Indira Feustel, SPEECH-LANGUAGE PATHOLOGIST, PURDUE PRESIDENTIAL AMBASSADORMarch 10-12, 2025
BS, Psychology (McGill University), MS, Speech-Language Pathology (Purdue)
Indira Bhatnagar Feustel is an RCGS Fellow and a dual US/Canadian citizen. She has had a 27-year career as a medical speech-language pathologist (SLP). Indira is a passionate advocate in the areas of patient advocacy, communication, travel, heart health, fitness, mental health and wellness.
Having grown up in Cornwall, Ontario, Indira graduated with her Bachelor of Science in Psychology from McGill University in Montreal and her Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology from Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana. She specialized working with the adult neurogenic population with cognitive-communicative and swallowing disorders. Indira worked with former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords after she suffered head trauma from a gunshot wound at a Congresswoman on your Corner event on Jan 8, 2011. In addition to being involved in various research projects in her profession, she worked at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston assessing and treating cancer patients, often post craniotomy surgeries.
During her husband Andrew Feustel’s 6 ½ month mission to the International Space Station, Indira utilized her communication skills to focus on science advocacy. Groups she collaborated with include McGill University, Queen’s University, Purdue University, Wimbledon, Roots Canada, Peace by Chocolate, Hatley and the American Heart Association. She currently works with Purdue University as a presidential ambassador and an executive through the Executive in Residence program. Indira is most proud of being a mother and raising her two sons, Ari (an F-35C fighter pilot with the US Navy) and Aden (medical doctor and first-year resident in physical medicine and rehabilitation). For the past 23 years, Indira, along with her sons, have been active participants in family support and public relations within the NASA human space flight program.
“We have a unique, behind-the-scenes perspective on what it takes to successfully support launches, landings, and everything in-between for our astronaut, husband and father, Andrew Jay Feustel—for the benefit of humankind. It is most definitely a team effort.” — Indira Bhatnagar Feustel
TOPIC AREAS: Speech-language pathology, patient advocacy, communication, travel, heart health, fitness, mental health, wellness
To schedule an appointment with Indira Feustel, please click on this link: Coffee and Consulting
Drew Feustel, NASA ASTRONAUTMARCH 10-12, 2025
BS Solid Earth Sciences (Purdue University), MS Geophysics (Purdue University), Ph.D. Geological Sciences (Queen's University, Ontario, Canada)
Drew Feustel is a professional astronaut who served for 23 years with NASA. He has flown to space three times, including two flights on the Space Shuttle and one flight on the Russian Soyuz rocket. Drew was Commander of the International Space Station (ISS) during his 197-day mission to the ISS in 2018 and was promoted to Deputy Chief of the NASA Astronaut Office in 2020 and acting Chief Astronaut in November 2022. Drew has conducted nine spacewalks in the vacuum of space and is third among all U.S. space walkers for aggregate EVA time. At NASA, Drew was instrumental in the selection of the Artemis II crew and the development of several astronaut candidates. He also has extensive experience supporting private astronaut missions to ISS, development of surface exploration suits and systems, and managing risk within the human space program.
Prior to joining NASA in 2000, Drew worked for the Exxon Mobil Exploration Company, Houston, Texas, as an exploration geophysicist, designing and providing operational oversight of land, marine and borehole seismic programs worldwide. During his doctorate studies at Queen’s University from 1991-1995, Drew worked as a geophysicist for the Engineering Seismology Group, Kingston, Ontario, Canada, installing and operating microseismic monitoring systems in underground mines throughout Eastern Canada and the United States. He attended Purdue University, Indiana, for his Bachelor of Science and Master of Science in Geology and Geophysics. Prior to university, Drew attended community college in Michigan and worked as a certified mechanic restoring antique Jaguars at an automotive restoration facility.
Drew is a dual US/Canadian citizen.
TOPIC AREAS: Spaceflight, science, technology, music, motorsports, automotive restoration, water and snow skiing
To schedule an appointment with Drew Feustel, please click on this link: Coffee and Consulting