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Fontenot Named to NASA RASC-AL Committee

Center Director Selected for Space Agency Outreach Effort

Dean Fontenot, Ph.D., a director of the Center for Engineering Outreach, has recently been named to the steering committee for the Revolutionary Aerospace Systems Concepts Academic Linkage (RASC-AL) program.

Developed by NASA and the University Space Research Association, RASC-AL is an initiative that links universities with the Revolutionary Aerospace Systems Concepts program at NASA's Langley Research Center in Virginia.

"I am honored to be a part of such an esteemed program," Fontenot said. "The fact that NASA chose someone from Texas Tech to serve on this national committee speaks highly of our commitment to K-12 engineering outreach and lends credibility to our aerospace outreach programs."

Working together with leaders from industry and higher education, RASC-AL hosts the RASC-AL Forum, an annual conference designed to give students an opportunity to interact with representatives from NASA and industry. The RASC-AL Forum enables college students to engage in research related to new capabilities in space exploration.

For this year's RASC-AL Forum, Space Exploration - The Next Steps, teams are required to include an outreach component in their projects. Because of her affiliation with the Center for Engineering Outreach, Fontenot was asked to use her expertise to help review this section of the proposals.

"I am thrilled that outreach is a major part of this year's competition," Fontenot said. "As a reviewer, I will be looking for educational and public outreach activities that have impacted each team's communities and K-12 schools."

With over eight years of experience in coordinating engineering outreach efforts for the College of Engineering, Fontenot's passion for inspiring and preparing tomorrow's engineers is one she shares with students, faculty and staff throughout the college.

"This is a fantastic opportunity that will enrich participants' knowledge of space-related education," Fontenot said. "I am proud to be a part of the NASA RASC-AL team."