Ferrari, Kay
NASA/Jet Propulsion Laboratory

Kay Ferrari spent nine of her twenty-seven years at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in the Public Services Office of Public Affairs where she coordinated the activities of JPL’s Speakers Bureau and conducted tours of the main facility. In addition, she helped organize and staff special events, outside exhibits, adopt-a-school programs, guest operations, press room activities and regional academic bowl competitions. Kay received an associate degree in Dramatic Arts from the Pasadena Playhouse College of Theatre Arts in 1966.

Currently, she is a member of the Informal Education Group in the Education and Public Outreach Office and Coordinator of the Solar System Ambassadors Program. In 2003, Kay took on the additional duty of Coordinator of the Solar System Educators Program. She was appointed STS-118 Informal Education Implementation Team Lead in 2006, an additional duty. In 2007, Kay will begin working with two programs as co-investigator on each. These programs are Strengthening the Astrobiology Community, a partnership between the University of Wisconsin, Madison and JPL, and Polar Literacy, sponsored by NASA’s Science Mission Directorate in support of the International Polar Year.

Kay received the JPL Award for Excellence in 2001 for her efforts to revitalize that then-ailing Solar System Ambassadors program. In 2006, she was awarded the NASA Exceptional Service Medal for her efforts growing the nationwide network of Solar System Ambassadors. Also, in 2006, she received the Astronomy Outreach Network’s “Astro Oscar” (Astronomy Outreach Outreach Award) for outstanding contributions to Astronomy outreach.

She was featured in the publication, Who’s Who of American Women in 2006 and 2007.