Dr. Jaylee Mead, NASA Mathematician and Astronomer, and Committed Washington, D.C. Philanthropist Named 2010-2011 Ambassador to the Arts by Guide for the Arts
Dr. Jaylee Mead’s passion for theater evolved over the years and turned into a full-fledged philanthropic commitment after her retirement, with donations exceeding $50 million made to the Washington D.C. theaters.
Washington, DC, December 05, 2010 --(PR.com)-- Retired NASA Astronomer Dr. Jaylee Montague Mead has been named the Washington, D.C. 2010-2011 Ambassador to the Arts by Guide for the Arts. Mead is being honored for her extraordinary contributions and dedication to the Washington Theater and Arts community for more than 25 years.
Mead began her career as one of the first professional women at NASA in 1959, and remained with NASA as a mathematician, astronomer and an administrator until retiring in 1992. Mead and her late husband, Dr. Gilbert Mead, a physicist at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, discovered a mutual love for theater when they began participating in Goddard’s Music and Drama (MAD) productions in the 1960’s. MAD is an employee theater group that produced Broadway-style musicals in a dinner theater format and remains active to this day.
Upon retiring, the Meads moved from Greeenbelt, Maryland to a home near the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. where they were able to immerse themselves in Washington’s theater and music community.
Mead, a native of Clayton, North Carolina, graduated magna cum laude in 1951 from Woman’s College (now University of North Carolina at Greensboro) with a B.A. in mathematics before moving on to Stanford University to earn an M.A. in education. After joining NASA, she attended Georgetown University, where she earned a Ph.D. in astronomy.
“Before I arrived at NASA, my passion for theater had not developed yet due to lack of opportunity where I grew up in rural North Carolina,” Mead said.
“When I was in college there was an entertainment and lecture series that included dancers, singing quartets, and so forth. I saw theater as well, but at this point I was mostly an observer and only an occasional participant.”
At NASA, Mead became more actively involved in the Music and Drama Productions (MAD) employee club, where she performed in musicals and acted as a producer for many shows.
“My favorite roles include Nellie Forbush in "South Pacific," Vera in "Mame," and Miss Jones in "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying," Mead says. “Many of us that worked together on MAD productions would go to DC to see how the professionals did it.”
The Mead’s passion for theater evolved over the years and turned into a full-fledged philanthropic commitment after their retirement, with donations exceeding $50 million made to the Washington D.C. theaters.
In October, 2010 the Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater opened in honor of Mead and her late husband who, in 2006, pledged $35 million towards the project—the greatest gift from a single household to a not-for-profit regional theater.
Mead currently serves on the boards of The Studio Theatre (chair for seven years,) Washington Theatre Awards Society (Helen Hayes Awards,) Carnegie Institution of Washington, National Children's Museum and is an Arena Stage Life Trustee.
The Meads established the Mead Family Foundation in 1989; in 1998 they were presented with the Mayor's Award for Excellence in the Arts and the Washington Post Award for Distinguished Community Service. They were named Washingtonians of the Year in 1999.
The Ambassador to the Arts Award is sponsored by Guide for the Arts, a groundbreaking publication for patrons, benefactors, artists and administrators. Established in Boston in 2001, Guide for the Arts has honored such luminaries as composer John Williams, Opera Legend Placido Domingo, Senator Edward Kennedy, Boston Ballet Artistic director Mikko Nissinen and the Institute of Contemporary Art's Director Jill Medvedow, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater’s Artistic Director Judith Jamison and Conductor of the Boston Philharmonic, Benjamin Zander.
"I am flattered and pleased to be asked to assume this role,” Mead said of the award. “It is an easy task to spread the word about Washington's many fabulous arts offerings."
About Guide for the Arts:
A must-have publication for serious arts patrons, GUIDE FOR THE ARTS is the only comprehensive source for complete arts schedules, special events, box office listings and performance hall information.
Guide for the Arts is distributed exclusively to patrons, benefactors, artists and corporate sponsors. With complete listings for theatres, museums, dance and music organizations, the Guide has a readership of more than 252,000 annually. Guide for the Arts publishes editions in New York City, Boston and Washington D.C.
For complete information, visit www.guideforthearts.com.
###
Mead began her career as one of the first professional women at NASA in 1959, and remained with NASA as a mathematician, astronomer and an administrator until retiring in 1992. Mead and her late husband, Dr. Gilbert Mead, a physicist at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, discovered a mutual love for theater when they began participating in Goddard’s Music and Drama (MAD) productions in the 1960’s. MAD is an employee theater group that produced Broadway-style musicals in a dinner theater format and remains active to this day.
Upon retiring, the Meads moved from Greeenbelt, Maryland to a home near the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. where they were able to immerse themselves in Washington’s theater and music community.
Mead, a native of Clayton, North Carolina, graduated magna cum laude in 1951 from Woman’s College (now University of North Carolina at Greensboro) with a B.A. in mathematics before moving on to Stanford University to earn an M.A. in education. After joining NASA, she attended Georgetown University, where she earned a Ph.D. in astronomy.
“Before I arrived at NASA, my passion for theater had not developed yet due to lack of opportunity where I grew up in rural North Carolina,” Mead said.
“When I was in college there was an entertainment and lecture series that included dancers, singing quartets, and so forth. I saw theater as well, but at this point I was mostly an observer and only an occasional participant.”
At NASA, Mead became more actively involved in the Music and Drama Productions (MAD) employee club, where she performed in musicals and acted as a producer for many shows.
“My favorite roles include Nellie Forbush in "South Pacific," Vera in "Mame," and Miss Jones in "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying," Mead says. “Many of us that worked together on MAD productions would go to DC to see how the professionals did it.”
The Mead’s passion for theater evolved over the years and turned into a full-fledged philanthropic commitment after their retirement, with donations exceeding $50 million made to the Washington D.C. theaters.
In October, 2010 the Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater opened in honor of Mead and her late husband who, in 2006, pledged $35 million towards the project—the greatest gift from a single household to a not-for-profit regional theater.
Mead currently serves on the boards of The Studio Theatre (chair for seven years,) Washington Theatre Awards Society (Helen Hayes Awards,) Carnegie Institution of Washington, National Children's Museum and is an Arena Stage Life Trustee.
The Meads established the Mead Family Foundation in 1989; in 1998 they were presented with the Mayor's Award for Excellence in the Arts and the Washington Post Award for Distinguished Community Service. They were named Washingtonians of the Year in 1999.
The Ambassador to the Arts Award is sponsored by Guide for the Arts, a groundbreaking publication for patrons, benefactors, artists and administrators. Established in Boston in 2001, Guide for the Arts has honored such luminaries as composer John Williams, Opera Legend Placido Domingo, Senator Edward Kennedy, Boston Ballet Artistic director Mikko Nissinen and the Institute of Contemporary Art's Director Jill Medvedow, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater’s Artistic Director Judith Jamison and Conductor of the Boston Philharmonic, Benjamin Zander.
"I am flattered and pleased to be asked to assume this role,” Mead said of the award. “It is an easy task to spread the word about Washington's many fabulous arts offerings."
About Guide for the Arts:
A must-have publication for serious arts patrons, GUIDE FOR THE ARTS is the only comprehensive source for complete arts schedules, special events, box office listings and performance hall information.
Guide for the Arts is distributed exclusively to patrons, benefactors, artists and corporate sponsors. With complete listings for theatres, museums, dance and music organizations, the Guide has a readership of more than 252,000 annually. Guide for the Arts publishes editions in New York City, Boston and Washington D.C.
For complete information, visit www.guideforthearts.com.
###
Contact
Guide for the Arts
Kevin T. Wood
617-275-4768
www.GuidefortheArts.com
Kevin T. Wood
617-275-4768
www.GuidefortheArts.com
Contact
Categories