
Col. Thomas Akers, Math’73, MS Math’75, has logged more than 800 hours of space flight and 29 hours of space-walking experience. He was selected for NASA’s astronaut program after joining the Air Force and was a mission specialist on four space flights – including on the Discovery, Endeavour and Atlantis. Following his career in the Air Force, Akers returned to his alma mater and taught math at S&T for 11 years before retiring in 2010.
Akers earned a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree, both in mathematics, from S&T in 1973 and 1975, respectively.
Share This Story
Spark a Memory?
Share your story! Fill out the form below to share your fondest memory or anecdote of S&T. If you'd prefer not typing, you can also share by phone at 833-646-3715 (833-Miner150).
Harvest Collier on student success
Harvest Collier, a professor of chemistry, served several years in the early 21st century as vice provost...
Jacquelyn (Stroble) and Robert Nagel
Jacquelyn (Stroble) and Robert Nagel met in 2005 during their first semester as graduate students. “We both took the same…
Miner athletics’ biggest fan
Keith Bailey, a 1964 mechanical engineering graduate, transformed a company and then transformed S&T athletics. He joined Williams Co. in…
Madison (Moore) and Scottie Thomas
Madison (Moore) and Scottie Thomas attended the same high school, and even took a French class together, but they didn’t…
Alumni leading the telecommunications industry
Roy Wilkens, EE’66, and Mario A. Padilla, MetE’60, worked for years to challenge and change the status of the telecommunications…
Cheryl D.S. Walker: engineer, curator, lawyer, poet
Cheryl D.S. Walker, who earned a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering in 1986, has many talents and many pursuits. Dedicated…