Tam O'Shaughnessy
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This biographical article needs additional citations for verification. (November 2012) |
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This article needs additional citations for verification. (November 2012) |
| Tam Elizabeth O'Shaughnessy | |
|---|---|
| Born | January 27, 1952 (age 61) San Andreas, California, U.S. |
| Nationality | American |
| Alma mater | Troy High School Georgia State University University of California, Riverside |
| Occupation | Educator |
| Partner(s) | Sally Ride (1985–2012) (Ride's death) |
Tam Elizabeth O'Shaughnessy (born January 27, 1952) is an American educator, children’s science writer, former professional tennis player, and Chief Operating Officer of the science education company Sally Ride Science. After Sally Ride's death, it was revealed that O'Shaughnessy was the life partner of astronaut Sally Ride—the first American woman in space—from 1985 until Ride’s death in 2012. O’Shaughnessy and Ride were business partners at Sally Ride Science and they also wrote science books for children together.
Early life
O'Shaughnessy was born in San Andreas, California and graduated from Troy High School in Fullerton, California, where she was active in tennis.[1][2] She competed in the first round of the US Open in 1970, and 1972.
Career and education
O’Shaughnessy earned B.S. and M.S. degrees in biology from Georgia State University, and a Ph.D in school psychology from University of California, Riverside. She was assistant professor of school psychology at Georgia State University and then associate professor of school psychology at San Diego State University.[3]
O’Shaughnessy began her science writing career in 1990, collaborating with Ride on a children’s book, Voyager: An Adventure to the Edge of the Solar System. O’Shaughnessy has written 10 children’s science books, including six with Ride. Ride and O’Shaughnessy earned the American Institute of Physics Children’s Science Writing Award in 1995 for their second book, The Third Planet: Exploring the Earth From Space.
In 2001, O’Shaughnessy, Ride, Karen Flammer, Terry McEntee, and Alan Lopes formed Sally Ride Science, based in San Diego, California. The mission of the company is to create engaging science books and science programs to encourage young students’ interest in science, technology, engineering, and math. O’Shaughnessy serves as the chief operating officer and executive vice president. O’Shaughnessy helped create the vision for series Cool Careers In Science. The series consists of 12 books, each profiling 12 scientists and engineers working in areas from space science, green chemistry, and physics to math, environmental science and engineering. O’Shaughnessy also guided creation of the Key Concepts in Science series, which includes 12 books in Physical Science, 12 books in Earth Science, and 12 books in Life Science.
After astronaut Sally Ride's death, her sister Bear Ride disclosed that Ride had a same-sex relationship for 27 years with O’Shaughnessy.[4]
Selected publications
- Sally Ride, Tam O'Shaughnessy (1999). The Mystery of Mars. Random House Children's Books, ISBN 0517709716
- Kathleen L. Lane, Frank M. Gresham, and Tam E. O'Shaughnessy (2002). Interventions for Children With or At-Risk for Emotional and Behavioral Disorders. Pearson, ISBN 9780205321827
- Sally Ride, Tam O'Shaughnessy (2003). Exploring Our Solar System. Random House Children's Books, ISBN 0375812040
- Sally Ride, Tam O'Shaughnessy (2004). The Third Planet: Exploring the Earth from Space. Random House Children's Books, ISBN 0517593610
- Sally Ride, Tam O'Shaughnessy (2005). Voyager: An Adventure to the Edge of the Solar System. Random House Children's Books, ISBN 0517581574
- Sally Ride, Tam O'Shaughnessy (2009). Mission: Planet Earth: Our World and Its Climate--And How Humans Are Changing Them. andom House Children's Books, ISBN 1596433108
- Sally Ride, Tam O'Shaughnessy (2009). Mission: Save the Planet: Things YOU Can Do to Help Fight Global Warming!. Random House Children's Books, ISBN 1596433795
- Tam O'Shaughnessy (2010). Cool Careers in Engineering. Sally Ride Science. ISBN 978-1933798-32-5
References
- ^ Carr, Al (July 15, 1969). Pair of comely lasses. Los Angeles Times
- ^ Cartnal, Alan (April 28, 1972). On and off the Courts. Fashion: Name of the Tennis Game. Los Angeles Times
- ^ "Sally Ride Science - Faculty". Sally Ride Science]accessdate=March 22, 2013.
- ^ Rich Abdill (July 23, 2012). "Sally Ride Revealed to Be Gay: Her Sister, on Ride's Life, Death, and Desires for Privacy (UPDATED)". Broward Palm Beach New Times. Retrieved March 22, 2013.
External links
- Tam O'Shaughnessy
- Talking with Sally Ride and Tam O'Shaughnessy at Sally Ride Science
