CAC Board Member Bios Summer 2011
Rose Stokes, Project Lead
Center: Johnson Space Center
School: Central Michigan University
Majors: General Management and Psychology
Co-op Since: Spring 2011
Hobbies: Traveling, reading, writing, hanging out with friends, meeting new people
Area Currently Working In: Institutional Procurement
Favorite Co-op Memory: My favorite memory is going to see the STS-133 launch at Kennedy Space Center. It was amazing to see Discovery begin her last flight before retirement. I also was able to stand underneath Atlantis and next to Endeavour so it was a great couple of days!
Why is CAC important to you? CAC is important to me because we are making great connections and doing great things through CAC. We are getting to know people who are at other Centers and learning what they do there.
Kelley Jones, Secretary
Center: Kennedy Space Center
School: Purdue University
Majors: Aeronautical/Astronautical Engineering
Minor: Dance
Co-op Since: Spring 2009
Hobbies: Dance, Cooking, Photography, and Choreography
Area Currently Working In: NE-F2: Fluids Design
Favorite Co-op Memory: There are so many, but it is a close three-way tie between my first and third shuttle launch and the Ares IX launch. All were phenomenal and historical events and each was a unique experience. I have been lucky enough to see all the rockets out here at KSC launch and every time I watch them, no matter the size or boom, they never cease to amaze me.
Why is CAC important to you? I feel CAC is important because it is starting a whole new NASA generation that is more cohesive. I feel with CAC, instead of there being just KSC, JSC, GSFC, MSFC, and so on, it will hopefully once again just be NASA.
Sam McIlvoy, Ombudsman
Center: Johnson Space Center
School: Texas A&M
Major: Management
Minor: Economics
Co-op Since: Summer 2011
Hobbies: Watching football, Watching TV, Playing video games, Floating the river
Area Currently Working In: BH3 – Project Procurement
Favorite Co-op Memory: Watching the final shuttle launch
Why is CAC Important to you? It’s another way to get involved around NASA to see what exactly is happening everywhere, as well as an opportunity to network.
Sahar Leaupepe, Ames Center Director
School: University of San Francisco
Major: International Relations
Minor: African Studies
Hobbies: Traveling, Reading, Swimming
Area Currently Working In: Ames Public Affairs Office
Why I joined CAC? CAC has opened the door for cross-agency communication between Co-op students. This opportunity enables students to become more aware of their future at NASA. My participation in CAC will leverage my outreach skills to facilitate student involvement within NASA.
Justin McCarthy, Dryden Center Director
School: The Ohio State University
Majors: Electrical and Computer Engineering
Minor: Classics
Co-op Since: January 2011
Hobbies: Hockey, Hiking, Reading, and Swimming
Area Currently Working In: MC – Western Aeronautical Test Ranger
Favorite Co-op Memory: My favorite co-op memory, so far, is sitting in the control room during the testing of an F-18 with an experimental controls system. It is not an opportunity many people get to experience.
Why is CAC important to you? CAC fosters connections between the Centers that will evolve as co-ops become full-time members of NASA. It gives co-ops the chance to see the big picture of what NASA is doing every day.
Caitlin Kavanaugh, Glenn Center Director
School: Rochester Institute of Technology
Majors: Mechanical Engineering with Aerospace Option & Computer Science
Co-op Since: June 2011
Hobbies: Running, Reading, Hiking
Area Currently Working In: Multidisciplinary Design, Analysis, and Optimization
Why is CAC important to you? CAC offers an opportunity to learn more about other co-op experiences and to meet students from other NASA Centers.
Sophia Mo, Johnson Center Director
School: University of Texas – Austin
Major: Economics
Minor: Business
Co-op Since: Fall 2010
Hobbies: Making hand-crafts, Designing shirts, Dancing, Cooking, Playing sports
Area Currently Working In: Exploration Systems Procurement Office
Favorite Co-op Memory: My favorite Co-op memory is when I stood less than a foot away from the NBL pool. Having the opportunity to witness astronauts working below the water was super cool and exciting because I was able to imagine them performing the same task up in space!
Why Join CAC? Because I want to meet Co-ops from other Centers, learn from their experiences, and expand my network in NASA. It is a good way to understand what other Centers are doing and be able to share resources and information across Centers.
Jonathan Martinez, Kennedy Center Director
School: University of Central Florida (UCF)
Major: Aerospace Engineering
Co-op Since: Fall 2009
Hobbies: Sports, Music, My car, Traveling, Technology
Area Currently Working In: Shuttle Main Propulsion
Favorite Co-op Memory: I had the opportunity to watch Ares 1-X launch from a VIP balcony right behind the press site. It was nice seeing people on a whole new level of excitement because we all knew that we were watching history unfold. The morale around Kennedy Space Center was at its highest point and I will never forget how excited everyone was and how crowded the parking lot and streets were.
Why is CAC important to you? Networking between all the young people across the Agency is very important. As cliche as it may be, we are the future and having CAC sets a solid foundation and allows us to stay up-to-date on what’s going on at other Centers.
Erek Allen, Marshall Center Director
School: Mississippi State University
Majors: Industrial and Systems Engineering
Minor: Mathematics
Co-op Since: May 2009
Hobbies: Spending time with my roommates, Ultimate Frisbee, Sports, Traveling, Technology
Area Currently Working In: Propulsion Department Business Management Office
Favorite Co-op Memory: Witnessing the launch of STS-132 with my family. The day was beautiful and the launch was spectacular. I was very proud of this great Agency and this great country when the shuttle lifted to orbit.
Why is CAC important to you? CAC is a great way to see what else is going on around NASA. As a student without a full-time career yet, it’s important to see what else is out there in the world and try your hand at as many things as possible and meet as many people as possible.
