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Tatiyyanah Nelums fell in love with space at 11 years old. They recalled observing the planet Jupiter in the Buehler Challenger & Science Center observatory in New Jersey and immediately knew space would be a lifelong passion.

Before attending a New Jersey Institute of Technology STEM camp in seventh grade, Nelums didn’t even know aerospace engineering existed. The trips, projects and talks built into the camp left Nelums inspired.

“That’s when (Jupiter) became my favorite planet,” Nelums said. “I was like, ‘I want to do this. I want to work in space.’”

Nelums, a Syracuse University senior aerospace engineering major, was selected for the Patti Grace Smith fellowship for academic success in aerospace engineering earlier this month.

The fellowship provides 30-45 Black engineering undergraduate students a year with $2,500 in scholarship grants to gain job experience with trained professionals in American companies and institutions. The program celebrates Patti Grace Smith, a trailblazer for the aerospace community, who served as an administrator in the Federal Aviation Administration before her death in 2016.

After applying for the fellowship for the past three years, Nelums said they feel validated after all the adversity they have faced in the field.

“I’m ready now,” Nelums said. “After the experiences that I’ve had over the past four years I’m like, ‘Yeah I am good enough, trust.’”

Nelums will spend their summer as a fellow at Draper, a nonprofit research and development company that offers solutions to issues in national security, space exploration and biomedical engineering, according to its website. They’ll be working as an associate program manager in the Space Sensing, Domain Awareness and Control department, reviewing client contracts.

Above all, Nelums hopes to get involved in research while at Draper.

“I’m like a sponge,” Nelums said. “Being around people with that kind of intellect and just hearing stories and learning from these people, I think that’s what I’m looking forward to.”

In their work at SU, Nelums said they’ve always strived to help others. They’re most proud of their work at SU’s chapter of the American Institute of Aeronautics & Astronautics. As co-president, they’ve strengthened the organization, making it a more fun and engaging environment for its members.

John F. Dannenhoffer III, an associate professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering, wrote one of Nelums’ letters of recommendation for their fellowship application.

“Nelums is a very bright, hard-working student,” Dannenhoffer said. “In their role as co-president, they have been an effective leader of the branch and have spearheaded many educational and social activities.”

Nelums organized AIAA’s first-ever formal, hosted the STEM Olympics and contributed to the organization’s recent uptick in participation. Before their time in office, members were only offered tutoring services and opportunities to experience the Fidelity MOTUS 622i flight simulator in Link Hall.

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Outside of AIAA, Nelums is an undergraduate program assistant in the Intercultural Collective and helps organize events hosted by the LGBTQ+ Resource Center. Last semester, they helped run the HallowQueen Ball, a celebration of ballroom culture and its connection to the LGBTQ+ community. This semester, Nelums said their focus was on planning the Queer Research Symposium.

“I always say it’s my safe space on campus,” Nelums said. “Being able to give other people a community on campus, I think that’s really gratifying.”

As a Black, feminine-presenting engineer, Nelums said being selected for the fellowship can be seen as an inspiration to other SU students of color. Nelums uses their identity to help others through their work as diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility chair of SU’s national honor fraternity Phi Sigma Pi.

“I also know (Nelums) is the most deserving of the fellowship,” said Sona Flask, an aerospace engineering student and Nelums’ little in Phi Sigma Pi. “They are insanely smart and hard-working and accomplish everything they put their mind to.”

Nelums said they chose SU for its coursework, campus activities and flight simulator, where they have worked as a flight coordinator for much of their time at SU. Nelums hopes to be a role model for members of their fraternity and beyond, and said they often receive messages from aspiring aerospace engineers asking about coursework and life at Syracuse.

“Seeing opportunities for people like this and knowing that, hey, someone from your school is able to do it,” Nelums said.”I think it’s just even more empowering.”

Nelums said they recall feeling similar empowerment from the 2016 film, “Hidden Figures”. The film follows the lives of three Black women mathematicians who contributed to the launch of the Mercury-Atlas 6 mission while facing racial and gender discrimination at NASA.

They credit the movie for making them the person they are today and inspiring Nelums to help people through their career.

“I remember watching the movie and just being like ‘oh, okay, I can work in space,’” Nelums said.

After their fellowship this summer, Nelums hopes to attend the Georgia Institute of Technology for graduate school. As they await their acceptance, Nelums said they’re most looking forward to the controlled wind tunnel and curriculum at Georgia Tech.

Following grad school, Nelums wants to open their own aerospace company to create sustainable commercial space flight, specifically crafting vacation-style journeys for clients with a curiosity for space.

Nelums, however, has no desire to join their future clients.

“I want to take people to space,” Nelums said. “But I do not want to go to space myself.”

Published on April 14, 2025 at 10:56 pm