[2] Loston earned her Bachelor of Science degree from Alcorn State University in 1973.

She received her Master of Education and Doctor of Philosophy degrees from Bowling Green State University in 1974 and 1979 respectively.

[7] Loston then was the director of education and special assistant for Suborbital and Special Orbital Projects Directorate for the Goddard Space Flight Center, Wallops Flight Facility and Chief Education Officer for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration at its headquarters in Washington, D.C.

Her initial appointment at NASA was as the associate administrator for education on October 28, 2002, and prior to joining the agency, she served as the NASA Administrator’s senior education advisor starting in September 2002.

[8] On October 26, 2023, President Joe Biden appointed Dr. Adena Williams Loston a Commissioner for the Presidential Advisory Commission on Advancing Educational Equity, Excellence, and Economic Opportunity for Black Americans.