Shirley M. Malcom

Dr. Shirley Malcom is head of Education and Human Resources Programs at the American Association for the Advancement of Science. In that role, she works to improve the quality and increase access to education and careers in STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) fields as well as to enhance public science literacy.

Dr. Malcom is a trustee of the California Institute of Technology, a regent of Morgan State University, and a member of the advisory board to the SUNY (State University of New York) Research Foundation. She is a former member of the National Science Board, the policymaking body of the National Science Foundation, and served on President Bill Clinton’s Committee of Advisors on Science and Technology. In 2003, Dr. Malcom received the Public Welfare Medal of the National Academy of Sciences, the highest award given by the academy.

Internationally, Dr. Malcom is a leader in efforts to improve the access of girls and women to education and careers in science and engineering, and to increase use of science and technology to empower women and address problems they face in their daily lives. She serves as co-chair of the Gender Advisory Board of the United Nations Commission on Science and Technology for Development. She also is co-chair of Gender InSITE, a global campaign to have more women and girls participate in and benefit from science, innovation, technology and engineering.

A native of Birmingham, Ala., Dr. Malcom received her doctorate in ecology from The Pennsylvania State University, masters in zoology from UCLA and bachelor’s with distinction in zoology from the University of Washington. She holds 16 honorary degrees.

In addition to serving as a Heinz Endowments board member, Dr. Malcom is on the boards of the Public Agenda, the National Math-Science Initiative and Digital Promise.