Proud Titan Returns ‘Home’

“Dream big!”

It is those two words astronaut Tracy Caldwell Dyson inscribed as she graciously gave her autograph to scores of students and campus visitors who lined up to greet her March 1 when she returned to her alma mater.

Caption: Tracy Caldwell Dyson spoke about her life as an astronaut during a recent campus talk. Photo: Karen Tapia Download

Because she “dreamed big” and realized her goal to become a NASA astronaut, the Cal State Fullerton graduate is now inspiring others to do the same.

The down-to-earth Caldwell Dyson took the time to meet, shake hands, even hug, each one of her well-wishers before, and following, her keynote address at the ninth annual Science Symposium, presented by the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics Inter-Club Council and Associated Students Inc.

“She made me believe that the impossible is possible. When you see someone like her achieve, it’s contagious,” said Travis Morgan, a mechanical engineering major who asked for her autograph. He was among the estimated 300 campus and community members in attendance wowed by her story. 

During her keynote, Caldwell Dyson shared her experiences of living and working on the International Space Station for 174 days in 2010. She narrated a NASA video and showed a photo slide show of awe-inspiring images of Earth from aboard the space station.

When she showed images taken from the cupola — a domed-shaped module of the space station with windows that provide a panoramic view of Earth — and with half the crew gone and awaiting a trio of new crew members, she was awe-struck: “It was pretty cool when I realized there’s only three people in space — and I’m one of them! Pretty powerful images you see out of the cupola.”

As a young girl growing up in Southern California, Caldwell Dyson often gazed up at the desert stars wondering what it was like to be among them. Through encouragement from her Cal State Fullerton chemistry faculty mentors and a lot of hard work and determination — first earning a B.S. in chemistry in 1993 and later a doctorate at UC Davis — she made her own dream come true. Since joining NASA in June 1998, she has logged 188 days in space and completed three historic and challenging spacewalks during her work on the space station.

“I think of this school with great fondness and great respect,” she said. “Without it, I wouldn’t be where I am today.”

Caldwell Dyson expressed appreciation and gratitude to her former professors, athletics coaches, staff members and the university for giving her the education she needed to press forward and have the self-confidence to achieve her career goal. She was genuinely excited to be back on campus.

“Being here brings back a lot of memories. Even though Cal State Fullerton has changed a lot, grown a lot, and there’s more parking structures than I remember, it has a feeling of home,” said Caldwell Dyson during a reception in her honor in the Titan Student Union courtyard.

“I feel like here at Cal State Fullerton, I grew up a lot. Even in this courtyard, I spent my first day as a student here. It was where we had chemistry orientation. Even some of the faculty members who were there on my first day are here today. It’s a trip back in time, and a very heartwarming one.”

During the reception, Caldwell Dyson was greeted by chemistry and biochemistry professors Richard L. Deming and Scott A. Hewitt and Gene A. Hiegel, emeritus professor, and other faculty members and administrators, including former CSUF President Milton A. Gordon, and his wife, Margaret Faulwell Gordon; Keith Boyum, interim executive assistant to the president and emeritus professor of politics, administration and justice; Brian Quinn, director of athletics (Caldwell Dyson participated in track and field); and Paul Carter, Alumni Association president.

Caldwell Dyson presented university officials with “flown items” of university memorabilia that made the journey into space on shuttle missions and “lived” on the International Space Station. These included a CSUF flag presented to Gordon, an orange “F” athletics flag presented to Quinn, and a periodic table adorned with elephants, which she gave to Deming.

She gave a NASA photo collage with a small California state flag that was flown in space to Robert A. Koch, acting dean of the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics.

And she presented Hewitt, one of the faculty members who encouraged and mentored her to pursue a career with NASA, with a photo collage of her space missions, which she inscribed: “Scott, never underestimate the power you have in being a mentor.”

Carter, who presented her with a Tuffy bobblehead with a credit on the package noting that she took Tuffy on one of her space missions, told her: “We’re truly proud of your achievements and applaud your continued relationship with the university. Every day, millions upon millions of people worldwide gaze up at the stars and dream of the places they’ll go. You inspire people to reach their potential and accomplish their goals.

“Your commitment to the university, sharing your time and talent with us, sets an example for all alumni.”

Caldwell Dyson later told the crowd, “I carry a lot of pride of being a Titan.”

March 5, 2012