Smead Scholars at the University of Colorado Boulder represent the best and brightest minds in aerospace. The program, begun in 2007, recognizes outstanding students for their research and character, with alumni spanning the nation both geographically and across the aerospace sector.
Each year, two incoming PhD students are selected for this honor, which provides financial support, academic enrichment, and exclusive networking opportunities.
Scroll down to learn more about our current Scholars and alumni.
Cate Leszcz is a 2023 Smead Scholar pursuing her PhD under the direction of Profs. 
David Dezell Turner is a 2022 Smead Scholar studying astrodynamics under 
Evangelina Evans is a 2022 Smead Scholar pursuing her PhD in astrodynamics for cislunar space applications under the direction of Profs. 
Sarah Luettgen began pursuing her PhD at CU Boulder in 2021 with a research interest in the dynamics of the Earth’s upper atmosphere. She is advised by 
is a 2021 Smead Scholar interested in studying hypersonics and reentry vehicle under the direction of 
Connor Morency is a Smead Aerospace PhD pre-candidate at the University of Colorado Boulder. Advised by 
Jennifer Horing is a 2020 Smead Scholar interested in studying hypersonic aerothermodynamics and is advised by 
u is a 2019 Smead Scholar studying under 
Samantha Sheppard is a 2019 Smead Scholar working within the Experimental Aerodynamics Laboratory under the direction of 
Damennick Henry is a 2018 Smead Scholar and is advised by the A. Richard Seebass Chair, 
Alex Hirst is a 2018 Smead Scholar, 2020 Draper Scholar, and is advised by Smead Faculty Fellow emeritus, 
Abhishektha Boppana entered CU’s Aerospace Engineering Sciences PhD program in Fall 2017 and is advised by 
entered Smead Aerospace's PhD program in Fall 2017 and is co-advised by 
Andrew Harris is conducting research on developing and refining techniques for autonomous, aero-assisted orbital and attitude maneuvers as a PhD student working under 
is a 2016 Smead Scholar working under 
Shaylah Mutschler worked as a software engineer in the Space Situational Awareness Industry after completing her BS in Computer Engineering at Wright State University in 2012. As a software engineer, she assisted in the development of algorithms that characterized geosynchronous satellites using light curve data. After two years in the space industry she began pursuing her PhD at the University of Colorado Boulder with a focus in 
is pursuing his PhD in the 
JoAnna Fulton is a Technologist at Tendeg, LLC, working on the Starshade project. She completed her PhD in May 2020 in the Autonomous Vehicle Systems Laboratory with 
Ryan Skinner works at the intersection of design optimization and computational fluid dynamics. He spent his first two years at CU Boulder developing active flow control strategies for an aggressive subsonic diffuser, in collaboration with 
Kiichiro J. DeLuca is a venture capitalist at WERU Investment, the oldest university-affiliated venture capital firm in Japan. He leads the firm’s investment activities in frontier technology areas including space technology and invests predominantly in spinout companies from universities and research institutions in the US and Japan. He currently serves on the board of LeoLabs, an SRI International spinout which operates the world’s first and only commercial space situational awareness (SSA) platform for low Earth orbit (LEO). Before entering the venture capital world, Kiichiro worked with several early stage startups in San Francisco and Tokyo in technology focused business development roles. Prior to his career in the venture capital and technology industry, he was a graduate student at the University of Colorado Boulder under the guidance of 
Lauren McManus graduated with her master's from CU Boulder in 2013. She worked under the advisement of
graduated with her PhD in Aerospace Engineering Sciences from the University of Colorado Boulder in 2017 under the supervision of 
is an aerospace engineer at Lockheed Martin, supporting the asteroid sample return mission, OSIRIS-Rex, out of NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. While pursuing her PhD, Samantha worked with A. Richard Seebass Chair, 
Antonella Albuja received her undergraduate degree in Aerospace Engineering from Iowa State University in 2011. She finished her Ph.D. at the University of Colorado - Boulder under the guidance of 
Dan Lubey graduated in 2011 with a BS in Aerospace Engineering from Penn State University. He received a PhD in Aerospace Engineering Sciences in 2015 from the University of Colorado Boulder where he was advised by 
Aaron Rosengren is an Assistant Professor of Space Systems in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at University of California San Diego’s Jacobs School of Engineering. He was previously an Assistant Professor in the College of Engineering at the University of Arizona, specializing in astrodynamics-based space situational awareness. Prior to joining UA, he spent one year at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki in Greece working in the Department of Physics, as part of the European Union H2020 Project ReDSHIFT. He has also served as a member of the EU Asteroid and Space Debris Network, Stardust, working for two years at the Institute of Applied Physics Nello Carrara of the Italian National Research Council. He held visiting researcher positions at both the University of Rome Tor Vergata in Italy and the Belgrade Astronomical Observatory in Serbia. His research interests include space situational awareness, orbital debris, celestial mechanics, and planetary science. Aaron is kept stable in the chaotic dynamics of tenure-track academia by occasionally hiking, boxing, and traveling.
Dylan Boone is a Navigation Engineer in the Outer Planet Navigation group at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory. His tasks include navigation for the Cassini mission at Saturn, and the New Horizons mission to the Pluto-Charon system, as well as studies for the Europa Clipper and Next Mars Orbiter missions. Dylan received his PhD in Aerospace Engineering Sciences from the University of Colorado at Boulder in 2013. While at CU he was awarded the H. Joseph Smead Fellowship and the NASA Earth and Space Science Fellowship. He received a BSE in Aerospace Engineering in 2008 and an MEng in Space Systems in 2009, each from the University of Michigan. He is interested in continuing research into the information content of spacecraft tracking measurements and orbit design in unstable orbital environments.
Ben Dunham grew up in Helena, Montana, where he attended Carroll College and earned a double major in Mathematics and Computer Science. He is fascinated in both the art and science of design optimization and automation. Ben completed his PhD in Aerospace Engineering Sciences in 2017.
Stephanie Golmon is currently a Principal Engineer at Ambri, Inc in Boston, where she has lived for the last several years. She received her PhD in Aerospace Engineering from CU Boulder in 2011, where she also earned an MS. She holds a BS in Physics and Mathematics from Principia College. She was one of the inaugural Smead Scholars (then Fellows) in 2007.
Jason Roadman has been a test engineer at the NWTC since March of 2011. His experience includes field and dynamometer testing of large and small wind turbines, validation of eagle detection systems using trained raptors, metrology, storm chasing, and wind tunnel testing of atmospheric turbulence. He is also an integral member of the team that organizes the Department of Energy's Collegiate Wind Competition, acting as head rules judge as well as testing judge during the wind tunnel tests of the students' turbines. Jason is the NWTC’s lead point of contact for unmanned aircraft and sits on NREL’s unmanned aircraft steering committee. He has a BS in Aerospace Engineering from Virginia Tech and an MS in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Colorado Boulder. He was one of the inaugural Smead Scholars (then Fellows) in 2007.