KENNESAW, Ga. | Oct 19, 2026

In the latest installation of its Presidential Lecture Series, Kennesaw State University welcomed former NASA rocket scientist, award-winning author, and educator Olympia LePoint to speak about reprogramming the brain to overcome fear.

Aligned with KSU's strategic plan, Taking Flight, the series launched last year and seeks to elevate conversations around timely and consequential issues, encourage civil discourse, and create opportunities for lifelong learning among students, faculty, staff, and community members.

The series reflects the University's commitment to academic excellence and public engagement, while exposing students to real-world perspectives that offer valuable lessons beyond the classroom, said KSU President Kathy S. Schwaig.

“The Presidential Lecture Series brings thought leaders to Kennesaw State whose experiences challenge, inspire, and broaden our understanding of what’s possible,” she said. “Olympia embodies that spirit. Her remarkable journey from adversity to a career at NASA, followed by her work as an educator and entrepreneur, demonstrates the power of resilience, determination, and lifelong learning. We were honored to welcome her to campus and give our students and community the opportunity to learn from her extraordinary story.”

Drawing from experiences that span engineering, education, neuroscience, and personal development, LePoint shared lessons from a career focused on helping people navigate uncertainty and service to the community. While her accomplishments have earned international recognition, she told the audience that success did not come from a lack of fear. Instead, she focused on the process she developed to move beyond doubt, a message that has resonated with audiences worldwide.

Having reached more than 28 million viewers on TV news programs and online through her TED Talk, LePoint’s story has become a source of inspiration for students, professionals, and aspiring innovators seeking to navigate challenges in their own lives.

LePoint began advising NASA on space shuttle launches and later helped launch more than two dozen missions as an award-winning propulsion scientist. Today, she leads a media company that produces educational programming on overcoming fear with science. LePoint is also a part-time Artificial Intelligence Literacy and Ethics Professor at California State University Northridge.

Throughout her presentation, LePoint encouraged audience members to challenge societal and self-imposed limitations and embrace opportunities for growth, even when uncertainty stands in the way.

Following LePoint’s address and conversation with Schwaig, students in the audience asked questions about leadership, resilience, and the role of science in addressing complex global challenges.

LePoint’s central message remained clear: Fear is a universal experience, but it does not have to determine a person's future. Through preparation, persistence, confidence in one's ability to learn, and collaboration with others, she said, obstacles can become opportunities for achievement.

“Your future is not determined by your circumstances," she said. “It's determined by the decisions you make and the courage you have to keep moving forward.”

– Story by Gary Tanner

Photos by Katherine Seghers

A leader in innovative teaching and learning, Kennesaw State University offers undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral degrees to its more than 51,000 students. Kennesaw State is a member of the University System of Georgia with 11 academic colleges. The university's vibrant campus culture, diverse population, strong global ties, and entrepreneurial spirit draw students from throughout the country and the world. Kennesaw State is a Carnegie-designated doctoral research institution (R2), placing it among an elite group of only 8 percent of U.S. colleges and universities with an R1 or R2 status. For more information, visit kennesaw.edu.