France A. Córdova facts for kids

Quick facts for kids France Córdova
Córdova in 2017
14th Director of the National Science Foundation
In office March 31, 2014 – March 31, 2020
President	Barack Obama Donald Trump
Preceded by	Subra Suresh
Succeeded by	Kelvin Droegemeier (acting) Sethuraman Panchanathan
11th President of the Purdue University System
In office July 16, 2007 – June 30, 2012
Preceded by	Martin C. Jischke
Succeeded by	Timothy Sands (acting) Mitch Daniels
7th Chancellor of the University of California, Riverside
In office July 1, 2002 – July 1, 2007
Preceded by	Raymond L. Orbach
Succeeded by	Timothy P. White
Personal details
Born	(1947-08-05) August 5, 1947 (age 79) Paris, France
Spouse	Christian Foster
Children	2
Education	Stanford University (BA) California Institute of Technology (PhD)
Scientific career
Institutions	National Science Foundation Purdue University University of California, Riverside University of California, Santa Barbara NASA Pennsylvania State University Los Alamos National Laboratory
Thesis	X-ray observations of dwarf novae (1979)
Doctoral advisor	Gordon Garmire

France Anne-Dominic Córdova (born August 5, 1947) is a famous American astrophysicist and educator. An astrophysicist is a scientist who studies stars, space, and how the universe works. She served as the 14th director of the National Science Foundation in the United States. She was also the 11th president of the famous Purdue University. France Córdova made history as the youngest person and first woman NASA Chief Scientist. She loves exploring the cosmos and helping young students learn about science.

Who Is France Córdova?

France Córdova is a pioneer for women in modern science and space exploration. She spent decades studying energetic cosmic events across the deep universe. She also led major universities and guided important national science programs.

Her exciting career shows that curiosity can take you on surprising life adventures. She started college studying literature before discovering her great love for astronomy. Later, she explored mysterious rays from exploding stars across distant space.

She has guided thousands of researchers and students during her long career. Leaders across the United States have asked for her advice on science. She works hard to ensure everyone has opportunities to study science.

Early Life and Education

France Córdova was born in the beautiful city of Paris, France. She was the oldest child in a very large family of twelve children. Her mother was an Irish-American parent who loved caring for her family. Her father was a proud Mexican-American businessman and West Point graduate.

Growing up with eleven younger brothers and sisters taught her strong leadership skills. She learned how to share, solve disagreements, and organize busy activities every day. Her family later moved to warm Southern California when she was very young.

School Days in California

Córdova attended high school at Bishop Amat High School in La Puente, California. This school is located just east of the busy city of Los Angeles. She worked very hard in all her classes and earned top grades.

She loved reading books, writing creative essays, and learning about history. Science classes were fun, but girls were not always encouraged to become scientists. Even so, she stayed curious about nature, the night sky, and books.

College Studies at Stanford

After high school, she attended the world-famous Stanford University in northern California. She decided to major in English because she loved writing and storytelling. She graduated cum laude, which means she earned very high academic honors.

While studying at Stanford, she completed an exciting student project in anthropology. She traveled south to visit a historic Zapotec Indian pueblo in Oaxaca, Mexico. There, she studied local culture, language, recipes, and traditional pottery.

Discovering a Passion for Space

While working after college, Córdova watched television news about the historic Apollo moon landings. Seeing astronauts walk on the Moon sparked a brand new passion inside her. She realized she wanted to understand the secrets of outer space herself.

She decided to study physics, which meant taking challenging math and science classes. She proved that you can always change your mind and follow new dreams. Her hard work opened doors to one of the finest science schools.

Córdova was accepted into the prestigious California Institute of Technology, also called Caltech. In 1979, she earned her PhD degree in advanced Physics. Her doctoral research examined mysterious x-ray signals coming from unusual, distant double stars.

Scientific Research and Space Discoveries

As a research scientist, Córdova focused on the exciting field of observational astrophysics. She wanted to see how stars live, change, and sometimes explode. To do this, she needed special tools that detect invisible forms of light.

Space contains many types of energy that human eyes cannot see naturally. Córdova used giant telescopes and satellites to collect high-energy signals from space. Her research helped scientists map strange phenomena occurring millions of miles away.

Exploring X-Rays and Gamma Rays

Visible light is only a tiny slice of all the energy in space. Objects like dead stars produce dangerous, high-energy gamma ray beams and x-rays. Earth's atmosphere blocks these rays, which keeps humans safe on the ground.

To detect these energetic rays, scientists must send instruments directly into space. Córdova designed and tested space-borne instrumentation carried aboard high-altitude rockets and satellites. These detectors captured clear data from violent regions around dense star remnants.

She wrote more than 150 scientific papers about her astronomical discoveries. Her detailed papers explained how matter behaves under extreme gravity and intense heat. Other astronomers around the world read her findings to understand new cosmic mysteries.

Working at Los Alamos National Laboratory

After finishing her degree, Córdova joined the Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico. She worked in the Space Astronomy and Astrophysics Group from 1979 to 1989. This famous research center uses powerful computers and instruments to solve tough problems.

She quickly demonstrated exceptional organization and was promoted to Deputy Group Leader. Her team analyzed data sent back by scientific satellites orbiting high above Earth. She enjoyed working alongside brilliant physicists, computer programmers, and creative engineers.

Teaching at Penn State

In 1989, Córdova moved across the country to Pennsylvania State University. She became the head of the Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics there. As department head, she mentored young researchers and taught university astronomy classes.

She remained at Penn State until 1993, inspiring many students to study space. She encouraged young women to enter science, technology, engineering, and mathematics careers. Her leadership caught the attention of top leaders at the American space agency.

Leadership Roles in Science and Education

France Córdova has held some of the most influential leadership roles in America. She used her deep knowledge of science to run large organizations efficiently. In every job, she worked to create better learning environments for students.

Serving as NASA Chief Scientist

In 1993, NASA Administrator Daniel Goldin selected Córdova to become the NASA Chief Scientist. She made history as the youngest person ever appointed to this post. She was also the first woman to hold this crucial scientific position.

As Chief Scientist, she acted as the primary science advisor to NASA leaders. She helped bridge the gap between NASA engineers and outside university researchers. She helped ensure that space missions, including the International Space Station, produced great science.

She helped plan exciting orbital experiments in biology, physics, and deep-space astronomy. Astronauts aboard the space station performed these special experiments in weightless conditions. She showed the world that women can lead major national space programs.

University Leadership in California

Córdova returned to California to serve at the University of California, Santa Barbara. She worked as a Professor of Physics and the Vice-Chancellor for Research. In that role, she helped university professors find support for important new experiments.

In 2002, she was appointed Chancellor of the University of California, Riverside. A chancellor is the top leader who manages an entire university campus. She was also named a Distinguished Professor of Physics and Astronomy.

At Riverside, Córdova helped start the UC Riverside School of Medicine. This new medical school was created to train doctors for nearby growing communities. She cared deeply about improving healthcare access for families across California.

Leading Purdue University

In 2007, Córdova became the eleventh president of Purdue University in Indiana. She made school history by becoming the first woman to lead Purdue. She guided thousands of students, professors, and university staff members every single day.

During her presidency, she established the Purdue University College of Health and Human Sciences. She also created the Global Policy Research Institute to solve worldwide problems. She helped researchers turn scientific lab discoveries into helpful businesses and real products.

Under her steady watch, Purdue reached record numbers in research funding and rankings. More students stayed in school, finished their difficult classes, and graduated on time. She also supported business development and life sciences partnerships across Indiana through BioCrossroads.

Directing the National Science Foundation

In 2014, President Barack Obama nominated Córdova to lead the National Science Foundation. The United States Senate voted to confirm her as the agency's 14th director. The National Science Foundation, or NSF, gives money to support important American science research.

As director, Córdova oversaw a multi-billion dollar budget supporting thousands of scientists. NSF funds discoveries in robotics, climate science, computer engineering, biology, and astronomy. She served through 2020 under both President Obama and President Donald Trump.

She supported big scientific ideas called "NSF's 10 Big Ideas for Future Investment." These ideas included exploring the quantum world and understanding rules of life on Earth. She also helped scientists build next-generation telescopes to photograph distant black holes.

Public Service and Advisory Boards

France Córdova has served on many prestigious advisory boards across the country. In 2008, President George W. Bush appointed her to the National Science Board. This board sets national research goals and advises the President on science issues.

President Barack Obama appointed her to the Smithsonian Institution Board of Regents in 2009. The Smithsonian runs world-famous museums, research centers, and the National Zoo in Washington. Córdova served as the chair of the Board of Regents from 2012 to 2014.

After finishing her term at the NSF in 2020, she joined Caltech's trustees. In May 2021, she became President of the Science Philanthropy Alliance. There, she helps generous people donate money to support fundamental scientific discoveries.

Personal Life and Hobbies

Córdova is married to Christian J. Foster, who is a dedicated science educator. The happy couple has two grown children, named Anne-Catherine and Stephen. They enjoy sharing stories about science, nature, and outdoor adventures with their family.

One of Córdova's favorite lifelong hobbies is outdoor rock climbing. In fact, she first met her husband while on a fun rock-climbing trip. Climbing steep cliffs taught her patience, focus, and how to overcome scary challenges.

Her doctoral advisor once asked if she wanted to train to become an astronaut. She thought about it carefully but turned down the exciting offer. She decided that her true calling was ground-based research and scientific discovery.

Córdova says that thinking like a physicist helps her make wise decisions every day. She encourages children to study many subjects, read books, and remain optimistic about life. She often reminds students that you never know when useful knowledge will help you.

Major Awards and Special Honors

Because of her dedication to discovery, Córdova has earned many prestigious honors. In 1996, she received the NASA Distinguished Service Medal, NASA's highest award. In 2000, she was named a Kilby Laureate for helping society through technology.

In 2002, magazine editors named her one of the 80 Elite Hispanic Women. In 2008, she entered the Stanford University Multicultural Alumni Hall of Fame. In 2012, Chicago's Adler Planetarium gave her the Women in Space Science Award.

In 2012, Purdue University named a giant sports complex after her. The France A. Córdova Recreational Sports Center lets thousands of students exercise every day. She was also proudly inducted into the California Hall of Fame in 2019.

She was elected to the prestigious National Academy of Sciences and the American Philosophical Society. She is also a recognized fellow in many top academic groups:

• The American Association for the Advancement of Science
• The Association for Women in Science
• The American Academy of Arts and Sciences
• The Royal Irish Academy (honorary member)

Honorary Degrees

Many leading colleges and universities have awarded Córdova honorary doctorate degrees for her work:

• Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles (1997)
• Ben-Gurion University of the Negev in Israel (2011)
• Purdue University (2012)
• Duke University (2015)
• Saint Peter's University (2016)
• University of Connecticut (2016)
• Rochester Institute of Technology (2016)
• Worcester Polytechnic Institute (2016)
• Dartmouth College (2019)
• Carnegie Mellon University (2021)
• Clarkson University (2022)
• Yale University (2023)
• University of Michigan (2025)

Why France Córdova Inspires Young Scientists

France Córdova's amazing life shows that anyone can succeed in science with curiosity. She started out studying literature, but followed her dreams to outer space. She became a world leader by listening to others and working hard.

She proved that women and Hispanic Americans can lead giant national science programs. Today, her inspiring story encourages boys and girls everywhere to look up at night.

Inspiring Words from France Córdova

• “Well, I ask a lot of questions, and I’m not just satisfied with glib answers.”
• “As fond as I am of understanding the origin of the universe, I think we arguably understand more about that now than we do about our own planet. We’re going to have to understand the changes that are happening on our planet, the reasons for them, [and] do very good, thorough observations of them, in order to know how to be resilient.”
• “I’m very excited about getting more students literate in computer science. I think that’s key to our future.”
• “And that no matter what we do, even if it’s very narrowly focused, we also have to have one ear out and one eye open to our larger place in the world we live in, and think about what role that our particular skill sets can help to lighten that, to make it a better pathway for people.”
• “When my thesis adviser asked me if I’d like to be nominated to be an astronaut, I said no. That’s an example of how focused I was on my research.”