OUR MISSION

We’re on a mission to provide a meaningful, effective pathway into successful aerospace careers and future aerospace industry leadership to people whose race and ethnicity has made them the subject of systemic bias.

As we succeed in that goal, we will drive meaningful change in the aerospace industry itself in terms of how it acknowledges and addresses matters of racial and ethnic equity and inclusion. 

An official spin-off of the award-winning Brooke Owens Fellowship, and based closely on that successful model, our program provides extraordinary Black students with their first (or close to first) work experience in the aerospace industry, personalized mentorship, and a cohort of similarly driven and talented young Black people pursuing aerospace careers.

THE PATTI GRACE SMITH FELLOW EXPERIENCE

Fellows are selected for their talent, their experience to date, their commitment to service, and their creativity. Their experience in the program is designed to help them grow in each of those areas, turning promising students into thriving leaders. The Patti Grace Smith Fellow experience is highlighted by the following five elements: 

1. Fellows are matched by industry leaders to specific intern positions at one of the most exciting organizations in aerospace. Over the course of a ~12-week summer, Fellows complete meaningful projects, learn valuable skills, and are paid a living wage.

2. Each Fellow is also matched with two senior- or executive-level mentors—one at their host company and one elsewhere in the industry. Our pool of Mentors includes CEOs, award-winning journalists, and senior government officials. Mentors provide tailored advice on how to make the most of the Fellowship experience—and how to build a career.

3. During the summer, all Fellows come together for an exclusive, one-of-a-kind Summit, making valuable connections and learning important skills. In addition to team projects and one-on-one mentoring sessions, the Summit features intense, private Q&A sessions with industry leaders and tours of world-class aerospace facilities. 

4. By earning their spot in the program, each Fellow is forever included in the Patti Grace Smith Fellowship network—including an open and direct line of communication to our program’s founders, mentors, host companies, and supporters—in addition to the other extraordinary and passionate alumnae network in our growing network.

5. Grants! Each year we provide fellows a grant with no strings attached. This can be used to help offset the cost of summer housing, materials for the internship, or anything else the Fellow needs to succeed. 

We are on the path to creating an inclusive and thriving environment for young professionals passionate about Aerospace can grow, find support, and succeed together.