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Why did you choose Aeronautics and Astronautics?
In first grade, I read my first book about an astronaut. It was the first time I had been exposed to the idea of not just studying space, but exploring the final frontier and seeing past the sky with my own eyes. The wonder and amazement was enough to convince even first-grade me that I had to touch the stars -- even if it was in a cardboard and duct-tape costume.  Since then, every STEM course and project team I have been a part of has only solidified that not only is space where I want to be, but building the rockets to get there is my passion. The Aeronautics and Astronautics program gives me the opportunity to learn every aspect of space flight through coursework, research, and project experience, and to propel that dream of spaceflight into a reality.

Best event or organization you’ve participated in AAE?
The best organization I have participated in AAE would be the Purdue Space Program's Active Controls team. This rocketry team is focused around the Collegiate Propulsive Lander Challenge, where we aim to fully design, build, and fly a self-landing liquid rocket. This team has given me exposure to the research, design, and rocket testing elements of AAE that have complimented the coursework I've learned in tandem -- along with being some of the most exciting moments of my time at Purdue!

Best event or organization you’ve participated in outside of AAE?
The best event I have participated in outside of AAE was attending the Women in Engineering Gala! This event, hosted yearly by the Women in Industrial and Systems Engineering (WISE) and Women Engineering Student Organization (WESO), has become one of my friends and my favorite nights of the year. The Women in Engineering Gala gives us the perfect opportunity to drop the steel-toe boots and safety glasses and put on beautiful ballgowns and heels. Being able to dress up and embrace our femininity, along with hearing very inspiring stories from a wide range of talented speakers, makes every Women in Engineering Gala a night to remember!

Why did you want to be an AAE Ambassador?
When my little cousin heard I was going to be a "rocket builder," his mind was blown. He couldn't stop asking questions about my favorite planet (Pluto, of course), if he could build a rocket out of legos (I would love to see that), and a million other things space-related. Being able to watch his passion for space grow through every conversation, youtube video, or book read was like watching first-grade me discover rockets for the first time, and it reminded me of the wonder and awe that got me here in the first place. I want to be an AAE Ambassador to share that wonder and awe. Whether that's through teaching incoming freshmen about why I love the Aerospace program at Purdue or discussing the future of the space industry with company recruiters, I am beyond excited to continue sharing this passion with those around me.

Favorite place on campus?
My favorite place on campus is the Armstrong Atrium. There are always a wide range of events hosted here, from the Women in Engineering Gala to career fairs, which has made it such a fun and memorable location. When it's exam season, studying under the space capsule and in the sunlight from the large windows makes it a very calming and peaceful place to work.

Favorite class you’ve taken thus far and why?
So far, my favorite class has been my Aerodynamics/Fluid Dynamics lab section! I got the opportunity to work with a team of other AAE students to run experiments in wind and water tunnels, learning about vortex shedding, boundary layer theory, and lift and drag measurements. At the very end of the course, we even got to design our own experiment, and our team chose to predict and measure the lift and drag of different Star Wars ships in the wind tunnel! What made this class the most fun was the people I worked with. My lab team became such close friends over the course of the semester that we would meet up to watch movies after lab or play pickleball on the weekends. We even bought cookies with our lab TA! Overall, the best part of this class was the friendships we cultivated over the many long hours spent in the labs and on lab reports.

What is one piece of advice you would give to a potential AAE student?
The biggest piece of advice I could give a future AAE student is that no two students' paths are the same. Life is never linear! Sometimes, feeling like you're taking a step back is just a chance for you to regroup and bounce back stronger. So, don't compare yourself to any students around you. Just keep building your own way, brick-by-brick, and don't forget to look back and be proud of yourself every now and then.

Who is someone you look up to in the Aero/Astro industry and why?
Someone I look up to in the Astro industry is Jerrie Cobb, one of the Mercury 13 astronaut trainees. During a time when women weren't able to become astronauts, she was one of the largest proponents of change. She was tested and passed the same caliber of astronaut testing as the Mercury mission astronauts, and then continued to take the fight for women in space to the U.S. Government.  In a time when nobody believed in women in space, she not only proved she was just as capable as the men, she also continued to fight for all other women in aerospace, and directly led to me being able to apply to be an astronaut today. That drive and passion are traits that I respect highly, and hope to embody as an ambassador.

What motivates you to succeed?
My biggest motivation is to become someone that 1st-grade me would be proud of. Whether that's working on awesome rocket projects, leading a research team, or even choosing something pink to wear to the lab, I always strive to stay true to who I was (and still am!).

What is your ultimate career goal?
My ultimate career goal is to someday become an astronaut. This has been a dream of mine ever since I was young, and it has fueled my growth as an Aerospace engineer more than any other characteristic of the job.

What do you like to do when you’re not studying/in the lab or classroom?
Outside of school, research, and clubs, I love to play sports! You can find me rock-climbing in the Co-Rec or playing volleyball on the sand courts after a long day of exams.

Favorite Fun Fact about Purdue?
My favorite fun fact about Purdue is our history as a locomotive school! Whether that's the Rush Crossing tracks outside of WALC that we jump over at the beginning of our Freshman year, or the Boilermaker Special riding around campus, or the train tracks in the tile of the Mechanical Engineering building, there are many nods to our history as a locomotive laboratory school!