AOE Ambassadors
Who are the AOE Ambassadors?
The AOE Ambassadors are enthusiastic and motivated students who enjoy talking to prospective students about opportunities in the Kevin T. Crofton Department of Aerospace & Ocean Engineering. AOE Ambassadors assist the department with recruitment events for prospective undergraduate students. Some activities that AOE Ambassadors are involved with include:
- Engineering showcases for the Fall & Spring Admissions Open House events
- The Spring College of Engineering Open House showcase
- Presenting information sessions about the AOE Department for prospective students and their families
- The Fall COE Welcome Event for incoming first-year and transfer students
- Presentations, panels, major exploration events and more for current students
Visiting the AOE Undergraduate Program
During the fall and spring semesters, AOE Information Sessions will be presented in-person by student AOE Ambassadors on most Mondays & Fridays from 2:30-3:30 PM. Please contact Emily Metzgar if you have questions about visiting during the summer or require additional information.
To register for an AOE Information Session, first click here to see what dates are available to register for events. Click on a specific date to see if an AOE Information Session is being offered. If available, fill out the registration form to sign up.
Meet the AOE Ambassadors!
Lana Asaad (Co-Lead)
Majors: Aerospace Engineering & Chemistry, Class of 2027
Hometown: Springfield, VA
Minor: Mathematics
Professional/Student Organizations: Orbital Launch Vehicle Team, Archimedes Society, Team Astra, Galipatia LLC, Art Club
Internships: NASA Marshall Space Flight Center, Virginia Space Grant Consortium (VSGC)
Research: English to Engineering (E2E) undergraduate research group - Alternative Engine Cycles team. I work on determining the viability of a variable aircraft engine to assist in the development of sustainable aviation.
Advice: Get involved early on! Attend interest meetings for design teams, research groups, and any extracurricular you might be even the slightest bit interested in! Learning early on what you are most passionate about will save you so much time in the future, and college is the best time to figure out a potential career path you’d like to take.
Fun Fact: I animate and am a web comic creator!
Leo Kovatch (Co-Lead)
Major: Aerospace Engineering, Class of 2027
Hometown: Basking Ridge, New Jersey
Minor: Japanese Studies
Professional/Student Organizations: Orbital Launch Vehicle Team (OLVT), Club Soccer
Internships: Beyond Gravity
Favorite thing about major: You meet lots of hardworking and driven people who motivate you to be a better person
Advice: Explore the various clubs offered on campus and find the one where you fit in. These are the people who you will form lifelong bonds with.
Yitzhak Aisen
Major: Aerospace Engineering, Class of 2028
Hometown: Springfield, Virginia
Minor: Economics
Professional/Student Organizations: Club Soccer
Favorite thing about VT: How welcoming and kind the community is
Research: IDPro Undergraduate Research - My team works with NAVAIR engineers at MCAS Cherry Point in order to design and construct a tool capable of inspecting aerial refueling hoses seen on the KC-130 tankers.
Lance Ayers
Major: Aerospace Engineering, Class of 2026
Hometown: Franklin County, Virginia
Minor: Business
Professional/Student Organizations: RockSat-X at Virginia Tech, SGT, TBP
Internships/Co-ops: VectorNav Technologies, Peraton / NSROC IV, NASA Langley Research Center
Favorite thing about VT: The many opportunities to gain practical experience through design teams and research.
Advice: Join a design team! It's a great way get hands-on and apply your knowledge and skills.
Juan Barreto Jerez
Major: Aerospace Engineering, Class of 2026
Hometown: Richmond, VA
Minors: Mathematics, Physics
Professional/Student Organizations: Sigma Gamma Tau, Tau Beta Pi, RockSat-X
Internships/Co-ops: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Oglethorpe Power Corporation
Research: Soft Materials & Structures Lab
Favorite thing about major: Learning the scientific principles and current challenges behind the technology that keeps humanity interconnected and allows us to explore the universe is very cool.
Fun Fact: I am a big fan of classical music—especially opera.
Krish Bhatt
Major: Aerospace Engineering, Class of 2026
Minor: Mathematics & Economics
Professional/Student Organizations: GRAVT (Gobble Rockets), VT Design, Build, Fly, VT Club Table Tennis
Internships: Allete Renewable Resources, BRDC Aerospace
Research: Working under Dr. Sarojini and Dr. Jaworski on creating Agent Based Models for simulating eVTOL air-taxi feasibility in densely populated cities.
Jade Boynton
Major: Aerospace Engineering, Class of 2027
Hometown: Bennington, Vermont
Minor: Mathematics
Professional/Student Organizations: Hokie Ambassadors and MachWorks
Internships: Mack Molding Company
Favorite thing about VT: Our school spirit is everywhere. No matter where I go, I always meet somebody or see something VT related!
Advice: Talk to everyone you can -- a simple conversation could open a door when you least expect it.
Ella Brady
Major: Aerospace Engineering, Class of 2027
Hometown: Franklin, Virginia
Minor: Economics
Professional/Student Organizations: Appalachian Service Project, Project Linus, VT Women of Economics, Baptist Collegiate Ministries (BCM), High-Altitude Ballooning Program (HAB) @ VT
Internships: NASA Langley Research Center
Favorite thing about VT: Its emphasis on serving and giving back to the community!
Advice: Build connections with not just your classmates, but your professors too! Whether you simply have a question about class or you're interested in their research, don't be afraid to talk to them and ask questions - most are really wonderful people who care about investing in students like you!
Maggie Campbell
Major: Ocean Engineering, Class of 2026
Hometown: Norfolk, Virginia
Minors: Naval Engineering
Professional/Student Organizations: Human Powered Submarine at VT, SNAME/ASNE
Study Abroad: Rising Sophomore Abroad Program in Spain/Morocco
Internships: Naval Architecture NREIP Intern at Combatant Craft Division of NSWC Carderock, Deckhand Educator at Call of the Sea
Favorite thing about major: I love that I get to work with and learn about boats everyday, because I love being on the water.
Research: I work in the Hydroelasticity and Tow Tank Lab, where I contribute to the following projects: ONR Slamming Wedge Drop, ONR Slamming Tow Tank Model, Wave Maker Design
Advice: Join clubs and get involved in a design team. It's the best way to learn hands-on engineering skills as a freshman, and as you continue your education.
Fun Fact: I love sailboat racing! I raced competitively in high school and still do over the summer.
Victoria Carpe
Majors: Ocean Engineering & Music Performance, Class of 2026
Hometown: Bear, Delaware
Minor: Naval Engineering
Professional/Student Organizations: SWE, SNAME & ASNE, SAME, Tau Beta Pi, Global Engineering Ambassador
Internships: Newport News Shipbuilding
Study Abroad: Rising Sophomore Abroad Program in Australia/New Zealand; Spring Semester 2024 in Glasgow, Scotland
Fun Fact: I’ve been a sailor for over 11 years.
Alexander Cundiff
Major: Aerospace Engineering, Class of 2027
Hometown: Midlothian, Virginia
Professional/Student Organizations: Orbital Launch Vehicle Team (OLVT); American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA); Sigma Gamma Tau (National Aerospace Engineering Honor Society); In-Space Additive Manufacturing Experiment
Internships: Flight Test Engineering Intern at Anduril, Mid-Atlantic Aviation Partnership, NASA, Reliable Robotics
Favorite thing about major: Aerospace Engineering has an undeniable “cool factor.” The sense of purpose in the field is unlike any other - you rarely meet someone in aerospace who isn’t genuinely passionate, and that shared energy is what makes it so exciting, both in academia and industry.
Noah Daley
Major: Aerospace Engineering, Class of 2028
Hometown: Atlanta, Georgia
Professional/Student Organizations: CEED (Center of Engineering Exellence and Discovery), Ujima LLC, Design Build Fly, SASS (Student Athletic Academic Support Services)
Favorite thing about major: Getting to learn more about planes and other aircraft. I find it very intruiging to be able to understand the physics and math behind what makes them function. Even with the challenges, it’s always worth it in the end.
Advice: Ask as many questions as you can. Asking questions is the key to learning, and letting your curiosity drive your mind will allow you to understand complex concepts and think of creative innovations.
John Fiore
Major: Aerospace Engineering, Class of 2028
Hometown: Chester Springs, Pennsylvania
Minor: Nuclear Engineering
Professional/Student Organizations: MachWorks, American Nuclear Society, Education-To-Engineering (E2E), AIAA, WUVT 90.7 FM
Internships: Woodward Aerospace, BWX Advanced Technologies
Fun Fact: When I’m not doing schoolwork, I’m probably hosting a radio show on 90.7 FM Blacksburg or hiking through the forests somewhere shooting wildlife photography.
Chaim Gabriel
Major: Ocean Engineering, Class of 2028
Hometown: Springfield, Maryland
Professional/Student Organizations: Human Powered Submarine, Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers, American Society of Naval Engineers
Advice: Join a design team early and get involved! It is such a great way to get hands-on engineering experience and make great friends in the process.
Fun Fact: I am a Divemaster and have been diving for six years.
Joel George
Major: Aerospace Engineering, Class of 2026
Hometown: Folsom, California
Professional/Student Organizations: Orbital Launch Vehicle Team at Virginia Tech, Catholic Campus Ministry at Virginia Tech
Internships: Manufacturing Engineering Intern @ Blue Origin, Quality Engineering Intern @ The Boeing Company, Systems Engineering Intern @ The Boeing Company
Favorite thing about major: Aerospace deals with some of the most complex engineering challenges out there, like making rockets and planes fly. Getting to learn the science and engineering that goes into these products is super interesting! Now, when I get in a plane, my brain is thinking about all the concepts I've learned in class.
Advice: Reach out and make friends as much as you can! Forming a good study group with students in your major can make or break you since classes get really tough and it's always helpful to have a group of people who know what you're facing, who can help you overcome those challenges together.
Brittany Hoffman
Majors: Aerospace Engineering & Spanish, Class of 2026
Hometown: Fort Collins, Colorado
Minor: Naval Engineering
Professional/Student Organizations: Defense Civilian Training Corps (DCTC) Scholar, Marching Virginians, Dean's Team, Society of Women Engineers (SWE), Society of Women in Aviation and Space Exploration (SWASE), Society of Flight Test Engineers (SFTE)
Internships: Federal Aviation Administration, Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division (NAWCAD)
Favorite thing about VT: I love the community and being able to be involved in many different organizations on campus!
Advice: Don't be afraid to ask for help from professors - it's great to make connections with faculty and they want you to succeed!
Sarah Jacobs
Major: Aerospace Engineering, Class of 2027
Hometown: Bluefield, Virginia
Minor: International Business
Professional/Student Organizations: NASA Student Launch at Virginia Tech, Student Engineers' Council (SEC), College of Engineering Dean's Team, and FBLA
Internships: NASA-Marshall Space Flight Center, Virginia Space Grant Consortium, Conn-Weld Industries
Favorite thing about VT: Every Hokie I meet is eager to share their experiences and genuinely wants to support others. That spirit extends across campus and beyond, creating connections everywhere from alumni events to football games. No matter the setting, there is a shared enthusiasm and pride that brings people together and makes Virginia Tech feel like home.
Anya Kanodia
Major: Aerospace Engineering & Computational Modeling and Data Analytics, Class of 2028
Hometown: Sayreville, New Jersey
Minor: Mathematics
Professional/Student Organizations: SLVT, VTCRO, Tech Fellows, VT Alpine Ski
Advice: Everyone wants you to succeed, so ask for help!
Fun Fact: I'm an archer
Ava Kerrigan
Major: Ocean Engineering, Class of 2027
Hometown: Wallingford, Connecticut
Professional/Student Organizations: SNAME/ASNE, Comedy Conglomerate
Internships: NREIP at Carderock The Combatant Craft Division (CCD)
Research: Dr. Gilbert's Hydroelasticity Lab and her Manta Ray research
Advice: Doing THE best and doing YOUR best are two different things; take one day at a time!
Matthew McCollum
Major: Aerospace Engineering, Class of 2026
Hometown: Lorton, Virginia
Professional/Student Organizations: Design Build Fly, Solar Car, Gobble Rockets(GRAVT), Vietnamese Student Association, Engineering Volleyball League
Research: Dr. Saha's research in developing AI models to reduce computing time in solving engineering problems.
Advice: Get involved with as many design teams, clubs, and extracurriculars in general as much as possible in freshman year to figure out where your interests lie. Afterwards, you can trim down on your commitments based on what you enjoyed the most, but just remember to say yes to new opportunities!
Fun Fact: I perform in a traditional Vietnamese lion dance group.
Kizzy Mendez
Major: Aerospace Engineering, Class of 2027
Hometown: Stony Point, New York
Minor: Mathematics
Professional/Student Organizations: CREATe
Internships: L3Harris
Research: Advanced Power and Propulsion Lab - Rolls-Royce LibertyWorks Unsteady Inlet Distortion Project
Sophie Newman
Major: Aerospace Engineering, Class of 2027
Hometown: St. Louis, Missouri
Minor: Mathematics
Professional/Student Organizations: NASA Student Launch Initiative, Society of Women Engineers, and the Catholic Campus Ministry
Favorite thing about major: The opportunity it gives me to be creative, think outside the box, and get practical hands-on experience.
Advice: Get involved in different clubs and organizations on campus!
Fun Fact: I play intramural co-ed basketball for fun!
Aidan O'Connor
Major: Ocean Engineering, Class of 2027
Hometown: Stormville, New York
Minor: Naval Engineering
Professional/Student Organizations: Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers (SNAME), Outdoor Club
Research: Fluid Dynamics and Acoustics of Biofouling/Compliant Surfaces for Naval Vessels
Favorite thing about major: I love uncovering new opportunities within my major, along with the close-knit ocean engineering community at VT.
Noah Ottinger
Major: Ocean Engineering, Class of 2028
Hometown: Smryna, Georgia
Minor: Naval Engineering
Professional/Student Organizations: Human Powered Submarine Design Team, Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers (SNAME), Delta Chi Fraternity, CRU
Internships: Newport News Shipbuilding
Favorite thing about major: I love how close of a group I have found in Ocean Engineering. It is a small major which allows you to get really tight with students in your year and other years.
Faith Pursley
Major: Aerospace Engineering, Class of 2028
Hometown: Anthem, Arizona
Professional/Student Organizations: Virginia Tech American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA), Archimedes Society, Team Astra, Pi Beta Phi, Reformed University Fellowship, AOE Alumni Mentor Program
Internships: Woodward Inc., Chemical Strategies Inc.
Research: Education to Engineering (E2E) undergraduate research group - Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) team. I am working on analyzing the viability of using SAF as a drop-in fuel on commercial aircraft engines and systems.
Fun Fact: I am currently working on getting my Private Pilot's License!
Anita Raja
Major: Aerospace Engineering, Class of 2027
Hometown: Singapore
Minor: Mathematics
Professional/Student Organizations: Society of Women Engineers (SWE)
Internships: Republic of Singapore Air Force (Engineering Officer)
Research: English to Engineering (E2E) undergraduate research group - Aerospike team.
Favorite thing about VT: The beautiful scenery during the fall season.
Advice: Always ask why until you are able to answer every question. It's easy to 'understand' concepts by memorizing them or reading them off your notes but it is critical to be able to internalize them and truly know what is theory behind what you are studying.
Aidan Rosenzweig
Major: Ocean Engineering, Class of 2028
Hometown: East Brunswick, New Jersey
Minor: Economics, Naval Engineering
Professional/Student Organizations: SNAME, Human Powered Submarine, Zeta Beta Tau(ZBT)
Favorite thing about major: The ability to study something that I am really passionate about.
Fun Fact: I have caught a 185 lb bluefin tuna.
Krish Shah
Major: Aerospace Engineering, Class of 2027
Hometown: Ashburn, Virginia
Professional/Student Organizations: Orbital Launch Vehicle Team (OLVT), Society of Indian Americans (SIA)
Internships: MAC Aerospace, Purdue University (SURF Program)
Favorite thing about VT: The access to hands-on research and diverse student clubs makes it easy to find communities with your interests.
Cayden Smedley
Majors: Aerospace Engineering, Class of 2027
Hometown: Woodbridge, Virginia
Professional/Student Organizations: Marine Corps Platoon Leaders Class (PLC)
Internships: NASA, Goethe Institute, Schmale Lab (NSF)
Research: I conduct undergraduate research at the Propulsion and Energetics Laboratory (PropEL). We are researching the 3D printability of solid rocket propellant.
Fun Fact: I'm a former competitive Men's Gymnast.
Andrew Tabor
Major: Aerospace Engineering, Class of 2026
Hometown: Lynchburg, Virginia
Minors: Computer Science, Math
Professional/Student Organizations: Orbital Launch Vehicle Team
Internships: Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division
Favorite thing about major: The community of AOE students willing to help each other learn.
Advice: Be sure to make friends early on, and don't wait to pursue research/design team opportunities.
Siddharth Tibrewala
Major: Aerospace Engineering, Class of 2026
Hometown: Centreville, Virginia
Minor: Mathematics
Professional/Student Organizations: MachWorks
Internships: DroneUp, Boeing, Gulfstream
Research: Advanced Power and Propulsion Lab - Sand Ingestion Project
Advice: Talk to everyone possible whether it be your professor, fellow students, or a recruiter at a career fair. You never know you could make some lifelong friends and some connections that could help you get the job you always wanted!
Eli Willett
Major: Ocean Engineering, Class of 2026
Hometown: Burnt Hills, New York
Minor: Naval Engineering
Professional/Student Organizations: Human Powered Submarine, Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers, American Society of Naval Engineers
Internships: Alaska Center for Energy and Power, Newport News Shipbuilding, General Dynamics NASSCO
Favorite thing about major: It's a small discipline of engineering, so you make a lot of good connections both at school and in the industry. Everyone knows everyone.
Advice: Take every opportunity you can to get out of your comfort zone.
Research: Center for Marine Autonomy and Robotics
Alyssa Wingard
Major: Aerospace Engineering, Class of 2027
Hometown: Kent Island, Maryland
Professional/Student Organizations: Sigma Gamma Tau (The Aerospace Honors Society)
Internships: Intuitive Machines
Research: In-Space Additive Manufacturing Experiment Research Team (We are building a 3D printer to go onto the ISS to do print testing)
Advice: Study abroad if you can fit it in, you won't regret it!