[ad_1]
The event brings a minority group of aviation professionals together on campus for conversation and advice
McKinney Spora
In the spring of 2020, two UND students saw a need, came up with an idea, and set out to make that idea a reality. When Meridath Jackson and Sophia Jensen attended the 2020 annual Women in Aviation Conference and returned to Grand Forks, they realized they needed a similar gathering at UND.
Out of their ideas came the Odegard School of Aerospace Sciences Faces of the Industry Summit. The first of his Faces of the Industry events took place earlier this spring, and the second he did on October 11th.
“The day will help students, faculty, and other attendees understand the importance of diversity and how we can work together to make our industry stronger,” Jackson said.
Faces of the Industry is a student-sponsored, all-day event. At this event, members of an underrepresented group of aviation experts will share their experiences and advice on an industry lacking diversity. The purpose of the event is to celebrate the differences between people in the industry and generate conversations about the changes needed.
Jackson and Jensen created the event, but with the help of others. Student leaders from Women in Aviation, Latino Pilots Association, National Gay Pilots Association, Professional Asian Pilots Association, and the Organization of Black Aerospace Professionals came together to organize and moderate the event. Key student leaders include Angelica Joben, Maxwell McCoy, Harley Jean, Charlie Williams, Jordon Gapon and Jimena Calleon.
The day included three Q&A panel sessions and a closing address by keynote speaker Eric Poole, Captain of JetBlue and chief pilot of the airline’s Newark base. Panel members included pilots from Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, Endeavor Airlines, his CEO of Women in Aviation, captains of the United States Air Force, and more.
Over 300 students attended in person and many more watched the speakers online.
Leadership in aviation
The first panel discussion focused on leadership in the aviation industry, highlighting successful leaders in their respective fields. These individuals shared their insights on what makes a great leader. For example, Claudia Zapata, vice president of the Latino Pilots Association, said, “A leader’s greatest asset is compassion.” Speaking about her own life and career, Alison McKay, her CEO of Women in Aviation, emphasized: ”
All six agreed with a statement by Eric Hendrick, Delta’s Director of Pilot Outreach, Recruitment and Selection.
A second panel focused on women in the industry and featured multiple generations of female aviators. Experience levels ranged from being an airline senior her pilot to being one of her instructors flying her UND fresh out of college. These women were asked to share their views on topics such as sexism on the flight deck and how to balance family and career.
Lisa Kemp, Q400’s Horizon Air captain, shares how she addressed comments like “You fly so well for a girl,” and added strategies for ending these microaggressions in the Crew Resource Management class she teaches. We talked about how we incorporated
UND Certified Flight Instructor Jacquelyn Emery spoke about being one of the few women in her class and among her CFI peers.
“Whether they need a tampon, a role model, or someone to talk to so they don’t feel out of place, they need other women around to make them feel comfortable,” she said. says. she said.
Outstanding performance award
Following the second round of judging, awards were given out at the awards ceremony. Advocacy His award went to Meridas Jackson and Sophia Jensen for their creation of the event. Associate Dean and her UND Professor Elizabeth Bjerke received the Bridge Award for her work in helping Jensen and Jackson to become faces of the industry.
The Legacy Award was also presented to Sue McGrath, Senior Recruiter for Aviation and Pilot Recruitment at United Airlines. (Aviate is United’s career development program for pilots, offering aspiring and established pilots the most direct path to United’s flight deck.) Appreciating compassion, she said she always had their best interests in mind.
The third and final panel focused on all facets of the industry and focused on aviation areas beyond pilot paths. The panel included an executive from his jet division at Embraer, a Brazilian company that is now the world’s third largest commercial aircraft manufacturer. Senior Vice President, National Business Aviation Association. United Airlines A320 instructor. more.
These individuals inspired audiences to embrace all possibilities of their careers.
“Sometimes it’s enough to just walk into a room and be a representative you’ve never seen. talked about his career.
future flight plans
The day ended with an inspiring message from keynote speaker Eric Poole. Poole, an UND graduate, shared his life journey, including how he was born in a small village in South Korea and then adopted by a family in Minneapolis. I looked back on my experience.
Poole was first introduced to the world of aviation while attending UND on an athletic scholarship. He decided to pursue a license and rating at his UND and was hired as a flight instructor as soon as he completed his training.
Poole was one of six hired out of 110 applicants. He talked about his years spent as a naval officer finding his home at JetBlue where he earned the title of captain within two years. Poole spearheaded the JetBlue Pathways program, providing UND students with a path to JetBlue Airlines.
Faces of the Industry is made possible by the hard work of student leaders, faculty and panelists. Organizers say the event will continue to expand, with the next event scheduled for next fall.
“My hope for the future of this event is to inspire members of the industry to more inclusively embrace the different perspectives that a diverse environment creates,” said student leader Angelica Joven.
About the author:
Certified Flight Instructor, Mackinney Supola is working towards a BA in Commercial Aviation and Communications at UND. She is currently a marketing intern in the dean’s office at the University’s Odegard School of Aerospace Sciences.
[ad_2]
Source link
