientist and educator, and has authored or co-authored 16 books and more than 600 scientific publications. She produced the award-winning film, Invisible Seas, and has served on editorial boards for a variety of journals.
The recipient of numerous awards, including the Medal of Distinction from Columbia University, the Gold Medal of Charles University, Prague, and Alumna Summa Laude Dignata from the University of Washington, Seattle, Dr. Colwell has also been awarded 14 honorary degrees from institutions of higher education, including her Alma Mater, Purdue University. Dr. Colwell is an honorary member of the Microbiological Societies of the UK, France, Israel, Bangladesh, and the U.S. and has held several honorary professorships, including the University of Queensland, Australia.
Dr. Colwell has previously served as Chairman of the Board of Governors of the American Academy of Microbiology and also as President of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the Washington Academy of Sciences, the American Society for Microbiology, the Sigma Xi National Science Honorary Society, and the International Union of Microbiological Societies. Dr. Colwell is a member of the National Academy of Sciences.
Born in Beverly, Massachusetts, Dr. Colwell holds a B.S. in Bacteriology and an M.S. in Genetics, from Purdue University, and a Ph.D. in Oceanography from the University of Washington.
*All text and photos appear courtesy of the National Science Foundation
Visit the Office of the Director of the National Science Foundation http://www.nsf.gov/od/
Dr. Colwell visited the Purdue Department of Biological Sciences on October 12-14th, 2000.