Dean's Student Advisory Board

Fernando Avila is a senior at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (ERAU) completing an undergraduate degree in Aerospace and Occupational Safety. He is a member of the ERAU student chapters of the International Society of Air Safety Investigators (ISASI) and American Society of Safety Professionals (ASSP). In addition to his coursework in safety, Fernando is actively involved in the Center for Faith and Spirituality serving as both the current president of the Catholic Student Union and as a Fellow of Ethics, Leadership, and Service at the Center for Faith and Spirituality.

My name is Aliana Kovach. I am currently a senior in Spaceflight Operations planning to graduate this May. In my free time I do a lot of art and graphic design as well as keeping up to date on all the exciting new developments in the Space Industry. I am excited to be a part of the DSAB this semester and can't wait for what the future holds.

My name is Nicholas Bowers and I am originally from Colorado, but my family just recently moved to Alaska. I am finishing my first junior semester and have been selected to be the AMS student Dean advisor. I am also in my second season as a forward for the ERAU D2 hockey team. I am hoping to work for Ups one day, but I am enjoying learning about other possibilities while I am attending Embry-Riddle.

Joel Samu is a master’s graduate from the ERAU School of Graduate Studies at the College of Aviation and is now advancing his studies in the aviation doctoral program. He currently works with NASA in partnership with the Boeing Center for Aviation and Aerospace Safety at ERAU on a research initiative for the development of In-Time System-Wide Safety Assurance (ISSA). Joel’s education includes a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in finance, a second bachelor’s in aeronautics, a second master’s in business administration, and a third master’s in aviation, specializing in safety and operations. Joel has previously served as a faculty member at an Australian university, teaching nine courses, including financial modeling, economics, and statistics, and as a teaching assistant for the master’s program at ERAU, illustrating his commitment to academia and applied learning. He aspires to continue pursuing his dream of embarking on a teaching and research career, sharing his knowledge and expertise with the next generation of aviation enthusiasts. He is also an FAA-certified flight instructor and enjoys teaching aerodynamics. In his free time, he enjoys building flight simulators.

Trevor is a graduate student in the College of Aviation (COA) and serves as Co-Chair of the COA Dean’s Student Advisory Board (DSAB). He is also a member of the COA’s Mental Health and Aviation Sustainability task forces. On campus, he works as a graduate research assistant at the Boeing Center for Aviation and Aerospace Safety. He earned a bachelor’s degree in Aeronautics, with a minor in Aviation Law, summa cum laude, from Embry-Riddle in December 2023. As an undergraduate, Trevor served as a peer mentor for first-year students in the Aeronautical Science Student Success Seminar (ASC 101) course and worked as a research assistant to several professors in the Department of Aeronautical Science.

A senior at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Neil is majoring in Unmanned Aircraft Systems with a minor in Geographic Information Systems. On campus, he is a sitting member of the Dean’s Student Advisory Board as well as a member of the Student Veterans Organization. He is a 13-year enlisted Marine and currently enrolled in a commissioning program with the Naval ROTC. The diversity of his military specialties includes artillery, geospatial intelligence, and US Embassy security. Upon graduation, Neil will commission as a 2^nd Lieutenant and aspires to fly unmanned aircraft for the Marine Corps.

My name is Grace Varghese, and I am a junior majoring in Aeronautical Science! My aviation passion started at a very young age, but it was not a path I pursued until high school. I was dual-enrolled in Maxwell High School of Technology's Airline Operations program during my senior year, and that was my first true exposure to aviation. From there, I started my private pilot training at my home airport and continued it here in Daytona once I enrolled at Embry-Riddle.

 

Since then, I have had the amazing opportunity to meet a plethora of incredible people in the College of Aviation. I am currently serving as President of the Alpha Omicron Alpha Aeronautical Honor Society, and we have the pleasure of working with and supporting the COA. I have truly enjoyed the many experiences the professors and faculty of the COA have provided me, and I am honored to be a part of the Dean's Student Advisory Board this year. I look forward to all the amazing work we will be able to accomplish with the student body, as well as with Deans Stolzer and Friedenzohn.

Hui (Angel) Wang is a residential Ph.D. student and research assistant in the Ph.D. in Aviation Program at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (ERAU). She also obtained her M.S. in Aviation and B.S. in Air Traffic Management (ATM) degrees at the university. With a solid academic background and active involvement in many projects, Angel dedicates her effort to aviation research related to human factors, human performance, ATM, training, aviation safety, and cybersecurity. During her academic years, Angel has presented at several international conferences, produced two book chapters, and worked on a few publications. Outside from school, Angel is involved in the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society (HFES) Training Technical Group and was appointed as the Student Engagement Leader a year ago. Recently, she received awards from the University Aviation Association (UAA) and the Center of Excellence for Technical Training and Human Performance (COE TTHP). Angel is currently supporting Dr. Barbara Holder on the “Indicators of Pilot Cognitive Performance on Flight Path Management and Crew Resource Management Tasks” project, funded by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). 

Crishawn Gayle is a senior at Embry Riddle completing an undergraduate degree in Meteorology with minors in Geographic Information Systems and Applied Mathematics. He was born and raised in Kingston, Jamaica. Crishawn continues to strive for excellence. He takes pride in making sure he works hard on tasks and presents himself in an appropriate manner. Due to his growth mindset, one of Crishawn’s strongest skills is problem-solving, which has allowed him to work excellently in group environments. He continues to strive inside and outside the classroom by doing research with his internship at FIT and is well invested in helping aspiring high school scientists have a smoother transition to college through his scholarship program SAHCCEFI.