College of Business Alumni Awardees

Bio

Joan Higginbotham is an electrical engineer, retired NASA astronaut, and proud Florida Institute of Technology alumna.

Her distinguished career began at the Kennedy Space Center, where she served in numerous technical and leadership roles, supporting 53 space shuttle launches.

Selected as a NASA astronaut in 1996, Higginbotham made history in December 2006 as a mission specialist aboard Space Shuttle Discovery on STS-116, becoming the third African American woman to travel to space.

After leaving NASA, Higginbotham transitioned her expertise to the corporate sector, holding senior leadership positions at Fortune 500 companies, including Marathon Oil, Lowe’s Corporate, and Collins Aerospace.

In 2022, she stepped out on faith and opened Joan Higginbotham Ad Astra, LLC, delivering trusted aerospace consulting to navigate complex technical challenges and accelerate innovation, from initial concept through final execution.

Higginbotham is an alum of Florida Tech with a Master of Science in Management (’92), Space Systems (’96), and an Honorary Doctorate in Aerospace Engineering (2024). She currently serves on the boards of the Association of Space Explorers (ASE), the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation (ASF), the National Aeronautic Association (NAA), and the Space Telescope Institute Council (STIC).

Beyond her professional achievements, Higginbotham captivates audiences around the globe with her powerful story of perseverance, resilience, and triumph in high-pressure environments. Her leadership, dedication to education, and trailblazing example have earned her numerous accolades, some of which are highlighted below:

• Charlotte’s 50 Most Influential Women
• Commendation of Merit for Service to the Department of Defense (DOD)
• Essence Magazine’s Top 50 Women
• NASA Exceptional Service Medal
• National Space Medal
• National Technical Association’s 50 Distinguished Scientists and Engineers
• National Technical Association’s Technical Achiever (in Engineering)
• Who’s Who in Black Charlotte
• Women of Color in Technology’s Career Achievement Award Recipient
• World Who’s Who of Womenvvv