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Retired NASA astronaut Dr. Jeannette Epps has joined the Board of Directors of the South Side Community Growth Foundation in Syracuse, New York, the organization announced on Tuesday (February 18).
The Syracuse native, who retired from NASA in May 2025 after a distinguished 16-year career, brings her impressive background to the non-profit that supports Syracuse's south side neighborhoods through community-based investments.
"I went from Corcoran High School to outer space, and that journey started right here on the South Side," Epps said in a statement. "I want every young person in our community to know that their dreams matter and that their community supports them. That's why I'm proud to serve on the South Side Community Growth Foundation board and to help build that future together," according to CNY Central.
Epps, a Corcoran High School graduate, holds a bachelor's degree in physics from Le Moyne College. She furthered her education with a master's and doctorate in aerospace engineering from the University of Maryland in College Park.
Her impressive career includes working at Ford Motor Company, where she co-authored patents, and serving as a Technical Intelligence Officer at the CIA before joining NASA in 2009. In March 2024, Epps made history as the second Black woman to complete a long-duration stay on the International Space Station, spending 235 days in space as part of SpaceX's Crew-8 mission according to the American Program Bureau.
Deka Eysaman, Executive Director of the South Side Community Growth Foundation, expressed enthusiasm about Epps joining the board. "Jeanette's extraordinary achievements in science, research, and public service, combined with her deep roots in Syracuse, make her an invaluable addition to our team. Her proven leadership in the most challenging of environments will help us reach new heights on the South Side," Eysaman stated.
The foundation noted that Epps joins at a pivotal time as the organization looks to expand its community development initiatives throughout Syracuse's south side.