Dr. Leslie Wickman is an American aerospace engineer, speaker, and actress. She is the founder and president of the Women in Aerospace Foundation and the author of the book, "A Passion for Science: Stories of Discovery and Invention." She is an inspiring figure in science and technology, and her work has been featured in numerous media outlets.
Wickman was born in Detroit, Michigan and was raised in a family of scientists and engineers. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Michigan in 1991. Following this, she worked at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California as a spacecraft design engineer. During her time there, she worked on the Mars Pathfinder mission, which was the first successful mission to land a rover on the surface of the Red Planet.
Wickman then moved to Seattle, Washington to pursue her graduate studies. In 1997, she earned her Master's degree in Aeronautics and Astronautics from the University of Washington, and in 2003, she earned her Doctor of Philosophy in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Colorado at Boulder.
Since then, Wickman has been an advocate for STEM education and has been a featured speaker at numerous events and conferences across the country. She has also been featured in the media, including on the TV show "The Big Bang Theory." She has also appeared in the movie "Hidden Figures," which tells the story of three African-American women who made great contributions to NASA during the Space Race.
Wickman is also the founder and president of the Women in Aerospace Foundation, which works to promote women in the aerospace sector and provide educational opportunities to young girls. She is also the author of the book "A Passion for Science: Stories of Discovery and Invention," which was published in 2014.
Wickman has been honored with numerous awards and accolades for her work in STEM, and she continues to inspire and empower young women around the world to pursue their dreams in the sciences.
