OSU prof appointed as head of NOAA

Obama taps Professor Jane Lubchenco to become first female head of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

By: From staff and wire reports

Posted: 1/6/09

President-elect Barack Obama has tapped OSU professor Jane Lubchenco to head the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

Lubchenco will be the first woman to head the organization. The NOAA encompasses half of the work force of the Department of Commerce and has a budget of roughly $4 billion, according to "The Oregonian."

The announcement of Lubchenco's selection was made on Dec. 17, according to The Associated Press.

"The Bush administration has not been respectful of the science," Lubchenco told The Associated Press. "But I think that's not true of Republicans in general. I know it's not. I am very much looking forward to a new administration that does respect scientific information and that considers it very seriously in making environmental policies."

Lubchenco has been a professor at Oregon State since 1978, where she teaches in the zoology department as an endowed chair and distinguished professor.

She has a Bachelor of Arts in biology from Colorado College and a master's degree in zoology from the University of Washington. She also has a doctorate in marine ecology from Harvard University.

"It's been great for Oregon State to have her here," said John Byrne, a former OSU president in an interview with The Associated Press.

Read The Daily Barometer throughout the week for another story about OSU professor Jane Lubchenco.

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