Information

Dr. Michelle Minitti earned her B.S. in Materials Science and Engineering and her Sc.M. and Ph.D. in Geological Sciences. Her early career research focused on laboratory investigations of the Martian meteorites and their context in Mars remote sensing and landed datasets. She is currently a member of the Mars Science Laboratory (Curiosity) and Mars 2020 (Perseverance) science teams. On Curiosity, Minitti is Deputy Principal Investigator of the MAHLI investigation, and a Co-Investigator on the Mastcam and MARDI investigations. On Perseverance, Minitti is a Co-Investigator on the SHERLOC investigation. She is primed for lunar exploration as a Co-Investigator on the Heimdall investigation, which is slated to land on the Moon via one of NASA’s commercial lunar lander missions. 

Taryn Tucker graduated with her bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering at Colorado School of Mines in 2021, and her master's degree in mechanical engineering in 2022. Her master's degree area of study was mechanics of materials, material analysis, and manufacturing. Taryn spent 3 years working for Sierra Space (formerly Sierra Nevada Corporation) on the Dream Chaser program in a number of roles during her college career and found her passion for stress analysis through this role. Taryn currently works for BAE Systems INC. (formerly Ball Aerospace) as a structural analyst on a number of civil and Department of Defense Programs. Taryn is very passionate about expanding access for women interested in aerospace and loves to work with organizations such as WOAA and SWE whenever possible.

Baylee Burton is a published space sci-fi author and a student at the University of Colorado Boulder, where she is a junior in Aerospace Engineering and concurrently earning her Masters in Engineering Management through Lockheed Martin’s partnership program. She released her first children’s chapter book, Animal Galaxies: Canine Conundrum, in May 2024 and is currently working on her second book. Baylee's unique path highlights how creativity and technical knowledge can coexist in shaping the aerospace industry. 

Barbra Sobhani is the State Director for the Colorado Space Grant Consortium (COSGC), based at the University of Colorado Boulder. COSGC provides students with the opportunity to do research and hands-on projects in space. She holds degrees in physics, geophysics, and biology. She has taught a wide array of college courses during her career, from astrobiology to robotics. Her non-traditional career path has included being faculty, Honors Program Director, and Academic Dean. In addition to her academic career, she is also an accomplished artist and naturalist.   

Matt DeWitt is an astrophotographer based in Boulder, Colorado, with nearly a decade of experience. He specializes in hosting private workshops in Moab, Utah, where he teaches participants how to capture stunning images of the Milky Way. Matt has guided many enthusiasts in exploring astrophotography across various locations, including the Outer Banks, North Carolina, Utah, Arizona, Colorado, and Washington. Passionate about connecting people with the wonders of the night sky, he aims to inspire others to appreciate and photograph celestial beauty under dark skies. 

Brooke is a Senior Career Advisor working with students in the College of Engineering & Applied Sciences. She is passionate about coaching students through career milestones, helping them develop lifelong skills, and guiding them to meaningful work they’ll love. Brooke was born and raised in Overland Park, Kansas, and remains a diehard Kansas City Chiefs fan to this day. She went on to the University of Arkansas where she earned a BA in English before completing her MA in higher education at the University of Colorado Boulder. Throughout her time on campus, Brooke has held roles in Disability Services and Academic Advising. In her free time, she enjoys traveling, reading, exploring all the sites and scenes of Colorado and spending time with her fur-baby, Murphy. 

Skylar Jeseritz holds a master’s degree in Bioastronautics and a certificate in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Colorado Boulder. With a background in Aerospace Engineering and a minor in Biomedical Engineering, Skylar is passionate about human spaceflight and dedicated to advancing this dynamic field. Currently at Space Lab Technologies, a Boulder-based startup, Skylar contributes to the development of a plant growth chamber designed for the lunar surface, aiming to support sustainable human exploration. With a commitment to innovation, Skylar is excited to be part of a generation making significant strides in space life science research. For more information about Space Lab and the project I am working on: https://www.spacelabtech.com/index.html. 

Angel Abbud-Madrid is the Director of the Center for Space Resources at the Colorado School of Mines, where he leads a research program focused on the human and robotic exploration of space and the utilization of its resources. He is also the Director of the Space Resources Graduate Program, aimed at educating scientists, engineers, economists, entrepreneurs, and policy makers in the field of extraterrestrial resources.

Cadet Jordan Diomede is a pre-law student at the University of Colorado Colorado Springs (UCCS) and a Cadet at Detachment 105 at CU Boulder. She is currently conducting research on space debris mitigation under the guidance of esteemed mentors in the field of space law. An accomplished Air Force ROTC cadet, she is on track to commission as a Lieutenant in the United States Air Force in May. Passionate about the unique field of space law and how it is evolving. 

Meghan Collins is currently a first-year grad student pursuing her professional master’s in bioastronautics at CU-Boulder while working full time as a systems engineer at Sierra Space. She received her bachelor's degree in Engineering Mechanics from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2020 and has experience in testing aircrafts as well as designing space habitats. In her current role, she leads the emergency concept of operations development on her company’s inflatable space habitat, LIFE, while creating requirements and conducting trade studies.

Savannah Buchner is a 5th year PhD student in the bioastronautics lab at CU Boulder working with Dr. Allison Hayman. Her research focuses on the use of virtual reality for spaceflight operations and training. She received her M.S. in aerospace engineering from CU Boulder and a B.S. in mechanical and aerospace engineering from UC Davis. 

Nichelle Somers is a 2002 graduate of CU Boulder (APS) and a Lieutenant Colonel in the US Air Force. Lt Col Somers is a seasoned KC-135 evaluator pilot, with over 2500 flight hours including more than 350 combat hours in Iraq and Afghanistan. She has led humanitarian and military missions all over the world and is now completing her Air Force career as an instructor in AFROTC at CU Boulder. She also has a Master of Aeronautical Science with specializations in Aeronautics and Space Operations from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University and a Master of Arts in Counseling and Leadership from University of Colorado-Colorado Springs. Nichelle is married to a corporate pilot and is mom to three kids, two dogs, and a cat! 

Madisen Purifoy-Frie is a System Safety and Reliability Engineer at Blue Origin, working on the Lunar Permanence team to develop the next lunar lander. Previously, she was contracted to Sierra Space through Special Aerospace Services (SAS), where she supported the inaugural flight of the Dream Chaser and contributed to new space station developments. Before that, she contributed to projects involving electropermanent magnets (EPM), environmental control and life support system (ECLSS) simulators, and lunar regolith testing chambers. She earned her B.S. in Aerospace Engineering from CU Boulder in 2022.