Tim Donnelly, ASU

His fascination with space is deeply rooted in science fact and fiction, starting with Tom Swift and His Flying Lab (1954) and extending more than four decades through the Mars Trilogy (1992 - 1996). A steady diet of science fiction enriched his life each new paperback by Clarke, Hoyle, Heinlein, Asimov and others was always a joy and an adventure. He dreamed of far-off places and alien cultures. In fact, he chose to study fiction as an undergraduate at Arizona State University, pursuing a degree in Spanish Language and Literature. His desire to experience far-off (earthly) places and different cultures was fulfilled when he was named as one of ASU's first Fulbright Scholars, studying in Colombia, South America. Upon graduation from ASU, he pursued a career in fund raising, managing capital and planned-gift campaigns that raised several million dollars for three multi-hospital systems in Arizona and California, as well as serving as Vice President of Institutional Development for a major multi-hospital system.
Taking a mid-career retirement, he spent a decade deeply involved in the civic affairs of Tempe, Arizona home of his alma mater. As a neighborhood activist, he served on the Tempe Board of Adjustment, Tempe Leadership Executive Committee, and several municipal committees including Tempe General Plan 2020. All this time he was also an avid reader of Scientific American Tim is to Scientific American as sports fans are to Sports Illustrated. His month was never complete without it. He came to realize that he wanted a better window on the technological revolution about which he was reading. Though he had no desire to be a scientist, or engineer, or mathematician, he simply wanted to participate. Deciding to re-enter the active workforce, he pursued technology education and work opportunities that culminated in a Masters of Advanced Study Geographic Information Systems (MASGIS) from Arizona State University and his position as an analyst at LROC. He looks forward with barely contained anticipation to the launch of the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter spacecraft. It is a great adventure!