New Speaker Series Launches
NUSTARS has recently embarked on an exciting journey, launching an industry speaker series that aims to bridge the gap between students and industry professionals. This initiative — proposed by Kellogg MBA student Raleigh Woodridge along with Co-President Andy Wehmeyer and Corporate Outreach Chair Christopher Luey — kicked off with an insightful session on October 30th, attracting a keen and excited audience from the NUSTARS community.
Raleigh Woodridge, who sparked this innovative series, delivered the inaugural talk titled “Alternate Trajectories in Space: Strategy Consulting.” His session delved into the intricacies of space industry consulting, offering students a VIP tour of the consulting industry, a behind the scenes look at space funding and technology trends, and a showing of future opportunities in the field.
The series continued its upward trajectory on November 27th with Kier Fortier from ExoLaunch. Kier’s talk, “Launching Small Satellites in 2023,” was not only informative but also highly engaging and interactive. Kier’s demonstration of ExoLaunch’s disruptive Cubesat business captivated the minds of students and proved a highlight of the event.
The primary goals of this speaker series are twofold: to shed light on the latest trends in the new space industry and to facilitate connections between students and industry mentors. These talks serve as a valuable platform for students to gain firsthand knowledge from experts and explore potential career paths in the space industry.
This NUSTARS led endeavor is happening in tandem with Professor Jeremy Keys’s and ProfessorWei Chen’s new initiative to invite alumni speakers, creating powerful synergies that broaden the educational experience for all McCormick students. Keys recently invited NASA Langley Research Center Deputy Director Jill Prince (B.A. Physics, 99), where, notably, a small group of NUSTARS students had the opportunity to represent the club and enjoy lunch with Director Prince. These programs are enhancing Northwestern’s education by offering a range of perspectives and career paths.
The impact of these academia industry connections have been rippling throughout the club already. Companies involved in the series are providing technical assistance to NUSTARS for the NASA student launch competition, demonstrating the tangible benefits of industry-academia collaborations. This assistance is not only a testament to the value of the speaker series but also an encouraging sign of the growing relationship between NUSTARS and the broader space industry and alumni network.
Please contact christopherluey2025@u.northwestern.edu if you are interested in speaking to NUSTARS.
