What has been the most valuable skill that you have found to help you attain the successes that you’ve applied for?
The most valuable life skill for me is tenacity. Getting started is often the hardest part—getting over that initial hump of putting something on paper and continuing that momentum once you do push through. Equally important, especially for grants or scholarships, is clear storytelling. You have to show why your work matters and why you’re the right person. Reviewers don’t just want to understand your project—they want to connect with what drives you.

Tell us about the research institute you’ve been building for Georgia Tech: what is your role and goals for it?
Last year, I worked as an entrepreneur assistant when we launched the Space Research Institute (SRI) at Georgia Tech. I helped shape industry engagement strategies, interviewing companies and organizations across the space sector. My hope is that this work positions Georgia Tech as a catalyst for commercial space activity—making it easier for industry to access cutting-edge research, facilities, and talent, while giving students and researchers exposure to real-world problems. Long-term, I hope it becomes a place where ideas don’t just get published, but get used.

What gets you the excited for the future of space?
What excites me most is seeing space shift from that unknowable mystery to something woven into daily life. I can’t wait for the day when space is as normal as any other part of life—when the “space economy” is just the economy. And honestly, I’m just as excited about the research and engineering challenges that we’ll have to tackle to make that future a reality.