Launching the Zed Factor Fellowship Summer Class of 2022
The Zed Factor Fellowship, an award-winning non-profit organization dedicated to providing access to the aerospace industry to aspiring professionals from underrepresented communities, launches its Class of 2022 Summer Fellows to become the next leaders of the aerospace industry.
The selection committee is highly impressed with all Fellows’ passion for aerospace, dedication to community engagement, and desire to inspire all to achieve their dreams. The Class of 2022 will continue the founder’s vision to set forth an aerospace industry composed of people of all backgrounds, creating a more inclusive, well-rounded, and ultimately more impactful and effective nation and world. Each Fellow not only demonstrates impressive technical and leadership capabilities but will also conduct a customized community engagement project that will bring together their passion for industry and their communities and expand the impact of the program far and wide.
The Zed Factor Fellowship received nearly 200 applications from over 100 academic institutions, ultimately selecting 13 summer fellows through a rigorous selection process. The Zed Factor Class of 2022 Fall Fellows will be announced in the next couple months. All Zed Factor Fellows are placed in either a summer or fall internship program and will develop their community engagement project in the 2022-2023 academic year.
The Summer Class of 2022 will begin their Fellowship journey by listening to the final community project presentations from the previous class. They will be matched with both an executive mentor and near-peer mentor to guide them through their budding careers and attend a flagship Zed Factor Leadership Summit to strengthen their abilities.
The Zed Factor Class of 2022 Summer Fellows:
Adriana M. Bonilla Romacho, University of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez Campus, Computer Science and Engineering ‘26. Adriana will work for Kayhan Space.
Alanis M. Matías Pérez, University of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez Campus, Chemical Engineering ‘23. Alanis will work for Orbit Fab.
Alessandro Verniani, University of Colorado, Boulder, Aerospace Engineering ‘23. Alessandro will work for Relativity Space.
Anshi Vora, Virginia Tech, Computer Engineering & Innovation Technology ‘24. Anshi will work for Umbra.
Catherine Dominic, University of Texas at Austin, Aerospace Engineering + Innovation, Creativity Entrepreneurship ‘23. Catherine will work for Relativity Space.
Faraz Awan, Princeton University, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering ‘24. Faraz will work for Umbra.
Jordan Marshall, San Jose State University, Aerospace Engineering Major ‘22. Jordan will work for Astra.
Joseliz Perez, University of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez Campus, Mechanical Engineering ‘24. Joseliz will work for Umbra.
Judy Park, Purdue University, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering ‘21. Judy will work for Morpheus Space.
Melody Miguel, University of Central Florida, Political Science and Anthropology ‘23. Melody will work for The Planetary Society.
Rodney Davis, Virginia Commonwealth University, Mechanical Engineering, and Economics ‘25. Rodney will work for Zeno Power Systems.
Sairaksha Kesarla, Georgia Institute of Technology, Aerospace Engineering with Certificate in Entrepreneurship ‘22. Sairaksha will work for Planet.
Sophia Pieta, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Aerospace Engineering ‘24. Sophia will work for Astra.
To learn more about the Zed Factor Fellowship or to apply to be a 2023 Fellow or 2023 host company, please contact: info@zedfactorfellowship.org
