Read time:
President William G. Kelly led a delegation of Christopher Newport University academic leaders to NASA Langley for a tour and a meeting with the many CNC and CNU alumni who work at the space exploration research center.
President Kelly was accompanied by Provost and Chief Academic Officer Quentin Kidd, School of Natural and Behavioral Sciences Dean Nicole Guajardo and Associate Provost for Research and Dean of Graduate Studies Lynn Lambert.
“NASA Langley is a remarkable facility, close to our campus, and its people are so impressive,” President Kelly said after the visit. “It was wonderful to see so many Captains for Life who already contribute to NASA Langley’s critical mission. We’re excited by the potential for more of our students to intern and more of our faculty to conduct research there.”
Lisa Ziehmann, Deputy Director of NASA Langley and a Christopher Newport College graduate, led the group as they visited several key areas dedicated to NASA Langley’s mission to revolutionize aviation, expand understanding of the Earth’s atmosphere, and develop innovative technology for space exploration.
The stops included:
- The Integrated Engineering Services Building, where the delegation met with about 40 alumni.
- The James H. Starnes Structures and Materials Laboratory, where researchers are exploring ways to help people live and work on the moon and beyond.
- The 14-by-22-foot Subsonic Tunnel that is NASA Langley’s largest wind tunnel and is used to test takeoff and landing performance.
- The Aircraft Hangar that was built in 1939 and is home to the Rendezvous Docking Simulator used for the Gemini and Apollo programs, as well as a variety of research aircraft, including a huge Boeing 777.
NASA Langley experts briefed the CNU delegation on the research and purpose of each stop. At the hangar, the speakers included Dr. Jennifer Kibler, Deputy Director for Intelligent Flight Systems and a CNU alumna.
The CNU-NASA connection is already strong. For example, the Master of Science in Applied Physics and Computer Science program emphasizes collaboration between the University and the research center. NASA Langley Technical Fellow for Avionics Dr. Robert Hodson serves on the Department of Physics, Computer Science and Engineering’s Advisory Board. NASA Langley is also avidly seeking CNU students for internship opportunities, including several that don’t involve STEM disciplines.