From the halls of Bowie High School to leading one of the most ambitious space exploration missions in history, Dr. Lori Glaze’s journey is a powerful example of where curiosity and courage can lead. And it all started here in Arlington.
A proud Bowie alumna, Glaze discovered her passion for math and science early on – drawn to the way complex physical processes could be explained through elegant equations. That passion grew at the University of Texas at Arlington, where her volcanology class sparked a career that would eventually take her far beyond Earth.
Today, Glaze serves as the acting associate administrator for NASA’s Exploration Systems Development Mission Directorate, helping guide the Artemis program as it prepares to return humans to the moon and eventually send astronauts to Mars. From overseeing cutting-edge spacecraft to working with international partners around the world, her work is helping shape the future of human space exploration.
But her path wasn’t always predictable.
“I never thought I would end up at NASA headquarters, let alone leading a human exploration program,” she said.
Time and again, Glaze chose to step outside her comfort zone – saying “yes” to opportunities that felt uncertain that ultimately opened doors to an incredible career.
“Don’t be afraid to expand beyond your comfort zone,” Glaze said. “That is where you learn new things that can inspire you to do more.”
For the Bowie community, her story is especially meaningful.
“Seeing a Bowie alum be part of history is incredibly inspiring for our students,” said Bowie principal Lee Jones. “Any time someone from our city accomplishes something remarkable, it’s a big deal – but when that person walked the same halls, it makes it even more meaningful.”
That connection is powerful for students today.
“It reminds our students that success at that level is within their reach,” Jones said. “Dr. Glaze’s passion for math and science reflects the interests we see in so many of our own students. Her journey shows that with dedication and belief in themselves, they can achieve greatness.”
That same mindset continues to fuel Glaze’s work.
“For me, the excitement is in opening doors to the unknown,” she said.
Glaze credits much of her journey to the people around her, emphasizing the importance of collaboration and support along the way. Her story is just another example of how big dreams get launched right here in Arlington ISD classrooms.
Read more about Glaze’s story here.