ASU welcomes its first class of student space ambassadors

Arizona State University has launched its first cohort of Space@ASU student ambassadors, welcoming 13 students from a variety of schools and colleges.

The program was started with the aim to bring together students from many disciplines across the university, who all have a passion for space, to serve as representatives of Space@ASU among their peers.

The ambassadors come from units such as The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering, the School of Earth and Space Exploration, the School of Life Sciences, the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication and the W. P. Carey School of Business. 

“My major is sports journalism but space is keeping this other door open for me," first-year student Ben Parris said. "It’s so exciting that I get to meet people I otherwise would have no opportunity to see. To be able to expand my ASU experience was something I really wanted to do."

The students will be afforded opportunities to develop their leadership skills by building professional relationships, attending conferences, sharpening their communication skills and networking with space industry professionals. Ambassadors meet periodically to develop goals, discuss opportunities and network with each other. 

“As a business student, it was really difficult getting into the space industry and finding opportunities for myself. There was nothing for someone who was not an engineering or robotics major. I wanted something that could reach not only business, but policy, arts and other majors,” said Kylie Wetnight, a third-year Space@ASU ambassador studying economics.

Space@ASU is a joint effort between the Interplanetary Initiative, NewSpace, the School of Earth and Space Exploration and 17 other groups.

“The future of the space industry is bright. This interdisciplinary Space@ASU student ambassador program gives students an opportunity to design what that future of work might look like," said Alicia Hayden, liaison between the space committee and students. "Students will not only network and build connections with industry professionals; they will also form relationships with each other that could have a lasting impact.” 

For more information on the program, email Hayden at alicia.hayden@asu.edu.