Beth Brown

Sent: Wed 10/8/2008 9:13 AM
Subject: GODDARD MOURNS THE LOSS OF DR. BETH BROWN

Colleagues: This weekend, Goddard lost a member of its family with the passing of Dr. Beth Brown, the Director for Science Communication and Higher Education for the Science and Exploration Division. Her loss was sudden and unexpected and it has left us all with a sense of profound sadness. Dr. Brown was one of Goddard’s rising stars. She was only recently appointed to this new position in Code 600, after having completed a 2-year NASA Administrator Fellowship.

Dr. Brown received her undergraduate degree in astrophysics from Howard University, and received an M.S. and Ph.D. in astronomy from the University of Michigan. She was the first African-American woman to obtain a doctorate from the University of Michigan’s Department of Astronomy. Dr. Brown’s first position at Goddard began in 1998 as an NRC Research Associate. She joined the National Space Science Data Center in January 2001 as a civil servant. In 2005, Dr. Brown moved over to the X-ray Astrophysics Laboratory, providing science support for the GSFC XMM Guest Observer Facility while continuing science support and data acquisition for the NSSDC.

There will be a memorial service for Dr. Brown at the Metropolitan Baptist Church [1225 R St. NW, Washington, DC 20009, (202) 299-9657] on Thursday, Oct. 9. The funeral with a wake (viewing) is from 9:30-11 a.m., and the funeral service is from 11-12 p.m. Directions to the church can be obtained through the following link: http://www.metropolitanbaptist.org/Directions.asp

On behalf of Goddard and her legion of friends and colleagues, our deepest sympathy, thoughts and prayers go out to Dr. Brown’s family.

Rob Strain
Center Director