MENU

Advisory: Florida Tech Classes Canceled, Offices Remain Closed Wednesday, Nov. 4

All Florida Tech classes and university activities are canceled and all offices will remain closed Wednesday, Nov. 4. Campus cleanup is well underway but power remains out at multiple locations and water service is not fully restored to all necessary buildings. As a precautionary measure, it is advisable to continue to boil water before ingesting.

Only identified essential employees contacted by their supervisors should report to campus Wednesday. The shelter-in-place directive has been lifted so students may move about campus as conditions continue to improve; however, please use caution and avoid any flooded, barricaded or unsafe areas.

Dinner service in Panther Dining Hall is underway and will end at 5 pm. PDH will reopen at 9 a.m. Nov. 4.

Your safety remains our top priority, so please make smart decisions, stay alert, and follow all university instructions All normal operations, including classes, are anticipated to resume Thursday, Nov. 5. Watch official university communications channels for updates.

Students in the Bisk College of Business lobby

College of Business Alumni Awardees

Joan Higginbotham

2025

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

Education

Florida Tech - M.S. in Management '92

Florida Tech - M.S. in Space Systems Management '96

Edit Page