PARMIDA MAHDAVI

CO-PRESIDENT

Parmida Mahdavi is a senior in Engineering Physics with and ASI in Space and Planetary Science and Engineering and a minor in Public Affairs, and she is the co-president for AIAA this year. She has been on the AIAA board for three years and is passionate about advancing the club’s diversity and inclusion goals. Her favorite event has always been the rapid resume reviews and career day preps. She is involved in the Multicultural Engineering Program (MEP) and Society of Physics Students (SPS) on campus. For her first internship, Parmida served as the test intern on the CSM LILL-E Pad NASA BIG Idea Team alongside previous AIAA president Nikki. This past summer she was the Radiation Effects Engineering Intern at SEAKR Engineering. Post-graduation, Parmida is looking at pursuing her Ph.D. in Astrophysics. In her free time, she enjoys cooking and the Colorado outdoors scene by camping, hiking and skiing.

Email: parmidamahdavi@mines.edu

ABIGAIL BAKER

CO-PRESIDENT

This fall, Abi is going to be a senior in Mechanical Engineering with a minor in Aerospace Engineering. She has been a part of AIAA since freshman year, has served on the board for 2 prior years, and is excited to be Co-President with Parmida this year! This year, she is looking forward to (hopefully) attending the ASCEND Conference in Las Vegas with other AIAA members. She has had three internships while at Mines – one with the Rocky Mountain Industrial Center, one with Boeing Commercial Airplanes, and one with Lockheed Martin Space. She loves being a part of AIAA not only to connect with other aerospace-loving students, but also to help grow her aerospace network. Feel free to contact her for school advice, internships, or anything in general! She would love to help.

Email: abigailbaker@mines.edu

EVA CHRISTIANSON

VICE-PRESIDENT

Eva Christianson, a junior at Mines, is majoring in mechanical engineering with a minor in computer science. She currently serves as the Vice President of AIAA and holds officer positions in the Society of Women Engineers (SWE) and Pi Beta Phi. Eva’s passion for aerospace engineering led her to join AIAA, where she engages with like-minded individuals and stays updated on the latest advancements in the field. She looks forward to upcoming AIAA events like the Resume Workshop as opportunities to expand her knowledge and network.

Email: echristianson@mines.edu

NOLAN pALMER

tREASURER

Nolan is a senior in Engineering Physics and is the Treasurer of AIAA for the 2023-24 academic year. This is his second year on the AIAA board. He has worked as a research assistant for the Space Resources department on campus and as a mechanical engineering intern at Altius Space Machines. On campus, he is a part of the Mine Club Volleyball team. He joined AIAA for the incredible connections and networking with like-minded classmates and industry professionals. He is most excited about the ASCEND aerospace conference in Las Vegas in the Fall.

Email: npalmer1@mines.edu

Max Shepherd

Secretary

Max Shepherd is a junior Chemical Engineering student and the secretary of AIAA for 2023-2024. Max works in two different research labs. First, the M3Robotics Lab, where he is focused on conducting space recycling research by creating a device to levitate liquid aluminum in space. Second, The Surface of Applied Materials Lab, conducting hydrogen fuel cell research with a team at NREL. He also is an intern for Sandia National Laboratories in the aerospace/defense field.  Max joined AIAA to make connections with other students involved in aerospace and create opportunities for others looking to get involved in the field. This year, Max is excited to help lead the inaugural Pathfinder Conference!

Email: Mshepherd@mines.edu

Cailyn Smith

membership & Outreach

Cailyn is the Outreach & Events Chair for the Mines AIAA chapter. She is a junior majoring in Computer Science with a minor in Physics. She has been a software engineering intern at United Launch Alliance and a startup called Katalyst Space Technologies. In addition to her role in AIAA, Cailyn conducts research at the Mines Interactive Robotics Research Lab and is a part of Tau Beta Pi, ACM-W, and the Robotics Club. Cailyn joined AIAA to meet other people who are interested in aerospace and to inspire younger students to pursue aerospace. She is excited to continue AIAA outreach events with K-12 students as well as industry networking events!

Email: ccsmith1@mines.edu

Sam Pearse

Media & Communications

Sam Pearse is a senior at the Colorado School of Mines pursuing a major in Mechanical Engineering with a focus on the Aerospace track. As an aspiring aerospace engineer, Sam’s passion for innovation and exploration drives his academic pursuits. Having interned in the defense sector and also at a company specializing in crafting spaceborne radar systems, Sam has garnered valuable insights into various facets of the engineering industry. He serves as the Communications Chair on the board of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) at Mines, fostering effective communication and engagement within the organization. He has been a part of the Mines climbing team, exemplifying his physical prowess and teamwork skills. Additionally, Sam’s enthusiasm for automotive engineering led him to recently join the Formula SAE team, where he contributes his technical acumen to designing and building race cars. Sam’s decision to join the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) stems from his unwavering passion for aerospace engineering and desire to be part of a community that shares his enthusiasm. This engagement with AIAA not only enriches Sam’s academic journey but also aligns with his aspirations to contribute significantly to the aerospace industry in the future.

Email: samuelpearse@mines.edu

Jamie Regan

Diversity, Inclusion, & Access

Jamie Regan, a senior in Electrical Engineering, is this year’s DI&A Chair. She has spent the past summer in Utah interning at Northrop Grumman working with the Range and Explosives safety team on the Sentinel Contract and shadowing an electrical engineering in the Advanced Programs department. Jamie has also been working with a research team to increase accessibility at Mines. She is also a SWE mentor and a founding member of ODAC. She has always had an interest in aerospace, that interest turned to a passion while she was in the Navy as an electrician on F-18s. She joined AIAA to meet others interested in aerospace. As DI&A Co-Chair last year Jamie helped to plan aerospace activities at SWE events and really enjoyed working with younger students. This year she is excited for the Pathfinder Conference which she has also been helping to plan for the past year. 

Email: jregan@mines.edu

Auston Froid

Mission Specialist

Auston Froid is a sophomore mechanical engineer and will be this year’s mission specialist for the AIAA board members. So far, Auston has interned at the City of Westminster as a general management intern and at a company called Atreo which specializes in pneumatics. Auston is a pilot on the side and loves to travel to new places when he has the funds. Outside of the AIAA, he is involved in the rocket club, astronomy club, flag football, experimental aircraft association, and weightlifting. For fun, Auston loves golf, skiing, swimming, camping, and hanging out with friends. He joined the AIAA to get more involved in the aerospace industry by making connections and bringing others into the field. He is excited about the upcoming Pathfinder conference and can’t wait to help the other board members plan future events!

Email: froid@mines.edu

Amanda Camarata

Graduate Student Representative

Amanda is a graduate student working towards her M.S. in Mechanical Engineering with a Specialization in Thermal, Fluid, and Energy Systems (emphasis on Thermal). She earned her B.S. in Mechanical Engineering (ME) in May 2022 and has been an active member of AIAA since 2019, when she transferred to Mines from Houston Community College. She interned with Ball Aerospace as a Thermal Engineer in Summer 2023, building and analyzing thermal models for various spacecraft and electronics, and will begin working for them full-time as a Thermal Engineer after graduation. Her previous experience while at Mines includes internships at Lockheed Martin Space as a Mechanical Design Engineer (Summer ’22) and an Opto-Mechanical Engineer (Spring ’23) and research in heliophysics and planetary science as a Mines Undergraduate Research Fellow. She is passionate about increasing the retention of underrepresented students in STEM, specifically in aerospace.

Email: ajcamarata@mines.edu