Carol O'Donnell
Carol O’Donnell is the Director of the Smithsonian Science Education Center (SSEC), a unit of the Smithsonian Institution that is dedicated to transforming the learning and teaching of science throughout the nation and world. In this role, Carol is responsible for all operational activities and planning for the unit, including building awareness for K-12 science education reform
among State and district leaders; conducting programs that support the professional growth of K-12
science teachers and school leaders; and, overseeing all research and curricular resource development,
philanthropic development, and administration. In this capacity, Carol also serves as the US representative on the Global Council of the InterAcademy Partnership (IAP) Science Education Programme (SEP). Prior to joining the Smithsonian, Carol was a leader at the US Department of Education for nearly a decade. Dr. O'Donnell currently serves as part-time Physics faculty at George Washington University.
