Episode 42: Dr. Pamela Denkins
12.19.07
Show Notes
Special Guest: Dr. Pamela Denkins, NASA Administrator's Fellowship Program participant
(0:00) Intro
(0:20) Interview with Dr. Pamela Denkins. NASA Administrator's Fellowship Program participant Dr. Pamela Denkins, an exceptional NASA employee who began her career in the 1960s as a co-op student, encourages students to persevere.
NASA Learning Opportunities →
NASA Cooperative Education →
NASA Administrator's Fellowship Program →
(9:09) The application deadline for NASA's Motivating Undergraduates in Science and Technology, or
MUST →, Project scholarships and internships is Feb. 1, 2008.
(10:42) Applications will be accepted Jan. 1-Feb. 20 for internships at the
Space Telescope Science Institute →.
(13:04) End
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educationpodcast@nasa.gov
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Transcript
Deana Nunley: This is NASA Student Opportunities -- a podcast connecting high school and college students with learning opportunities inside America's space agency.
Episode 42. Dec. 19, 2007. I'm Deana Nunley.
Dr. Pamela Denkins is a technical resource manager in NASA Johnson Space Center's Space and Life Sciences Division, serving as the technical officer and grants administrator for NASA Headquarters' Human Research Program. She's received the NASA Exceptional Achievement Medal, Superior Accomplishment Award and numerous Group Achievement Awards for outstanding performance. Dr. Denkins was recently invited back to her alma mater, Texas Southern University, to deliver the commencement address. And she joins us now to share the message she has for students.
[Music]
Dr. Denkins, thanks for taking time to talk with us.
Dr. Pamela Denkins: Thank you. It's my pleasure.
Deana: As you delivered the commencement speech earlier this year, you borrowed the "Apollo 13" line, and said: "Houston, TSU, NASA, nation, world, we have a problem.” Let's talk about the problems and solutions that you addressed. What do you see as the problems?
Dr. Denkins: Well, one of the things we have is an aging workforce within the agency, and we're going to have to replace that workforce very, very soon. So the opportunities are abundant. The problem along with replacing this aging workforce is that the numbers of persons majoring in the sciences and engineering have dwindled tremendously for the nation. So we, within the agency and across the country, are trying to do numerous things to help better develop this pipeline and increase the numbers, so that we can fill the positions and the talents that are going to be leaving the agency in the next 10 years or less.
Deana: What solutions would you propose?
Dr. Denkins: Increase the numbers of persons majoring in the sciences and engineering. And that we get more and more students involved and knowledgeable about what is going on within NASA, and the good things to look forward to in the future with the agency.
Deana: It must have been gratifying to be invited back to your alma mater to give the commencement speech. What's the most important message you gave to those students, and that you would want to share with students listening today?
Dr. Denkins: Persevere in spite of adversity. One of the things that our students have to remember is that, as long as you have a vision, and as long as you see yourself being successful, you can be. You just must never lose sight of that goal, or never lose that dream.
Deana: You're truly a NASA success story. It seems to have started with a NASA learning opportunity about the time you were finishing high school. Could you tell us about the NASA education projects you've participated in across the years and how they've affected your career?
Dr. Denkins: Yes. Thank you. I started with the agency as a junior co-op in the summer of 1968. And believe me, I truly, truly appreciated that opportunity. I was one of 13 students selected to participate in this program -- and I'll say 13 minority students. This was at a time when universities such as Texas Southern University and agencies like NASA were looking for more ways to incentivize minorities to become engineers and scientists.
From there, I became a full-fledged co-op and worked throughout my years in college. And upon graduation I went into industry for a while. But I came back to the agency in the ‘90s. I came back because I was very, very interested in pursuing advanced degrees in the sciences. And I knew that NASA was one of those organizations that promoted advanced education, and, as well, I would have an opportunity to utilize all of the knowledge that I would acquire in school.
And certainly I came back, got involved with an engineering task, and also got back into grad school and went to school for 11 years at night, earning my master's and doctoral degrees. Of course, NASA supported that education. And I was able to tailor my job assignments and my research initiative so that there was close alignment with what was going on with the agency, and as well as to satisfy the requirements for graduation. I also participated in a professional development program, and that was the NASA Administrator's Fellowship program.
Deana: When did you do that?
Dr. Denkins: I did the NASA Administrator's Fellowship Program from 2000-2002.
Deana: What was your involvement with the NASA Administrator's Fellowship Program?
Dr. Denkins: As a NASA Administrator's fellow, the first year I was involved with doing outreach to minority institutions. The goal was to work with several institutions here in the state of Texas, and Louisiana, and to identify their needs and capabilities, and to match their needs, interests and capabilities with those of the agency.
Now, the second part of the NASA Administrator's Fellowship opportunity was for professional development, and with that I worked within the agency at NASA Headquarters. I worked across all of the mission directorates. They were space ops, life sciences, earth sciences, small business development, education and outreach. I had an opportunity to get to know what was going on in each one of those areas. I was also very much involved in the technology transfer environment.
Deana: You mentioned coming up as a minority and your first opportunity with NASA was in 1968, obviously a very turbulent time in this country. And I'm sure that you faced obstacles then. And I'm wondering if you could give us perspective for students now -- any obstacles that you see that they face now, how that compares with the obstacles you faced -- and any advice, any encouragement you could offer in terms of overcoming any obstacles that students face today?
Dr. Denkins: Yes, there are still obstacles, and I guess there will always be. But as I mentioned earlier, one of the things that I emphasized strongly in the commencement address to the students at Texas Southern University is that you must see yourself being successful. In order to do that, that means first of all, do all you can to assure that you're well prepared, and always do your best.
And even then if things don't materialize quite as you would like them to, never give up. Continue to forge ahead. Always be willing to learn new things and get involved in new things. Always look to see what else it is that you can do to make things better for yourself. Look to give back. Look to help, because these are the things that help to keep us motivated through life. They keep us going. They help to give people enhanced perspectives about us. And this applies to everybody, no matter what color you are, no matter what your background is. Hold on to that dream and make that dream your reality.
Deana: If you think NASA could help make your dreams become reality, you may want to get more information about NASA learning opportunities, including the co-op program and the NASA Administrator's Fellowship Program. You'll find links in this week's show notes. Go to
www.nasa.gov/podcast and click on the NASA Student Opportunities podcast.
[Music]
If you’re an undergraduate student majoring in science, technology, engineering or mathematics, NASA may have a scholarship for you.
NASA's Motivating Undergraduates in Science and Technology, or MUST, Project is now taking applications for scholarships and internships.
Students must be U.S. citizens, enrolled full-time at an accredited college or university in the United States or Puerto Rico, and have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0. While MUST scholarships are open to all students, the project particularly focuses on engaging students from underserved and underrepresented groups in STEM fields, including ethnic minorities, women and people with disabilities.
Approximately 100 undergraduate scholarships will be awarded each year. Scholarships cover up to one-half of tuition, not to exceed $10,000.
Students could also be eligible for a paid internship at a NASA center or other research facility. Additionally, students will have access to year-round tutoring, lecture series and mentoring. Scholarships and internships are renewable until the senior year.
Funded by NASA, MUST is a joint partnership between the Hispanic College Fund, the United Negro College Fund Special Programs and the Society for Hispanic Professional Engineers.
An online application must be completed by Feb. 1, 2008. For more information about MUST scholarships, check out this week’s show notes. Go to
www.nasa.gov/podcast and click on the NASA Student Opportunities podcast.
[Music]
College students interested in conducting solar system research with NASA scientists should consider applying for internships at the Space Telescope Science Institute. The institute is responsible for scientific operations of NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope.
The institute, located on the Homewood campus of Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, expects to bring in 12 or more interns for its Summer Student Program in 2008.
The program focuses on one-on-one interaction between students and scientists. The range of scientific interests includes the study of Earth’s solar system, interacting binary stars, and the quest for intelligent life elsewhere. Students will participate directly in research and, at the end of the program, present their work at an informal symposium of their peers and mentors. They will also look at issues related to research careers and see the many and diverse activities that support the operations of Hubble.
Students do not have to major in astronomy to be selected. In fact, opportunities may be available for non-research projects such as image processing, Web development, scientific writing, art and animation, video production, and software and database creation and testing.
The program runs June 16-Aug. 22, 2008, and is open to U.S. and international students. Interns are paid a stipend of approximately $500 per week. Applications, including references and an essay, will be accepted after Jan. 1, 2008, and are due by Feb. 20, 2008.
For more information about the Space Telescope Science Institute Summer Student Program, go to
www.nasa.gov/podcast. Select the NASA Student Opportunities podcast and follow the link in this week's show notes.
We want to let you know this is the final episode of the NASA Student Opportunities podcast. If you have any questions or comments about NASA learning opportunities, or if you have suggestions for future NASA Education podcasts, send an e-mail to:
educationpodcast@nasa.gov
Thanks for listening.
NASA Student Opportunities is a podcast production of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
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