IgnitedThinkers' Leadership

Board of Directors

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Founder & CEO

Gitika Gorthi

Ms. Gitika Gorthi is a sophomore attending Columbia University in the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences as a C. Prescott Davis Scholar studying biomedical engineering and economics. Gitika is an aspiring aerospace physician, astronaut, and medical innovator. Researching with NASA Ames Research Center, Baylor College of Medicine Space Medicine Center, Columbia Medical School, Harvard Medical School, and the Icahn School of Medicine at Mt. Sinai, Ms. Gorthi is working to advance medical technology by utilizing space's unique environment.

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Vice-Chair of the Board of Directors

Dr. Jennifer Fogarty

Dr. Jennifer Fogarty is the Chief Scientific Officer at Translational Research Institute for Space Health. Most recently Dr. Fogarty served as the director of applied health and performance in extreme environments for Sophic Synergistics, LLC. She previously spent over 16 years with NASA supporting medical operations and the NASA Human Research Program (HRP), including three years as chief scientist and two years as deputy chief scientist.

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Vice-Chair of the Board of Directors

Alan Anderson

Mr. Alan Anderson is a former Rachel Carson Middle School TechEd teacher and member of the National Association of Rocketry. He has a high powered rocketry license and expertise in education curriculum development in K-12 schools.

Mr. Anderson is the teacher, mentor, and friend who has inspired Gitika to build model rockets and pursue space sciences. He supported Gitika’s first event in IgnitedThinkers by completely funding all of the supplies and kits, & helped her attend the NASA Goddard Center SISTERS Program in the 7th-grade.

Secretary

Jasmine Singh

Ms. Jasmine Singh is a graduate student at the University of Texas at San Antonio and is in the combined UTSA/SwRI Space Physics graduate program working on NASA’S Europa Clipper mission. She is a recent Purdue graduate and science communicator, having received her Bachelors degree in planetary science with a double major in atmospheric science. Since she was a child, she has been passionate about space, particularly the search for life beyond Earth. She is pursuing a career in planetary science, with the hopes of becoming an astrobiologist at NASA, working on astrobiology-focused missions such as Europa Clipper, JUICE, or exoplanet-based habitability research. She has interned with NASA, alongside working on various planetary science research projects as an undergrad, even presenting her work at the 2022 Division of Planetary Sciences conference. Aside from research, Jasmine is an established online science communicator. Using Twitter as her primary platform, shares the latest NASA news and discoveries, along with general astronomy-oriented content to inform the public and get them excited about the latest frontier of space exploration.

Treasurer

Sophia Jones

Ms. Sophia Jones is a Stanford University graduate student who pursued her B.S. in Physics with an Astrophysics concentration and is pursuing her M.A in Public Policy with a Science and Technology concentration.

Additionally, Ms. Jones is a volunteer for the National Space Society as a Debate Coach and will be a business operations intern at SpaceX this summer. Previously, Ms. Jones was a Space Policy Intern at the Aerospace Corporation and Space for Humanity. She used to Co-Lead the Space Policy team at Stanford Space Initiative and was an intern at NASA Ames Research Center.

Board Member

Courtney Stadd

Mr. Stadd was founder and president of Capitol Alliance Solutions, LLC, a Washington, DC, area based management consulting services firm established in 1993 with a diverse range of public and private sector clients in aerospace (space and ground-based), satellite imagery and navigation, and other high technology initiatives.

His senior federal positions include: Chief of Staff/White House Liaison, NASA (2001-03); the White House (1989-92) where he was Senior Director/Commercial Space and chaired an interagency group focused on the drafting of numerous Presidential policy space-related directives; US Department of Transportation (1986-88) — direct report to the Secretary as head of the regulatory and advocacy office for licensing commercial space launch vehicles and spaceports; U.S. Department of Commerce (1984-86) — advised the Office of the Secretary on matters relating to space technology commercialization and helped establish the Office of Space Commerce; NASA HQ (1992-93) – Deputy Associate Administrator for Advanced Concepts and special assistant to the Administrator.

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Board Member

John Hines

Mr. John Hines is the founder of the non-profit organization The Hines Family Foundation, which uses space missions and technologies to help students advance their 21st century career capabilities by learning how to dream, design, and do.

Previously, Mr. Hines was the Chief Technologist for the NASA Ames Research Center.
Prior to assuming the position as ARC Chief Technologist, John was Chief Technologist in the ARC Engineering Directorate.

Board Member

Christina Korp

Ms. Christina Korp is an astronaut manager, space advisor and the president of Purpose Entertainment. For ten years she managed Apollo 11 astronaut Buzz Aldrin and launched his education foundations – ShareSpace and the Aldrin Family Foundation. She produced the last five galas at Kennedy Space Center celebrating Apollo 11 and the Webby winning and Emmy nominated, “Cycling Pathways to Mars” VR experience.

She is passionate about promoting ways space benefits the planet and people every day and promoting women’s issues. She spearheaded projects in 2020 to celebrate the Women’s Vote Centennial in the USA. She leads SPACE For a Better World producing events and experiences that raise money for partner charities. She currently works with Apollo 16 moon walker Charlie Duke and NASA astronaut and aquanaut Nicole Stott.

Board Member

Brittany Greer

Ms. Brittany Greer is the Founder and CEO of Rosie Riveters. Rosie Riveters is a 501c3 nonprofit whose mission is to equip and empower preschool to middle school girls from diverse backgrounds to be strong, confident, and competent in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) by providing a fun space to imagine, learn, build, and play.

IgnitedThinkers has partnered with the Rosie Riveters in fostering the spread of space education and inspiring girls around the world.

Advisors

Advisor

Shelli Brunswick

Ms. Shelli Brunswick is the COO of Space Foundation, where she brings a broad perspective and deep vision of the global space ecosystem — from a distinguished career as a space acquisition and program management leader and congressional liaison for the U.S. Air Force to her current role, including overseeing Center for Innovation and Education, Symposium 365, and Global Alliance.

As a leading role model for women in space, Ms. Brunswick was selected as the 2020 Diversity and Inclusion Officer and Role Model of the Year by WomenTech Network and a Woman of Influence by the Colorado Springs Business Journal. Ms. Brunswick chairs the Women in Aerospace Foundation, chairs Space Entrepreneurship at Tod’Aers, and hosts the Women’s Global Gathering annually at Space Symposium.

Advisor

Oren E. Whyche-Shaw

Ms. Oren Whyche-Shaw most recently was nominated by President Biden and confirmed by the U.S. Senate in 2022 as board member of the African Development Bank representing the United States of America. She retired in June 2023. Prior to her role at the AfDB, she was the U.S. Agency for International Development’s Deputy Assistant Administrator for the Bureau of sub-Saharan Africa. Concurrently, she held the positions of Interagency Coordinator for President Obama’s Partnership in Growth and then, Coordinator for the Trade Africa Initiative. Before joining USAID in 2011, Ms. Whyche-Shaw was the Director for the Office of African Nations at the U.S. Treasury. Over and above those responsibilities, Oren conceived and Initiated implementation of the U.S. African Mortgage Markets Initiative announced by President Bush. Furthermore, she is a member of the Planetary Society, as well as the Overview Roundtable. She has flown on a Zero-G Flight and was awarded “The Right Stuff” medal at the Advanced Adult Space Camp.

Sherlie's Home

Sherlie's Home

Sherlie's Home

Sherlie's Home

Visit the Sherlie's Home website to donate to their home and help support these creative and intelligent kids with basic needs and school supplies: http://childrensfund.net/

This event was a proof of concept of future workshops IgnitedThinkers plans to host, and paves a pathway for future workshops for kids of all ages around the world.

Visit the Sherlie's Home website to donate to their home and help support these creative and intelligent kids with basic needs and school supplies: http://childrensfund.net/

This event was a proof of concept of future workshops IgnitedThinkers plans to host, and paves a pathway for future workshops for kids of all ages around the world.