Welcome to COSMOS - California State Summer School for Mathematics and Science
Advisory Board
COSMOS seeks input and guidance from a statewide advisory board composed of select leaders with interests and experience in STEM education. The Board advises the COSMOS leadership in general, and the Executive Director in particular, on essential program strategies, including:
- Fundraising, development, and student accessibility
- Legislative and public communication
- Academic and research opportunities for students and alumni
The Board meets semi-annually to review the COSMOS activities and to discuss new and continuing opportunities for advancing the mission of the program.
Board Members:
Alan R. Bishop
Chief Scientist (Ret.), Los Alamos National Laboratory
Former Principal Associate Director - Science, Technology, and Engineering, Los Alamos National Laboratory
Fellow, American Physical Society, Institute of Physics, American Association for the Advancement of Science
Recipient, E.O. Lawrence Award, Department of Energy
Recipient of the 2024 Los Alamos Medal
Humboldt Senior Fellow, Los Alamos Fellow
Kim Elise Chrissan, COSMOS Advisory Board Chair
Head of Transportation Management, Nokia Corporation
Irene Helley
VP Applied AI, Lockheed Martin
Chris Kahn, COSMOS Advisory Board Chair Emeritus
Founder and Owner, Chris Kahn Consulting, Sacramento
Secretary, Board of Trustees, The California Museum
Brian Lee, COSMOS Advisory Board Vice Chair
Partner and Senior Advisor, BRV Capital Management
Margo Leonetti O'Connell
The Leonetti/O'Connell Family Foundation
Board of Trustees, California Science Center Foundation
Adriane McFetridge
Co-founder, CicakTech
Sanjay Palsamudram
Co-Founder, Board of Director, Managing & General Partner, SV3 Global Ventures
DeWayne Quinn, COSMOS Advisory Board Chair Emeritus
Founder, The Quinn Foundation
Director, Global Information Systems, Apple Inc. (Ret.)
Trustee, UC Davis Foundation
Recipient of the 2025 Outstanding Alumni Award, UC Davis
Tarun Soni
Senior Fellow, Northrop Grumman Corporation
Past Board Chairs:
2002-2010: Gayle Edlund Wilson, Board Chair Emerita
Visionary of the California State COSMOS Legislation of 1998
Board Member 2002-2026
2010-2017: Ken Hess, Board Chair Emeritus
Board Member 2002-2017
2017-2021: Chris Kahn, Board Chair Emeritus
Board Member 2002-present
2021-2026: DeWayne Quinn, Board Chair Emeritus
Board Member 2018-present