Retired astronaut Mike Fossum to speak at STEM Nation 2025

RANCHO VIEJO, Texas – Mike Fossum, who went to high school in McAllen, is a former American astronaut, engineer, and chief operating officer of Texas A&M University at Galveston. 

He flew into space on board the NASA Space Shuttle missions STS-121 and STS-124 and served as a mission specialist of Expedition 28 and commander of Expedition 29 aboard the International Space Station. 

Fossum will be back in the Rio Grande Valley on Tuesday, May 20 for STEM Nation 2025. The student conference is being hosted by the Rio Grande Valley Philanthropic Foundation and held at the Bert Ogden Arena. 

In an in-depth interview with the Rio Grande Guardian, Fossum says he wants to encourage Valley students to consider a career in the STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) fields. He also speaks about growing up in McAllen, being encouraged to become an engineer by a teacher in McAllen, his time at NASA, and the work being undertaken at Texas A&M University at Galveston.

The interview, conducted at Rancho Viejo Resort & Country Club, was made possible thanks to Diane Milliken-Garza, executive director of the RGV Philanthropic Foundation.

Here is a video recording of the interview:

Editor’s Note: Another speaker at STEM Nation 2205 is Kathryn Lueders, general manager of SpaceX’s Starbase. Click here to watch a podcast with Lueders and Diane Milliken Garza about the upcoming student conference.

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