To celebrate Women’s History Month, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University will host a free lecture Massive open online course (MOOC) focusing on reshaping the aerospace and aviation industry, titled “Leadership for Women in Aerospace and Aviation”.

The virtual course, aimed at anyone looking to hone their leadership skills, will feature top industry professionals who will address the industry’s need to prepare current and future female leaders in the aerospace sectors. and aviation. The course includes key information that will help provide women with strategies to succeed as leaders, as well as tips on how to overcome unique career challenges. In addition to testimonials from successful women leaders, the course will feature subject matter experts from Embry-Riddle to discuss key research findings related to the success and retention of women in the industry.

“Embry-Riddle is proud to offer this course to provide women with the opportunity to excel in leadership roles,” said Dr. Bettina Mrusek, President and Assistant Professor at College of Aeronautics to Global Campus.

In 2021, women make up less than 10% of the total aviation workforce, according to a study led by alumnus Dr. Rebecca Lutte (’91), an associate professor at the University of Nebraska at Omaha’s Aviation Institute and a member of the FAA’s Women in Aviation Advisory Board (WIAAB). Specifically, female workers represent only 2.6% of maintenance technicians, 3% of CEOs and 4.6% of pilots. These low percentages also extend to the entire industry, as evidenced by women who represent only 11.6% of aerospace engineers, 15.6% of aviation higher education professors, 16.7% of airport managers, 16.8% of air traffic controllers and 19.7% of dispatchers.

“Our speakers include top industry experts whose professional experience will help inform and motivate others,” added Dr. Linda Weiland, associate professor in the College of Aeronautics at the Global Campus. “We envision MOOC attendees to represent the future leadership of our industry.”

The featured guests are:

• The Honorable Marion Blakely, Former FAA Administrator and Former President of Rolls-Royce North American
• Wheels UP frontman Stephanie Chung
• Dr. Becky Fight (’91)
• Joan Robinson-Berry, former executive of The Boeing Company
• Captain Tammie Jo Shults, Southwest Airlines Pilot, WIAAB Member
• Dr. Ellen Stofan, Smithsonian Institution
• Bobbi Wells, American Airlines, WIAAB Member
• Denise Wilson, JetAVIVA, Founder, Desert Jet, Five Time Inc. 500 Entrepreneur

The six-week course, co-sponsored by a NASA space grant in Nebraska, is built around four modules and is expected to take around 16 hours.

Register now for the course, which will take place between April and May.

Posted in: Aviation | Institutional news