Reston STEM Leader Robin McDougal Named to Virginia Air & Space Center Board

RESTON, VA — Robin McDougal, founder and board chair of Reston-based The Pearl Project Institute for Innovation in STEM Literacy, has been appointed by Gov. Abigail Spanberger to the Board of Directors of the Virginia Air & Space Center at NASA Langley, the nonprofit announced Tuesday.

McDougal was among a slate of appointments to state boards and commissions announced by the governor's office on July 2. According to the release, Spanberger said the appointees represent a broad range of professional experience and share a commitment to serving communities across Virginia.

The appointment places McDougal on the governing board of the Hampton-based Virginia Air & Space Center, the official visitor center for NASA Langley Research Center. The center's board establishes policy and oversees its mission of promoting aerospace education and public engagement.

McDougal said the appointment aligns with efforts to prepare students for careers in Virginia's growing aerospace and technology sectors.

"Virginia's future competitiveness in the space economy depends on how deliberately we prepare the next generation today, not just for the jobs that exist, but for the ones we haven't named yet," McDougal said. "I'm honored to bring that lens and the voice of Northern Virginia's students, educators, and workforce partners to the Virginia Air & Space Science Center's board."

The Pearl Project Institute, a nonprofit headquartered in Reston, focuses on STEM education and workforce development through its Interstellar Dreams Space Center. The organization partners with schools, universities and industry to provide hands-on programs designed to prepare students for careers in aerospace and the commercial space industry.

According to the institute, McDougal has more than 20 years of experience developing STEM curriculum and workforce-readiness programs for middle school, high school and college students. She also publishes Interstellar Magazine, serves as vice chair of Women Business Owners for Women in Technology, and has worked on workforce development initiatives through the Virginia GENEDGE Alliance.