Laurie Leshin

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Laurie Leshin
Leshin in 2023
Laurie Leshin
BornTemplate:Birth year and age
BirthplaceUnited States
NationalityAmerican
OccupationGeochemist, planetary scientist, academic administrator
TitleBren Professor of Geochemistry and Planetary Science, Caltech; University Professor for Space Futures, Arizona State University
Known for10th Director of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory; 16th President of Worcester Polytechnic Institute
EducationCalifornia Institute of Technology (MS, PhD)
Arizona State University (BS)
AwardsNASA Distinguished Public Service Medal
NASA Outstanding Leadership Medal
Nier Prize

Laurie Leshin (born 1966) is an American geochemist, planetary scientist, and academic administrator who served as the 10th Director of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) and as Vice President of the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) from May 2022 to June 2025, the first woman to hold those positions.[1] A specialist in geochemistry and space science, Leshin has contributed to the understanding of water and volatile elements in planetary materials over a career spanning roles in government, academia, and space exploration. Before leading JPL, she served as the 16th president of Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) from 2014 to 2022.[2] Following her departure from JPL in 2025, Leshin was appointed the Bren Professor of Geochemistry and Planetary Science at Caltech and joined Arizona State University (ASU) as University Professor for Space Futures.[3][4] A native of the Tempe, Arizona area, Leshin grew up captivated by space exploration and built a career that carried her from Arizona State University as an undergraduate to the helm of one of NASA's most storied institutions.

Early Life

Laurie Leshin was born in 1966 and grew up in the Tempe, Arizona area.[3] As a young girl, she developed an interest in space science, an interest that would guide her academic and professional trajectory. According to the Tempe Diablos, a local civic organization, Leshin was among the notable success stories to emerge from the community, having received early support and encouragement as a student in the Tempe area.[5] Her childhood fascination with space would prove enduring, ultimately leading her to pursue degrees in science and embark on a career at the intersection of geochemistry, planetary science, and space exploration.

Education

Leshin completed her undergraduate education at Arizona State University, where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree.[6] She then pursued graduate studies at the California Institute of Technology, earning both a Master of Science degree and a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in geochemistry.[6] Her doctoral research at Caltech focused on the geochemistry of volatile elements and water in planetary materials, establishing the scientific foundation upon which she would build a career in space science. The return to Caltech decades later as the director of JPL represented a full-circle moment in her academic journey.

Career

Early Academic and NASA Career

Following the completion of her doctoral work, Leshin developed a research program centered on geochemistry and the study of water and volatile materials in meteorites and planetary samples. Her scientific contributions helped advance understanding of the distribution and behavior of water in the inner solar system. Over time, her career expanded beyond the laboratory to include leadership positions in both academic and governmental settings.

Leshin held positions at NASA, where she served in several capacities related to science and exploration planning. According to her NASA biography, she held roles that involved science policy and strategic planning for exploration programs.[7] In December 2009, NASA announced an appointment for Leshin in a leadership capacity related to the agency's exploration systems.[8] Her time at NASA gave her extensive experience in managing large-scale science and engineering programs and working at the interface of science, policy, and institutional leadership.

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

Before becoming a university president, Leshin served as Dean of the School of Science at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) in Troy, New York.[9] In this role, she oversaw the school's academic and research programs in the sciences. During her time at RPI, she was also appointed by President Barack Obama to serve on a federal advisory body. In February 2013, reports indicated that Leshin had been named to a presidential appointment, reflecting her growing profile in both science and policy circles.[10] She was also named to the advisory board of the United States Merchant Marine Academy by U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood.[11]

President of Worcester Polytechnic Institute (2014–2022)

In 2013, Worcester Polytechnic Institute announced that Leshin had been selected as the institution's 16th president, succeeding Dennis D. Berkey.[2] She officially assumed the presidency on June 1, 2014, becoming the first female president in WPI's history.[12]

During her tenure at WPI, Leshin led the university through a period that included campus development, fundraising initiatives, and efforts to raise the institution's national profile. WPI, a private research university in Worcester, Massachusetts, known for its project-based curriculum and strengths in engineering and the sciences, provided Leshin with a platform to combine her scientific background with institutional leadership.

However, her presidency at WPI was not without controversy. In February 2022, as Leshin prepared to depart for JPL, WPI faculty members publicly expressed criticism of her leadership. According to a report in Inside Higher Ed, faculty criticized aspects of the outgoing president's management and governance approach.[13] The specifics of the faculty concerns related to shared governance and administrative decision-making processes. Following Leshin's departure, Provost Wole Soboyejo was named interim president,[14] and Grace Jinliu Wang was subsequently named as WPI's 17th president.[15]

Director of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (2022–2025)

In 2022, Caltech named Leshin as the director of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, a federally funded research and development center managed by Caltech on behalf of NASA.[1] She assumed the role on May 16, 2022, succeeding Michael M. Watkins, with Larry D. James having served in an interim capacity. Leshin was the first woman to serve as JPL director in the laboratory's history, and she simultaneously held the position of Vice President of Caltech.[1]

JPL, located in Pasadena, California, is responsible for the construction and operation of planetary robotic spacecraft for NASA and conducts scientific research in Earth science, astronomy, and technology development. As director, Leshin oversaw a laboratory with thousands of employees and a portfolio that included active missions across the solar system, as well as missions in various stages of development.

During her three years leading JPL, Leshin managed the laboratory through a period that included ongoing operations of missions such as the Mars 2020 Perseverance rover and the Europa Clipper mission development, among others. She also navigated institutional challenges, including budgetary pressures affecting NASA's planetary science programs.

On May 7, 2025, it was announced that Leshin had decided to step down as JPL director, effective June 1, 2025.[16] David Gallagher, who had served as JPL's Associate Director for Strategic Integration, was named as the 11th director of JPL to succeed her.[16] In announcing her departure, Caltech President Thomas F. Rosenbaum issued a message to the campus community.[17]

Multiple space news outlets reported on her departure. SpaceNews noted that Leshin was leaving after three years leading the laboratory and would be replaced by a longtime JPL official.[18] Space.com reported that JPL would prepare for new leadership following her announcement.[19] SpacePolicyOnline also covered the transition, noting that Gallagher would take over effective June 1.[20]

Post-JPL Roles (2025–present)

Following her departure from JPL, Leshin was appointed the Bren Professor of Geochemistry and Planetary Science at Caltech, a named professorship reflecting her continued affiliation with the institution where she had earned her graduate degrees and served as vice president.[4]

In January 2026, Arizona State University announced that Leshin had joined the university as University Professor for Space Futures, a role focused on advancing space-related research and education. The announcement described her return to Arizona, where she had grown up and attended college, as a homecoming.[3] The Business Journals also reported on her appointment, noting her background as the former JPL director and emphasizing her role in bolstering Arizona's position in the space sector.[21]

Research

Leshin's scientific research has centered on geochemistry and planetary science, with a particular focus on water and volatile elements in meteorites and other planetary materials. Her work has contributed to understanding the sources and history of water in the inner solar system, including on Mars and the Moon. She has been an author on numerous peer-reviewed scientific publications, as reflected in her academic citation record.[22]

Her research has intersected with NASA's exploration goals, as understanding the distribution and behavior of water on planetary bodies is central to questions about habitability and resource utilization for future human exploration. Leshin has contributed to the scientific teams associated with Mars exploration missions, leveraging data from rovers and orbiters to study Martian geochemistry.

The minor planet 4922 Leshin was named in her honor, recognizing her contributions to planetary science.[23]

Personal Life

Leshin grew up in the Tempe, Arizona area and has maintained connections to the region throughout her career, ultimately returning to Arizona in 2026 when she joined Arizona State University.[3] Her early life in Tempe, where she developed her interest in space, was noted by the Tempe Diablos civic organization, which highlighted her as a community success story.[5]

Recognition

Leshin has received several awards and honors in recognition of her scientific contributions and leadership. She has been awarded the NASA Distinguished Public Service Medal, which is NASA's highest form of recognition for a non-government individual, and the NASA Outstanding Leadership Medal, recognizing her contributions to the agency's programs.[6]

She is also a recipient of the Nier Prize, awarded by the Meteoritical Society in recognition of outstanding research in meteoritics and closely allied fields by a scientist under the age of 35 at the time the research was performed.[6]

The naming of the minor planet 4922 Leshin in her honor represents a further recognition of her contributions to planetary science by the astronomical community.[23]

Leshin's appointment as the first female director of JPL was itself noted as a historic milestone for the laboratory, which had been led by ten directors since its founding.[1][6]

Her presidential appointment during the Obama administration and her service on the advisory board of the United States Merchant Marine Academy further reflect the breadth of her recognition across scientific, academic, and governmental spheres.[10][11]

Legacy

Leshin's career has spanned the fields of geochemistry, planetary science, academic administration, and space program management. As the first woman to serve as director of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, she broke a barrier at one of the most prominent institutions in space exploration. Her three-year tenure at JPL encompassed a period of active planetary exploration and institutional transition.

Her path from a young student in Tempe, Arizona, through graduate training at Caltech, to leadership roles at NASA, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, and JPL illustrates a career built at the intersection of scientific research and institutional leadership. Her post-JPL appointments at both Caltech as the Bren Professor and at Arizona State University as University Professor for Space Futures suggest a continued role in shaping space science education and research.

The asteroid named in her honor, 4922 Leshin, stands as a lasting marker of her contributions to planetary science.[23]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 "Caltech Names Laurie Leshin Director of JPL".NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory.https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/caltech-names-laurie-leshin-director-of-jpl.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "WPI Announces New President".Worcester Polytechnic Institute.http://www.wpi.edu/news/20134/president-announced.html.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 "Former head of JPL joins ASU as University Professor for Space Futures".ASU News.2026-01-13.https://news.asu.edu/20260113-university-news-former-head-jpl-laurie-leshin-joins-asu.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Caltech Introduces New Named Professors and Leadership Chairs".Pasadena Now.https://www.pasadenanow.com/main/caltech-introduces-new-named-professors-and-leadership-chairs.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Success Stories".Tempe Diablos.https://web.archive.org/web/20120311213006/http://www.tempediablos.org/scholarship/success_stories.html.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 "Dr. Laurie Leshin (1966- )".NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory.2025-07-18.https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/who-we-are/faces-of-leadership-the-directors-of-jpl/dr-laurie-leshin/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  7. ↑ "Leshin Bio".NASA.https://web.archive.org/web/20210227193625/https://www.nasa.gov/exploration/about/leshin_bio.html.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  8. ↑ "NASA Announcement".NASA.2009-12-01.https://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2009/dec/HQ_09-293_Leshin.html.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  9. ↑ "Leshin Announcement".Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.https://news.rpi.edu/luwakkey/2903.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 "Obama Appoints RPI Science Dean".Albany Business Review.2013-02-22.https://www.bizjournals.com/albany/news/2013/02/22/obama-appoints-rpi-science-dean-to.html.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 "US Transportation Secretary LaHood Names US Merchant Marine Academy Advisory Board".United States Merchant Marine Academy.https://www.usmma.edu/about/communications/us-transportation-secretary-lahood-names-us-merchant-marine-academy-advisory.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  12. ↑ "About the President".Worcester Polytechnic Institute.https://web.archive.org/web/20220206124821/https://www.wpi.edu/offices/president/about.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  13. ↑ "WPI Faculty Blast Outgoing President".Inside Higher Ed.2022-02-25.https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2022/02/25/wpi-faculty-blast-outgoing-president.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  14. ↑ "Provost Wole Soboyejo Interim WPI President".Worcester Polytechnic Institute.https://www.wpi.edu/news/provost-wole-soboyejo-interim-wpi-president.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  15. ↑ "Grace Jinliu Wang, Ph.D., Named Worcester Polytechnic Institute's 17th President".Worcester Polytechnic Institute.https://www.wpi.edu/news/grace-jinliu-wang-phd-named-worcester-polytechnic-institute-s-17th-president.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 "Dave Gallagher Named 11th Director of JPL as Laurie Leshin Steps Down".NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory.2025-05-07.https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/dave-gallagher-named-11th-director-of-jpl-as-laurie-leshin-steps-down/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  17. ↑ "Personal Note From Laurie Leshin".California Institute of Technology.2025-05-07.https://www.caltech.edu/campus-life-events/campus-announcements/personal-note-from-laurie-leshin.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  18. ↑ "Leshin to step down as JPL director".SpaceNews.2025-05-07.https://spacenews.com/leshin-to-step-down-as-jpl-director/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  19. ↑ "Laurie Leshin stepping down as director of NASA's Jet Propulsion Lab".Space.com.2025-05-07.https://www.space.com/space-exploration/laurie-leshin-stepping-down-as-director-of-nasas-jet-propulsion-lab.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  20. ↑ "Laurie Leshin Steps Down as JPL Director".SpacePolicyOnline.com.2025-05-07.https://spacepolicyonline.com/news/laurie-leshin-steps-down-as-jpl-director/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  21. ↑ "Former NASA JPL director Laurie Leshin returns to ASU".Bizwomen, The Business Journals.2026-02-01.https://www.bizjournals.com/austin/bizwomen/news/latest-news/2026/02/laurie-leshin-nasa-jpl-asu.html?page=all.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  22. ↑ "Scopus Author Profile: Laurie Leshin".Scopus.https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=35375555900.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 23.2 "Small-Body Database Lookup: 4922 Leshin".NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory.https://ssd.jpl.nasa.gov/tools/sbdb_lookup.html#/?sstr=4922.Retrieved 2026-02-24.

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