Bachelor's degree in Political Science and Economics from Colorado College in 1983; Masters degree in science, technology, and public policy from the George Washington University in 1989; she was the former director of the National Space Society, former NASA associate administrator for policy, and current vice president for corporate space program development at DFI International; applied as space tourist for a mission to the ISS with a Russian Soyuz spacecraft; due of financial problems the mission was cancelled to date; since July 17, 2009 Deputy NASA Administrator.