Janet Bandows Koster

Janet Bandows Koster assumed her position as executive director of the Association for Women in Science (AWIS) in July 2006. Bandows Koster is responsible for the day-to-day management of the 5,000 member organization. She has over twenty years experience leading nonprofit organizations both in the United States and overseas.

As Executive Director of AWIS, Bandows Koster has presented its programs at numerous professional meetings and speaks frequently to the media about issues important to women in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). She is the Principal Investigator on a Co-Principal Investigator on several grants including AWARDS (Advancing Ways of Awarding Recognition in Disciplinary Societies) which partners with seven disciplinary societies to develop processes customized for each organization to foster the diversity of their scientific award recipients. Bandows Koster is a member of the American Society of Association Executives and the Council of Engineering and Scientific Society Executives.

AWIS is the largest multi-disciplinary scientific organization for women in the U.S. dedicated to achieving equity and full participation of women in the STEM disciplines. As the premier professional association for women in science and technology, over 65% of AWIS members have doctorates and hold positions at all levels of industry, academe, and government. Membership is open to all organizations, businesses, institutions of higher education, and individuals that support the full participation of women in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.