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Name: Dakota Kelly
Program: Aerospace Bachelor's-Accelerated Master's Student

My hometown is Wilton, Connecticut, but I lived in Los Angeles until I was 11, which is where I first gained an interest in aerospace engineering.

When I was 8 years old living in LA, it was all over the news that the Space Shuttle Endeavour would be retiring to the California Science Center. It blew my mind that something that had been to space was now roaming through the streets I grew up on making its 12 mile final journey from LAX to the California Science Center.Ìý

After seeing the space shuttle in the museum, my love for space was solidified. From that very moment, I wanted to be an astronaut and that’s what I’ve wanted to be ever since!Ìý

Throughout my schooling, math and science were always my strongest subjects which reassured me that I wanted to go into engineering when it came time to apply to colleges.Ìý

I was also able to get my Private Pilot’s License in high school after discovering my passion for aviation when I heard many astronauts had their pilot’s license. This passion for aviation in addition to human spaceflight reassured me that aerospace engineering was the right path, as I was previously also considering mechanical engineering.Ìý

Throughout my undergrad, I was able to join numerous bioastronautics related research projects which lead me to pursue an MS in Aerospace Engineering with a focus in Bioastronautics. I am a student in the Bachelor's-Accelerated Master's program so I was able to have 6 credits count from my undergrad towards my master’s.Ìý

I am currently taking off a semester from school as I’m interning at NASA in Houston, TX on their space suit testing team. I plan to return to ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½Æƽâ°æÏÂÔØ to continue my master’s in the spring.

I decided to come to ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½Æƽâ°æÏÂÔØ specifically for their highly ranked aerospace program. I also knew ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½Æƽâ°æÏÂÔØ was a top-tier research program and the #1 public university for NASA research funding. I also thought it was very unique that they offered a Space Minor. It also didn’t hurt that the campus is gorgeous and there’s plenty of skiing nearby!

I love ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½Æƽâ°æÏÂÔØ so much that I decided to stay for my master’s too! I think one of the greatest parts about CU is how much the professors want you to get hands-on research experience. They have so many research opportunities that allow you to discover your specific passion. The friends I’ve made along the way are also friends I know I will have for life so I am very grateful to CU for that!