ASU Space welcomes 2nd cohort of student ambassadors

17 outstanding ASU undergraduates are forging a path as next-generation space sector leaders

A group of 2023 ASU Space Ambassadors Standing on Palm Walk for a group photo

2023–24 ASU Space Student Ambassadors

By Shireen Dooling |
September 28, 2023

ASU Space is introducing its second cohort of ASU Space Student Ambassadors, welcoming 17 Arizona State University undergraduate students from a variety of disciplines. The program continues to bring together outstanding current students with a passion for space to serve as representatives of ASU Space and develop their leadership skills.

The ASU Space Student Ambassador program is a competitive ASU undergraduate leadership and professional development program open to current ASU undergraduate students in their third year or beyond. As ambassadors, selected students represent ASU Space to fellow students, faculty and staff, as well as external organizations and industry partners. It is a joint effort among several ASU groups, including the Interplanetary Initiative, NewSpace, the School of Earth and Space Exploration, the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering and the Thunderbird School of Global Management.

The 2023–24 cohort of ASU Space Student Ambassadors represent a variety of schools and 11 different majors from across the university, including political science, engineering, technological leadership, business, astrophysics, robotics, and Earth and space exploration. This assortment of disciplines is reflected in the ambassadors' academic interests, which range from developing new space technologies to investigating the ethical implications of space exploration.

As part of the program, ambassadors will also have the opportunity to build professional relationships, attend conferences, volunteer at community events, sharpen their communication skills and network with space industry professionals. While doing so, they will also learn from each other and explore how their different academic focus areas can contribute to the growing space industry.

Meet the 2023–24 ASU Space Student Ambassadors

In the gallery below, the student ambassadors share about their academic lives, career aspirations and unexpected hobbies. Click through to learn more about them.

Arpit Gaba
“I am an aerospace engineering junior at Arizona State University, working towards certifications to launch rockets. My favorite field of interest is fluid and aerodynamics, and I aspire to lead a space mission one day!”

Photo by Andy DeLisle
Berkeley Adair
“I am a junior majoring in aerospace engineering and pursuing a minor in mathematics. I am passionate about space exploration and love being involved in the opportunities for space lovers on campus, such as serving as team lead in the ASCEND High-Altitude Ballooning Mission, former president of the Students for the Exploration and Development of Space, and data analyst for the cameras Mastcam and Mastcam-Z on the Perseverance and Curiosity rovers on Mars. ... I am also in a sketch comedy troupe on campus called Farceside Comedy Hour!”

Photo by Andy DeLisle
Celina Taramasco
“I am a third-year mechanical engineering systems student at ASU Polytechnic. I am involved in ASU Space Ambassadors, work as a community assistant (CA) at Century Dorms, and intern at Intel. I aspire to work at SpaceX or NASA and contribute to space exploration.”

Photo by Andy DeLisle
Elizabeth Garayzar
“I'm a Junior double majoring in technological leadership and geographic information science. I'm passionate about space governance and involved in several extracurriculars, including the NASA Space Grant intern program, Sun Devil Satellite Lab and ASCEND. I also work at the Marston Exploration Theater, where we host planetarium shows for students and the public. I love working and volunteering in my community, and I'm excited to contribute to the future of space exploration!"

Photo by Andy DeLisle
Elliot Weaver
“I am a junior here at ASU studying mechanical engineering! I am very active all across campus, with involvement in SEDS (Students for the Exploration and Development of Space) and Next Level Devils, as well as serving on the executive board of my fraternity, Acacia. Beyond school, I want to work as a project manager or astronaut for NASA or a private sector company.”

Photo by Andy DeLisle
Gabriella Nakleh
“I am a junior aerospace engineer with a focus in astro, president of the Lebanese Student Association at ASU and a space ambassador. I’m passionate about space engineering, sustainability and space economics. I aspire to work in the space industry and one day go to space! Outside of school, I love reading, exploring the internet and playing the Wikipedia game.”

Photo by Andy DeLisle
Imron Bouley
“I am a second-year aerospace engineering student with a minor in art history. I am passionate about life support systems and manned travel to deep space, and I aspire to work in this field. I love caffeine, running and Formula One.”

Photo by Andy DeLisle
Julian Klein
“I am a double major in political science and history. I am involved in several student organizations, including ASU Space Ambassadors and Barrett Peer Academic Leaders (PAL). I aspire to work for the government in the future, hopefully in diplomacy.”

Photo by Andy DeLisle
Kylie Wetnight
“I am a senior at Arizona State University studying business global politics. During my time at ASU, I have been involved in various extracurricular activities in Barrett, The Honors College, Alpha Kappa Psi, ASU Space and the Next Generation Service Corps. I also spent a semester abroad in Madrid, Spain. I am pursuing a career in the business side of the aerospace industry, and I am passionate about learning about international space.”

Photo by Andy DeLisle
Lucas Barduson
“I am a senior in aerospace engineering. I have been involved in many space clubs at ASU, most prominently the NASA competition club Next Level Devils, where I served as president for a year. This experience led me to start the Space Coalition, which connects all of these clubs into one collaborative community. I aspire to work, and eventually lead, at NASA."

Photo by Andy DeLisle
Matthew Marquez
“I am a senior at ASU majoring in technological leadership. As a NASA Space Grant recipient and member of the L'SPACE Mission Concept Academy, I am passionate about space exploration and research. Outside of academia, I enjoy mentoring, reading, writing, hiking and watching football and basketball.”

Photo by Andy DeLisle
Ralph Ortiz
“I am a senior studying astrophysics. I am a 2023–24 ASU/NASA Space Grant intern, and I work with Dr. Windhorst and the James Webb PEARLS Project, where I study active galactic nuclei. Besides space, I love spending time with family, being in nature and writing poetry.”

Photo by Andy DeLisle
Sean-Michael Hall
“I am a junior majoring in robotics engineering at the Polytechnic campus. I am a member of Barrett, The Honors College, the vice polemarch for Kappa Alpha Psi Inc., and an intern for Intel's central engineering team. I love music, photography and all things space!”

Photo by Andy DeLisle
Tasha Coelho
“I am an Earth and space exploration (exploration systems design) junior, a student researcher at the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Camera, and a data analyst for Mastcam, a camera on NASA's Curiosity rover. I am interested in performing research in extreme environments and am currently involved with SAM (Space Analog for the Moon and Mars) at Biosphere 2."

Photo by Andy DeLisle
Taylor Foster
“I am a third-year undergraduate student at Arizona State University Polytechnic majoring in human systems engineering with a minor in design studies. I am from sunny Southern California and a part of the Grand Challenges Scholars Program at ASU. I use my knowledge to design human-centered solutions for today's complex problems. I am passionate about science fiction, sustainability and the future of human space exploration.”

Photo by Andy DeLisle
Victoria DeFazio
“I am a senior majoring in astrophysics and minoring in Italian. I am an ASU Space Student Ambassador, a NASA Partner Eclipse Ambassador, and a student research aide at the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Camera. I plan to research dark matter and cosmology, and I aspire to be an astronaut someday!”

Photo by Andy DeLisle
Wren Heiligenstein
“I am a senior at ASU and a member of the Barrett Honors College. My major is astrophysics, and I aspire to become a professor one day. Besides space, I am also interested in music, art and nature. This is my second year as a student ambassador for ASU Space.”

Photo by Andy DeLisle

At Arizona State University, we believe a deeply transdisciplinary approach is needed to create the social and systems-level solutions that will pave our way as an interplanetary species. We bring together top researchers and scholars from across the university to work with our students and commercial partners, across sectors and disciplines, to help us better understand and expand our reach into the universe. Learn more about how to get involved at space.asu.edu.