Mrs. Cauffman has been awarded the NASA the Exceptional Achievement Medal and she is a three-time recipient of the NASA Outstanding Leadership Medal. She is also a four times recipient of the NASA Acquisition Improvement Award, and numerous GSFC and HQ awards. She is a Senior Fellow on the Council for Excellence in Government. She is an Honorary Member of the National Academy of Sciences, Costa Rica. She is also an Honorary Member of the Colegio Federado de Ingenieros y de Arquitectos in Costa Rica. Due to her extensive work in outreach and STEM in Costa Rica and Latin America the Government of Costa Rica issued a stamp in her honor in 2017. Cauffman attended the University of Costa Rica before transferring to George Mason University. She received a B.S. in physics, a B.S in electrical engineering and a M.S. in electrical engineering, all from George Mason University. At George Mason, she learned English. GMU honored Ms. Cauffman achievements at their 50th Anniversary in 2018 as one of the 50 “exemplars”, alumni who exemplify the impact of a Mason degree around the world.