Bio
Richard D. Fisher is the director of educational outreach for the Biodesign Institute at Arizona State University. In this roll, he manages the assessment, development and implementation of comprehensive local, state and national public and K-12 outreach activities.
As with most of his career, he manages activities and programs designed to increase public scientific awareness and literacy and to encourage students to pursue studies and careers in science, technology and engineering.
Prior to his current appointment, Fisher served as the vice president of educational programs at the Orlando Science Center. He also directed the educational outreach efforts of Florida State and Florida A&M universities’ joint College of Engineering as the founding director of an aerospace-themed, university-based, regional science center.
At the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, Fisher directed a public and education outreach science center and was the founding director of two residential environmental education centers in the southern Appalachian region.
In addition, Fisher has worked as a consultant for the University of South Florida’s Coalition for Science Literacy. He has been involved in numerous local, state and national science education organizations and serves on numerous boards.
Formerly a university lecturer and adjunct professor at Northern Arizona University, Coconino Community College, and Florida Metropolitan University, Fisher has taught in the areas of geography, environmental, and earth sciences. He started his career as an infantry officer and rotary-wing aviator in the U.S. Army.
Fisher earned a BS in geography at Northern Arizona University and went on to complete a master’s degree in earth sciences and a second master’s degree in education.