Aprille Ericsson, NASA aerospace engineer, instrument project and program manager, is scheduled to give a presentation on her NASA experiences Thursday, Nov. 17, at 7 p.m. in NDSU’s Reineke Fine Arts Center. The event, titled "Let's go to Mars" is free and open to the public. All ages are welcome to attend.
With more than 25 years of experience at NASA, Ericsson has a passion for space exploration. In her presentation, Ericsson will take participants on a “mission to Mars” as she describes NASA’s role in space – where we’ve been and what we need to consider as we roam the heavens.
Ericsson is the Capture (Mission) Manager for a proposed astrophysics mid-sized class explorer, STAR-X, at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland.
Ericsson has more than 30 years of engineering experience. Her research has ranged from developing control methods for orbiting platforms to managing unique instruments for spaceflight missions. She also has served as an adjunct faculty member at several Washington, D.C., universities. Ericsson is a member of several technical academic boards at the National Academies and Massachusetts Institute of Technology. She previously served on similar boards at Howard University.
Ericsson has received numerous awards, including the 2016 Washington Award from the Western Society of Engineers. She is the first female and the first African-American female to earn a doctoral degree in mechanical engineering from Howard University, and the first African-American female to earn a Ph.D. in engineering at NASA GSFC. She earned her bachelor’s degree in aeronautical and astronautical engineering at MIT.
Ericsson’s campus presentations:
Aprille Ericsson’s Path to NASA
Thursday, Nov. 17
2-3 p.m.
NDSU Century Theater
Open to all NDSU students and faculty
A brief reception will follow the presentation.
Giving Technical Presentations
Friday, Nov. 18
10:15-11:45 a.m.
NDSU Century Theater
Open to all NDSU students
The events are co-sponsored by the NDSU College of Graduate and Interdisciplinary Studies, the Office of Teaching and Learning, the Division of Student Affairs, the Office for Research and Creative Activity and the College of Engineering.
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