• Patti Grace Smith Fellow, Class of 2025

• Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Aerospace Engineering, ‘27

• Host Institution: SpaceX

I'm a first-generation Colombian American currently in my second year at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. I'm majoring in aerospace engineering with a minor in space policy. When I was 5, I was gifted a Dr. Seuss book about space, and since then, I've been hopelessly captivated by the idea of space exploration. I'm motivated by a belief that humanity's destiny is space exploration, and I believe that the only way we can accomplish that is by being innovative and ambitious. I love to learn, and I believe that what's gotten me farthest in life has been my curiosity for everything and the unwavering support from my parents.

Currently. I'm a test engineer and fluid systems responsible engineer on the Liquid Propulsion subteam on the MIT Rocket Team, treasurer of the Students for the Exploration and Development of Space (SEDS) chapter, student researcher at the MIT Space Propulsion Lab, NASA challenges participant, and executive board member of The Standard, a professional and personal development organization for men of color. Short term, I want to enable Rocket Team to develop a propulsively landed rocket and create a mentorship and tutoring program with local high school with The Standard members. Long-term, I want to revolutionize the aerospace industry by starting my own rocket/satellite company and create a non-profit mentorship organization dedicated to supporting high schoolers who want to go into aerospace engineering. I will be interning at SpaceX this summer on the Raptor Components team in Hawthorne, CA.

My professional interests include propulsion, test engineering, space telecommunications, and politics. I love to play tennis, volunteer, play the piano, read fantasy novels, dance salsa and bachata, and watch basketball.