Carolyn Knowles joined NASA in 2003 as Executive Officer to the Associate Administrator for Education, responsible for managing issues, policies, and program development activities within the agency’s education programs and activities. She is currently the Director of NASA Internships, Fellowships, and Scholarships, and Chair of the Space Education and Outreach Community at the International Astronautical Congress.

Prior to her assignment with NASA, Knowles served as the Senior Manager for NASA Programs at the United Negro College Fund Special Programs Corporation. In this capacity, she was responsible for three programs: the NASA Administrator’s Fellowship Program, the Harriett G. Jenkins Pre-doctoral Fellowship Program, and the Curriculum Improvement Partnership Award Program.

Knowles received her bachelor’s degree in Business Management from Saint Augustine’s College in 1977 and received a regular army commission into the Adjutant General Officer Corps. She completed several military schools to include the Adjutant General Officer Basic and Advanced Courses, the Systems Automation Course, the Reserve Officer Training Corps Instructor Course, and the Command and General Staff College. Knowles also holds a Masters in Management from Central Michigan University.

Upon retirement from the Army, Knowles returned to her alma mater to serve as Assistant Professor of Business and Director of the Saint Augustine’s College Learning Community Program, a mentoring system for first-year and transfer students.