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The Board of Trustees is elected by the Governing Membership of the International Space University. The Board of Trustees determines ISU’s overall objectives and oversees the University’s affairs.
Dr. Christian Sallaberger, Chairman
Institutional Members:
ASI – Italian Space Agency (Gabriella Arrigo), CSA – Canadian Space Agency, CASC – China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (Xiangming Fang), CNES – Centre National d’Etudes Spatiales (Alexia Lacaze), DLR – German Aerospace Center (Dirk Beckmann), ESA – European Space Agency (Hugo Maree), Heinlein Prize Trust (Buckner Hightower), Isle of man Government (Martyn Perkins), Israel Space Agency (Ofer Lapid), JAXA – Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (Norimitsu Kamimori), NASA – National Aeronautics and Space Administration (Tom Cremins), Alumni Representative (Soyeon Yi).
Corporate Members:
Airbus Defence and Space (Silvio Sandrone), Boeing, Canadensys Aerospace (Christian Sallaberger), Lockheed Martin (Joe Landon), Manx Precision Optics Ltd. (Helmut Kessler), Odyssey Space Research (Brian Rishikof), SES (Violetta Kuvaeva), The Aerospace Corporation (Angie Bukley).
Individual Members:
Michael Davis, Art Dula, Ramin Khadem, Siamak Khorram, Robert Richards (Founder), Pete Worden.
"The International Space University is a very unique institution. It educates high potential individuals in all areas of the space field, including technical, scientific, business, legal, policy and sociological aspects, and ISU’s graduates go on to become the future space leaders in the global academic community, the senior managers in space agencies, the captains of space industry. However, ISU is so much more than that. It is the neutral ground that brings together representatives from historical as well as emerging space powers from around the globe and gives them a common vision and understanding to allow the planning and implementation of the exploration and development of space for the benefit of all humanity. It has been doing this for over three decades and continues to do it today. ISU is truly a force for good in the world. Whether you are considering enrolling in ISU, or you are an ISU student or alumnus, a faculty or staff member, or perhaps a member of the global space community who supports ISU or its goals, I thank you for your interest and dedication. We welcome and appreciate your membership in the ISU family!"
The Board of Advisors is chaired by the Chancellor and is composed of individuals who have achieved a high level of recognition worldwide in the space sector. It is the duty and responsibility of the Board of Advisors to advise and consult with the Board of Trustees, officers and administration, and faculty on such matters as they may seek such guidance and counsel.
Dr. Valanathan Munsami, Chancellor and Chair of the Board of Advisors
Mr. George W. S. Abbey, Rice University
Dr. Mohamed Al Ahbabi, UAE Space Agency
Prof. Oleg Alifanov, Moscow Aviation Institute
Prof. Ali Al-Mashat, Director, Arabsat (ret.)
Mr. Marcio N. Barbosa, UNESCO (ret.)
Dr. Roger Bonnet, International Space Science Institute
Dr. Peter H. Diamandis, ISU Co-Founder, X-Prize
Prof. Dr. Hansjörg Dittus, University of Bremen
Mr. Jay Honeycutt, Lockheed Martin (ret.)
Mr. Yasuo Ishii, JAXA
Dr. Nandasiri Jasentuliyana, United Nations (ret.)
Mr. Jean-Yves LeGall, CNES
Prof. Johannes Ortner
Mr. Michael Potter, Paradigm Ventures
Mr. Christopher Stott, ManSat
Mr. Eric Tilenius, Tilenius Ventures
Ms. Barbara Wood
The Chancellor is an honorary representative with an ambassadorship role to promote the University and to provide guidance, advice and to participate in academic programs.
Following the steps of Arthur C. Clarke, Jean-Jacques Dordain, Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin, and Prof. Pascale Ehrenfreund, Dr. Valanathan Munsami has been appointed ISU Chancellor.
Dr. Munsami is a space physicist and holds a PhD in Physics, and a Masters Degree in Business Leadership. He is an alumni of the ISU, where he completed a Space Program Diploma (SSP2009). His passion lies in the drafting of various frameworks and roadmaps that help establish emerging space projects and institutions. He helped develop South Africa’s National Space Strategy and Policy and oversaw the establishment of the South African National Space Agency (SANSA). In 2012, he became the Chief Specialist for Astronomy and African Space Science, where he led the drafting of South Africa’s Multi-Wavelength Astronomy Strategy and the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) Readiness Strategy for Africa. He also chaired the African Union Space Working Group that developed the African Space Policy and the African Space Strategy. As of January 2017, he was appointed the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of SANSA, a post he held until the end of February 2022. He is the co-founder of the African Space Policy Institute (ASPI).
"In 2009, I attended the ISU Space Studies Programme (SSP), hosted by NASA Ames. It was an incredible multidisciplinary, multinational experience and I can affirm that the ISU stands in a league of its own. The SSP has exposed me to the various space domains and helped build my confidence as a space professional. With this experience, I attest to the immense value the various ISU Courses and Programmes have in shaping the next generation of space professionals. I therefore encourage aspiring space professionals to immerse yourselves in any of the ISU training streams, as it promises to be an amazing, eye-opening, and life-changing experience. I look forward to engaging and networking with the next generation of space professionals as we advance space education in a fast changing world. Together with the ISU, let’s strive for good governance, equity, and a better world for all."
The ISU Academic Council is responsible for ensuring the academic quality of the teaching and research activities of ISU. The Council has created a set of policies and standards for the faculty within the overall guidelines established by the Board of Trustees and in cooperation with the President of the University.
Volker Damann (Germany), Chair of the Academic Council, ESA (retired), Germany
Lucy Stojak (Canada), Vice Chair of the Academic Council, HEC Montreal, Canada
Carol Carnett JD (USA), Legal Aid Bureau Inc., USA
Dan Glover (USA), Independent Consultant, USA
Maria Antonietta Perino (Italy), Thales Alenia Space, Italy
Geoff Steeves (Canada), University of Victoria, Canada
Su-Yin Tan (Canada), University of Waterloo, Canada
Virginia Wotring (USA), International Space University, France
Olga Zhdanovich (Russia), MODIS, The Netherlands MODIS, Netherlands
“It was an honour to teach at ISU at the end of my ESA career – transferring my knowledge and expertise to the next generation of space professionals. With great pleasure I like to continue my support to ISU, its faculty and students. As the current chair of the ISU Academic Council, I want to continue the path of progress established by my predecessors. The challenging times during the pandemic have shown that new academic pathways and modern teaching methodologies are necessary to move ISU forward to meet a challenging and more competitive academic environment in the space sector. I consider my role to serve the President and the Board of Trustees as a reliable advisor in a broad scope of academic topics. I also want to lead the Academic Council membership in a way to foster open-minded and progressive discussions to enable innovative thinking to further academic excellence.”
The Committee on Academic Appointment, Review & Evaluation (CARE) makes recommendations on all issues regarding appointment, performance, evaluation, and advancement of Resident Faculty members and title assignment at recruitment. It also makes recommendations on the appointment or dismissal, performance, evaluation, and titles of ISU Faculty.
Angie Bukley, The Aerospace Corporation, USA (Chair)
Giovanni Fazio, Harvard University, USA (Vice-Chair)
Bill Cowley, Univ. of South Australia (ret.), Australia
Jim Dator, Univ. of Hawaii, USA
Dennis Irwin, Ohio University (emeritus), USA
Joan Johnson-Freese, Naval War College, USA
John Logsdon, George Washington Univ. (ret.), USA
Maria Perino, Thales Alenia Space, Italy
Soyeon Yi, Astronaut, South Korea.
Kazuya Yoshida, Tohoku University, Japan
‘’ISU has been part of my life since I participated in the SSP in 1993. Since that time I’ve had the privilege of serving ISU as a Faculty Member, Academic Council Member, and at the Central Campus in the role of Associate Dean then Dean and Vice President for Academics and Research. It’ is now my pleasure to chair the Committee on Academic Appointments, Review and Evaluation (CARE) to support the President and Dean in maintaining the highest possible quality of teaching, research, and service to the ISU community and beyond. I’m looking forward to many more years serving ISU with my time and dedication to the spirit of the ISU Credo. ’’