Professional Affiliation

Former Director, Office of Polar Programs, National Science Foundation

Expert Bio

Dr. Kelly Kenison Falkner served with distinction as Director, Office of Polar Programs, National Science Foundation from 2012-2021. Her duties included directing the U.S. Antarctic Program that NSF oversees on behalf of the nation in accordance with Presidential Memorandum 6626 and the terms of the Antarctic Treaty System as well as oversight for NSF’s Arctic research program. She completed her federal career in 2022 with an 18-month detail to the Office of Science and Technology Cooperation, U.S. Department of State.  Prior to federal service, Dr. Falkner was a Professor of chemical oceanography in the College of Oceanic & Atmospheric Sciences, Oregon State University for over 20 years. Dr. Falkner is Professor Emerita at OSU and a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. She earned her PhD from the Woods Hole Institution - MIT Joint Program (1989) and a BA in Chemistry with Russian language studies from Reed College (1983).