France Anne-Dominic Córdova (born August 5, 1947) is an American astrophysicist and administrator who was the fourteenth director of the National Science Foundation.[1] Previously, she was the eleventh President of Purdue University from 2007 to 2012.[2] She now serves as President of the Science Philanthropy Alliance.[3]
Córdova became the eleventh president of Purdue University in 2007 and promoted student success and the commercialization of interdisciplinary research.[9] Her administration oversaw the establishment of Purdue's College of Health and Human Sciences and its Global Policy Research Institute.[10][11] At the end of her term, Purdue's trustees credited her with leading the school to record levels of research funding, reputational rankings, and student retention rates.[12]
Córdova's scientific career contributions have been in the areas of observational and experimental astrophysics, multi-spectral research on x-ray and gamma ray sources, and space-borne instrumentation. She has published more than 150 scientific papers, most recently in 2007. In September 2007, she was appointed to the board of directors of BioCrossroads, Indiana's initiative to grow the life sciences through a public-private collaboration that supports the region's research and corporate strengths while encouraging new business development.
American president Barack Obama appointed Córdova to the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution in 2009, and she served until 2014.[13] She was chair of the Board of Regents from 2012 to 2014.
After her retirement from NSF, Córdova was elected to the Caltech Board of Trustees in June 2020.[15] In May 2021, she was also named as President of the Science Philanthropy Alliance.[16]
Personal life
Córdova is married to science educator Christian J. Foster, with whom she has two children, Anne-Catherine and Stephen.[17] One of her hobbies is rock climbing, a hobby where she met her husband. [18] In a Physics Today article she talks about how she turned down an offer from her advisor to be nominated as an astronaut, preferring instead to focus on research.[19] In an interview with the American Institute of Physics, she describes her career decisions and life path in greater detail. She said that being a physicist influenced her leadership style, that she is optimistic about the future and that one never knows when they will use the knowledge they learn.[20]
Honors and awards
In 1996, she received NASA's highest honor, the NASA Distinguished Service Medal. She was recognized as a 2000 Kilby Laureate, for "contributions to society through science, technology, innovation, invention, and education."[21] She was named one of the 80 Elite Hispanic Women by Hispanic Business Magazine in 2002. In 2008, Córdova was nominated to the Stanford University Multicultural Alumni Hall of Fame by El Centro Chicano, Stanford's Chicano and Latino organization. She was appointed by President George W. Bush to the National Science Board in 2008. In 2012, she received the Women in Space Science Award from the Adler Planetarium.[22]
Purdue University's France A. Córdova Recreational Sports Center was named for her in 2012. A 98-million-dollar renovation of the 55-year-old facility was approved during her presidency.[23] The building was one of 10 recreation facilities to receive a Facility of Merit Award for 2014 from Athletic Business.[24]
