EXPLORING NEW FRONTIERS

John Herrington, the first Native American to journey into space, becomes first to graduate in UI’s new ISTEM doctoral program.

From his vantage point 200 miles above Earth at the International Space Station, former NASA commander John Herrington could not only reflect on the world he’d temporarily left behind, but on a life’s journey. And that journey — filled with hard work, tough choices and critical mentorship – is at the root of Herrington’s current mission: to inspire new generations of students interested in STEM disciplines to reach their life and career dreams.

Herrington graduated in December as the first doctoral student in the new Indigenous Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (ISTEM) graduate program at the University of Idaho. The program aims to provide accessible, relevant, graduate-level education to Native Americans.

His ISTEM research, part of a doctorate in Adult/ Organizational Learning and Leadership, looks at

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