National Science Foundation selects Rebecca Spyke Keiser to head Office of International Science & Engineering

The National Science Foundation (NSF) has selected Rebecca Spyke Keiser to head the agency’s Office of International Science & Engineering (OISE). OISE promotes an integrated, Foundation-wide international strategy and manages internally focused programs that are innovative, catalytic and responsive to a broad range of NSF and national interests.

“We are delighted that Dr. Keiser will bring her broad expertise in international policy, research and education to NSF,” said NSF Director France A. Córdova. “Dr. Keiser’s demonstrated leadership in implementing a wide range of NASA initiatives while working across the agency will be of great value to NSF’s international efforts and activities.”

Keiser is a special advisor for NASA’s Innovation and Public-Private Partnerships, reporting to the NASA Administrator, and an executive-in-residence at American University. Prior to her current position, she held several positions with NASA, including associate deputy administrator for strategy and policy, associate deputy administrator for policy integration, executive officer to the deputy administrator, and chief of staff for the Exploration Systems Mission Directorate. Keiser also served as assistant to the director for international relations at the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP), where she provided policy guidance to the President’s science advisor.

OISE supports and manages several programs, including Partnerships for International Research and Education, the International Research Fellowship Program and International Research Experiences for Students. It supports cross-directorate activities, including Science Across Virtual Institutes and the Global Venture Fund. In addition, OISE manages NSF’s offices in Beijing, Paris (relocating to Brussels this year), and Tokyo.

Keiser’s experience covers science and technology policy, agreements and other cooperative efforts. She is a board member of Women in Aerospace and a member of the American Academy for the Advancement of Science. She speaks Japanese and Spanish.

Keiser earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Japanese Studies from Wellesley College, a Master of Science degree in Politics of the World Economy from the London School of Economics, and a doctorate in International Studies from the University of South Carolina.

Keiser will begin her NSF position on April 6.