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Selected in June 2014 as NASA's Director for Science Engagement and Partnerships, Ms. Erickson manages NASA’s Science Activation program, a network of community-based life-long learning projects active in all 50 states. She is also leading SMD’s citizen science and strategic communications efforts, with a goal of sharing science across the broadest spectrum of audiences. She led NASA’s 2017 Total Solar Eclipse nationwide engagement (largest in the history of the U.S. with over 88% of U.S. adults participating), 2012 Mars Curiosity Landing awareness campaign, and 2012 Transit of Venus engagement. Previously, Ms. Erickson led the science engagement efforts for NASA’s Planetary Science. From 2006 to 2009, she led NASA’s Strategic Communications, including NASA’s 50th Anniversary and the 40th Anniversary of the Apollo program celebrations. Starting her career with the Space Shuttle Program, she rose to Director, Space Shuttle Program Business Office (1994-1999), managing over $3.2B/year. Other positions held: Executive Officer to Assistant Deputy NASA Administrator (2000), acting Deputy for Management, Office of Biological and Physical Research Enterprise (2001-2003). She has college degrees from Texas A&M University and Harvard University.