The AIAA student branch is UC Merced’s largest aerospace organization, fully led by undergraduates.  We facilitate students growth through five hands-on engineering projects and career development programs:
• Propulsion, Development, & Rocketry (PDR): Builds skills in aerodynamics and rocketry through intro teams and attending the Spaceport America Rocketry Competition.

• Design, Build, Fly (DBF): Represents UC Merced in the world’s largest RC aircraft design competition.

• Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV): Explores drone dynamics and electric propulsion, competing in the UC-wide CITRIS Aviation Prize.

• Project Turbine: Develops a 9-foot jet turbine model to advance skills in composite manufacturing and systems engineering.

• BOBSat-1: UC Merced’s first nanosatellite project, researching groundwater and building academic-industry partnerships.

AIAA also provides resume reviews, interview prep, LinkedIn workshops, and sponsors 40+ students annually to attend professional conferences

During my presidency, I raised over $106K for the organization, including $58K from university-independent sources

In 2024–2025, we sponsored the most students to attend conferences since COVID, resulting in 60+ interviews across 36 members at two events

I built long-term relationships with three Northern California aerospace companies, leading to guest seminars at UC Merced and tours of Astra’s and Applied Aerospace’s facilities

The official UCM AIAA Alumni Branch was founded and embedded into our constitution, providing weekly office hours for our members to gain technical, personal, and professional advice. This preserves institutional knowledge and enables future industry collaboration

I initiated discussions with the Chancellor, Dean of Engineering, and Dean of Students to develop roadmaps for supporting large-scale undergraduate initiatives

UC Merced's AIAA and Vanguard Student Chapters represent over 270 students from various engineering disciplines at UC Merced. This network of projects and professional development organizations provides skillsets to students to make them more qualified and well connected candidates as they progress through and complete their degrees. 

With my research, internship, and conference experience, I was invited to speak at career preparation workshops. As the AIAA Student Chapter President 2024-2025, I helped organize the student-led School of Engineering career development program. 

Over three years I spoke at 14 workshops on topics ranging from resume development, interview preparation, industry applications of student project skillsets, and leading interdisciplinary teams.