‘Faces of the Industry’ summit explores aerospace-industry inclusion
Hosted by UND students, the event ‘celebrates inclusion and acceptance in the aerospace industry’
Editor’s note: In the UND LEADS Strategic Plan, the Affinity core value calls on the University to “embrace environments where people from unique cultures and backgrounds can interact, be valued, and know they belong’.” This story reports on an annual UND event that’s meant to encourage just such an embrace.
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By Averie Eixenberger
In October, hundreds of students and faculty gathered at the Memorial Union for UND Aerospace’s Fifth Annual Faces of the Industry Summit. Hosted by student representatives from the UND chapters of Latino Professionals in Aerospace, the National Gay Pilots Association, the Organization of Black Aerospace Professionals, Professional Asian Pilots Association and Women in Aviation International, this event celebrates inclusion and acceptance in the aerospace industry.
Students had the chance to hear from 15 speakers over the course of two different panels. Each panel aimed to address a different area of the aerospace industry, highlighting various careers and backgrounds, while featuring important discussions of representation and accessibility in the aviation industry.
Featuring speakers from all over the world, the panels touched on a variety of topics important to students, including overcoming obstacles, mental health, safety culture and more. However, this year one theme stood out from the rest: building and uplifting community.
Networking, networking, networking
The All Angles of the Industry Panel sought to highlight a variety of different careers and paths within the aerospace industry. Students Sophia Chmiel and Mateo Sandoval-Luna led the speakers through conversations about their careers and journeys to finding them.
“Growing up in Hawaii, I thought you had to be white to be a pilot,” said Lance Lau, director of training at CommuteAir. “Going back to my father’s generation in World War II, he wanted to be a pilot but was told he was not allowed because he was Asian. When I told him that I wanted to be a pilot, his response was essentially, ‘Don’t you know they don’t let us do that? But you’ve never listened to me in the past, so why start now?’
“So, I went down to the airport and took a flying lesson. It was very challenging; I was the first Asian pilot to fly at Frontier Airlines. I was the first Asian to be allowed into the training center at Continental airlines. A lot has changed since those days.”
This panel featured industry professionals from United Airlines, PAPA Board of Directors, Delta Air Lines, CommuteAir, Pilot Mental Health Campaign and Republic Airways. The speakers shared some of the major obstacles they faced as they pursued their dream careers and spoke to students about how they overcame them.
“When I look back, there were times when I thought, ‘I can’t do this’,” said Barchard. “When I started, we were 4% female. My father told me, ‘They are not necessarily going to want you to succeed. So, you are going to have to be that good. You are going to have to work really hard.’
“There were times I wondered why I had to be the one to prove myself, why I had to be better to be equal. Looking back now, I would tell myself, ‘Keep working at it. Every little hurdle – it’s worth it.’”
The panelists all expressed the importance of building a network while in school. They shared stories of how important it is to get to know each other, not only for the safety of air travel but also for individual support.
“I do wish that starting out, I would have asked for help.” said Republic Airways First Officer Victor Saenebouttarath. “It’s okay to ask for help. I’ve learned that it’s not a sign of weakness – it’s a sign of being willing to collaborate with your peers. Don’t be afraid to ask.”
Helping others
The Beyond the Degree Panel looked at the transition from life as a student to a career in Aerospace. In a conversation moderated by students Alexander Shetty and David Curran, the speakers talked about how to make aerospace a more accessible field.
“Sure, the purpose of peer organizations is to open doors to underrepresented communities,” said NGPA Executive Director Justin Ellixson-Andrews. “Really, it’s ‘If you can see it, you can be it’. Take advantage of networking opportunities all these organizations have to offer. Just because you are not necessarily part of the ‘community’ of the organization does not mean there is not value for yourself in that organization. There is so much we can learn from each other.”
Speaking on this panel were professionals from Republic Airways, Mesa Airlines, NGPA, Frontier Airlines, PSA Airlines, United Airlines, LPA and Kansas State University. Each spoke of challenges they faced after finishing their education and entering the workforce, giving advice to students on how to handle the adjustments to post-graduate life.
“I moved to the United States 13 years ago and felt very isolated,” said United Airlines First Officer Julieta Triana-Vasquez. “I’ve learned that people don’t really get to know or accept you if you are out of touch with them. Let them ask questions and speak, and let them be vulnerable around you. You aren’t going to gain someone’s heart if you see them differently or as the enemy. Start asking questions and just let them talk – you will learn things that you didn’t think you could.”
Each speaker advised students to be open-minded in their interactions with others. They spoke on how to set aside differences with others and how to learn from one another as we navigate our lives and careers.
“When you continue to show up as your authentic self, it starts a conversation,” said PSA Airlines First Officer Moriah Graham. “I can’t tell you how many times I’ve flown with a captain and they’ve asked, ‘Is that your real hair?’, and it’s something so small but it starts a conversation. If I wanted to have my guard up, I could be offended and wonder why he was asking me these questions; but in reality, I think when we sit down and talk, we realize we are a lot of more alike than we are different.”
Many of the speakers also spoke on the importance of having a community to support them through times of sorrow and celebration. They explained how finding a community had helped uplift them but also inspired others.
“I come out the door and there’s an older black lady standing there,” said Frontier Airlines First Officer Devin Durant, sharing a story from a day at work.
“She gets my attention and she asks, ‘Can I get a picture of you?’ I think she could tell I was about to ask why, and she said, ‘I have a grandson, and I take pictures of people who look like him so I can show him one day that he can do anything.’
“It made me stop, and I realized that I really needed that reminder. It really does have an effect on the future, as young people will see you and think, ‘Maybe I can do that one day’.”
From a student’s perspective
Following each panel, students were given the chance to ask questions to the panelists directly, learning about the issues that meant the most to them. In the breaks throughout the day, speakers and students could be seen talking and getting to know each other. Many students expressed how the connections and friendships they made throughout the event were ones that they would cherish, building up the community that had been spoken about that day.
About the author:
A UND senior, Averie Eixenberger is a communications and writing intern for UND Aerospace.
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