Dr Nicky Fox returns to Surrey to receive honorary degree, and finally meets herself on campus

Dr Fox, Associate Administrator for NASA’s Science Mission Directorate, leads an extraordinary portfolio of more than 100 missions studying Earth, the Sun, the planets and the wider universe. But for the Surrey graduate, who completed an MSc in Telematics and Satellite Communications at the University in 1991, the day was also a deeply personal homecoming.

Addressing graduates, families and guests at the ceremony, Dr Fox said: “I am deeply honoured to be here with you today to accept this Honorary Degree from the University of Surrey.”

She reflected on the journey that brought her from a childhood fascination with space to the senior leadership of NASA’s science programme. Her interest began early: as an eight-month-old baby, she was lifted from her cot by her father to watch Neil Armstrong walk on the Moon. “Throughout my childhood,” she said, “his excitement about everything space was contagious.”

Yet Nicky was candid about the uncertainty she felt as a young scientist. “When I went to college to study physics, I couldn’t see myself with a career in science,” she told graduates. “I struggled at first - scared to ask a question in case people in my classes thought I was stupid.”

It was Surrey, she said, that helped change that. After switching to engineering and joining the University’s master’s course, she discovered that asking questions was not a weakness, but a scientific strength. “I was told, ‘Nicky, you worry too much about the why and not the how - you think like a scientist, not an engineer.’ Yay - I’m a scientist after all!”

That moment, she said, was pivotal. “That revelation brought a growing sense of confidence in myself - understanding that my questions could lead to answers, even if they weren’t the answers I expected at first.”

During her visit, the Alumni Team at the University also made sure Dr Fox met a familiar Surrey figure: herself. The “Proud to be Surrey” billboard featuring Nicky Fox has become a fixture on campus, and while she is often sent photos of it by others, she had never seen it in real life. Her honorary graduation day gave her the chance to stand beside the display in person - a fitting and joyful moment for an alumna whose career now inspires students walking past it every day.

Nicky’s career has included roles at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center and Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory. She served as project scientist for NASA’s Parker Solar Probe, humanity’s first mission to “touch” the Sun, and deputy project scientist for the Van Allen Probes. In 2018 she joined NASA Headquarters to lead the Heliophysics Division, before being appointed Associate Administrator for Science in 2023.

In her graduation speech, Nicky emphasised the importance of teamwork, resilience and community - lessons she said she learned at Surrey. “Having a team you can rely on really helps,” she said. “At Surrey, I created my first team: a study group I could trust and lean on to get through all the course material.”

Later that evening, during an “In conversation with” event, Nicky expanded on how transformative Surrey had been for her confidence and sense of direction. “I really did love Surrey,” she said. “I just liked the place when I came.”

She described arriving at Surrey after feeling unsure of herself as an undergraduate and finding an environment where she could ask for help, work closely with lecturers and learn alongside others. “Surrey was the perfect place,” she said. “I also really learned time management and the big thing was the realisation that you’re never going to be able to do anything really big and bold… on your own.”

For Nicky, that belief in collaboration has shaped her leadership at NASA. Speaking about her approach, she said: “I’m a very collaborative leader. I like the team. I like my team around me.” She added that empowering people and being open, honest and supportive were central to leading ambitious science missions.

The evening conversation also gave the audience a glimpse of the passion that continues to drive her. Asked what advice she would give to students hoping to follow a similar path, Nicky said there is “no straight path” and “no one path” to a career like hers. “Embrace your curiosity and go for it,” she said. “I usually tell people, if you imagine what it is you think you want to do, close your eyes, dream big, and then open them and do it. I love my job.”

Her message to Surrey’s newest graduates was equally clear: curiosity, perseverance and community matter. “The path may not always be clear,” she said in her ceremony address, “but through curiosity and perseverance you will uncover new possibilities and drive meaningful change.”

As she joined the University’s honorary graduates, Nicky said she hoped students could see themselves in roles that inspire them. “Lifting up and supporting the next generation of STEM professionals is critical for our community and for science as a whole,” she said.

For Surrey, the day celebrated not only an exceptional alumna, but a powerful example of where a Surrey education can lead – from Hitchin to NASA, from asking questions in class to helping shape humanity’s exploration of the universe.