College of Arts & Sciences Daytona Beach, Florida Campus
COLLEGE OF ARTS & SCIENCES
DAYTONA BEACH CAMPUS
2023-2024 ANNUAL REPORT
GIVING TO THE COLLEGE Because you are part of the Daytona Beach College of Arts & Sciences (COAS) community, you know how important it is for our students to have the support they need to be successful. At COAS, we strive to provide career-building opportunities for our students, through scholarships, research experiences, study abroad and internships. Please consider making a gift to the College of Arts & Sciences Fund for Excellence. Your support will help our students become leaders in aerospace and many other careers.
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Dean’s Message
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Department/Program Highlights
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Reserve Officers’ Training Corps
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Student Spotlights
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News and Awards
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Faculty Research and Scholarship
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Alumni Spotlights
Embry‑Riddle Aeronautical University College of Arts & Sciences 1 Aerospace Boulevard | Daytona Beach, Florida 32114
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Dear friends, alumni, colleagues and students,
The College of Arts and Sciences, home to more than a dozen high-quality programs and the university’s general education program, constitutes a hub of interdisciplinary innovation and cutting-edge research. COAS offers exceptional degree programs at both the undergraduate and graduate levels, preparing students for successful careers in industry, government and public service. All COAS courses, whether in required courses or in service of general education, create well-rounded students with essential skills to communicate effectively, assess information from multiple viewpoints, deal with complexity and lead diverse teams. Our students gain a comprehensive understanding of the world, foresee trends, and embrace an innovative future. Our alumni are distinguished leaders in their respective fields and attribute their leadership abilities to personal interactions with our inspiring faculty. To provide students with exceptional leadership skills, we strive to expand student involvement in projects, research, internships, engaged learning and study abroad experiences. To meet these goals, we need to establish and grow scholarships and project funding, as well as bolster faculty and research labs to advance research. But these things cannot be accomplished in a vacuum.
Please join me in supporting the next generation of leaders by becoming an integral part of our COAS family and our story.
Peter M. Hoffmann, Ph.D. Dean, College of Arts & Sciences
Engineering Physics DURING ‘RING OF FIRE’ SOLAR ECLIPSE, EMBRY‑RIDDLE’S DR. AROH BARJATYA LED A NASA ROCKET MISSION.
When the Moon partially blocked the Sun, creating a spectacular “ring of fire,” or annular solar eclipse, on Oct. 14, 2023, Dr. Aroh Barjatya blasted three scientific rockets into space.
Barjatya, professor of Engineering Physics and director of the Space and Atmospheric Instrumentation Lab (SAIL), designed the multi- institution NASA rocket mission to learn more about changes in the Earth’s upper atmosphere that can affect communication in the air and on the ground. From New Mexico’s White Sands Missile Range, Barjatya’s team launched three data-gathering or “sounding” rockets in rapid succession—before, during and after the eclipse. Each solid, two-stage rocket, spanning about 53 feet from tail to tip, zoomed over Route 70 and soared up to 350 kilometers into the ionosphere. Each rocket’s main payload also dispatched four sub-payloads of highly sensitive scientific instruments into space. Understanding how an eclipse sets off a unique pattern of atmospheric waves in the ionosphere is a key goal for Barjatya and colleagues. The Embry‑Riddle team includes Professor of Engineering Physics Dr. Matthew Zettergren; research scientists Dr. Robert Clayton and Dr. Shantanab Debchoudhury; Ph.D. students Rachel Conway, Henry Valentine and Nathan Graves; master’s degree students Peter Ribbens, Joshua Milford and Jonas Rowan; and undergraduate students Megan Soll, Johnathan Bizzano and Maddox Morrison. When the sun slips below the horizon or an eclipse pushes shadowy ribbons across the Earth, highly charged ions and electrons rapidly recombine in the ionosphere—an atmospheric layer located 37- 190 miles above the Earth that serves as a conduit for communication signals. Every day, the setting sun triggers changes to the ionosphere’s temperature, density and chemical composition. The ionosphere’s total electron content changes. Like a tide, the density of plasma drops as the sun sets and increases as the sun rises.
DR. Aroh Barjatya
Master’s student Peter Ribbens (center) and undergraduate Megan Soll pose in Embry‑Riddle’s Space and Atmospheric Instrumentation Lab (SAIL), with payloads to be launched on high-altitude balloons. (Photo: Embry‑Riddle/Bernard Wilchusky)Embry‑Riddle/Bernard Wilchusky)
Perturbations During an Eclipse During an eclipse, however, these perturbations happen more quickly and within the specific region where the eclipse reaches its peak. The resulting disturbance churns up atmospheric waves. “Think of the ionosphere as the surface of a pond,” Barjatya suggests. “There are already ripples happening. Now, imagine a motorboat suddenly ripping through that water. The boat creates waves all around it. The water level dips, below and right behind it, and then rises above the background level for a brief time as it rushes back in. That’s what an eclipse does to the ionosphere, except in three dimensions.” When viewed through protective glasses on Earth, a solar eclipse may seem to be serene, but in fact, the event propels a shadow at speeds up to 1,100 miles per hour. All that energy rocks the atmosphere, potentially affecting communications with satellites that move through the ionosphere. Given the accelerating pace of space enterprise and exploration, Barjatya noted, “We need to understand and therefore model all perturbations and irregularities in the ionosphere.”
Shown with (from right): Ph.D. student Nathan Graves, master’s students Jonas Rowan, Peter Ribbens and Joshua Milford; and research scientists Dr. Robert Clayton and Shantanab Debchoudhury. Seated are undergraduate
students Megan Soll and Johnathan Bizzano. (Photo: Embry‑Riddle/Bernard Wilchusky)
THIS STORY WAS ORIGINALLY WRITTEN BY GINGER PINHOLSTER WITH EMBRY-RIDDLE’S NEWS TEAM.
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Army ROTC Embry-Riddle Daytona Beach Army Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) Named First in Southeast, Among Best in Nation. Our Army ROTC has been named the top program in the Southeast, as well as being among eight winners nationally of the 2022 Douglas MacArthur Award. The distinction, awarded by Cadet Command and the Gen. Douglas MacArthur Foundation to recognize the ideals of “duty, honor and country” as advocated by MacArthur, places Embry-Riddle’s program first in its region, which includes 39 universities across Louisiana, Alabama, Georgia, Florida and Puerto Rico, and in the top eight among the 274 Army ROTC programs in the nation. “This award represents the dedication of the staff, faculty, as well as the administration at this prestigious university,” explained Lieut. Col. Jerome Reitano, professor of Military Science, adding that Embry-Riddle provides $30,000 guaranteed financial aid, plus room and board, for three-year ROTC national high school scholarship winners.
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“From facilities to athletics, safety, staff and administration, everyone that is a part of the university played a role in enabling our program and our cadets to achieve this honor.” Embry-Riddle’s Daytona Beach Army ROTC, known as the Eagle Battalion , also won best program in the Southeast in 2019 and is known for its community service, including mentorship of local Junior ROTC cadets. The program is the third highest-producing Army ROTC organization nationally among non-senior-military colleges in 2021-2022. Douglas MacArthur Award winners are chosen based upon a combination of a school’s commissioning mission achievement, its cadets’ performance and standing on the National Order of Merit List and its cadet retention rate.
Embry‑Riddle’s Army ROTC detachment at the Daytona Beach Campus won best in the southeast region out of 39 universities. (Photo: Lt. Col. Jerome Reitano)
THIS STORY WAS ORIGINALLY WRITTEN BY MICHAELA JARVIS WITH EMBRY-RIDDLE’S NEWS TEAM.
Embry-Riddle has a long history of serving those who serve. Our ROTC programs make us tremendously proud. We applaud the entire Army ROTC team on this latest outstanding achievement.
P. Barry Butler, Ph.D. | Embry-Riddle President
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Navy ROTC Embry‑Riddle NROTC Leader Named USAA’s Instructor of the Year Gunnery Sgt. Felix Arroyo Robles, the senior enlisted Marine staff member on Embry‑Riddle’s Naval Reserve Officers Training Corp (NROTC), was recently named the 2023 NROTC Assistant Marine Officer Instructor of the Year by USAA. Recognizing noncommissioned officers for their persistent and steadfast dedication to their units, this honor is awarded to only one military leader who is selected from an initial pool of nominees hailing from 63 NROTC units nationwide. “Gunny Arroyo is an outstanding Marine and motivated professional who serves as an ideal role model to the Midshipmen Battalion,” said Capt. Carlos Medina, professor of Naval Science and commanding officer of the Embry‑Riddle NROTC unit. “His ability to lead, teach and mentor hundreds of
students in their pursuit of a commission as a Navy or Marine Corps Officer has yielded immense success worthy of this national recognition. He has played a significant role in molding this unit into one of the strongest in the nation, and his tireless efforts will have a lasting impact on the unit for years to come.” Before being named the national winner, Arroyo Robles earned USAA’s Southeast regional title, marking his second consecutive selection as a regional winner. In addition to his top performance as part of Embry‑Riddle’s NROTC unit, Arroyo Robles was further recognized for his academic achievements as he obtained a Master of Business Administration degree from American Intercontinental University last year. “I believe that the sole purpose of me being here is to look out for the welfare of the ones who these officers in the program will lead, mentor and inspire,” Arroyo Robles said. “The only reason I can continue in this program is because we have rockstar students and they want to become better leaders—and they will be.” Throughout the year, Arroyo Robles functioned as his team’s acting supply technician during a staffing transition, and he served as instructor of the Leadership and
Management course, which is traditionally taught by the unit’s executive officer. He also modeled physical fitness by participating in multiple ultra- marathons and helping students plan their own fitness journeys.
THIS STORY WAS ORIGINALLY WRITTEN BY GABRIEL SWEENEY.
Awards and accolades are awesome, but the success stories of those I lead means more to me, especially when it is impacting a greater purpose in life.
Felix Arroyo Robles | Instructor of Naval Science
Embry‑Riddle’s senior enlisted Marine staff member, Gunnery Sgt. Felix Arroyo Robles (right), was recently named the 2023 NROTC Assistant Marine Officer Instructor of the Year by USAA. He is pictured here with Embry‑Riddle NROTC Commanding Officer Capt. Carlos Medina (left) and USAA award presenter Michael Magnetta (center). (Photo: Mack Jamieson)
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Air Force ROTC This year, Embry-Riddle’s Daytona Beach Air Force ROTC, the nation’s second largest detachment of 145, oversaw training of 460 cadets who earned $5.8M in scholarships. The program commissioned 62 officers as second lieutenants in the Air Force and Space Force active-duty assignments and produced the nation’s highest number of rated officers for flying assignments. The team managed the Southeast Region’s largest testing program, which enabled cadets to achieve a 78% selection rate on flying assignments. Embry-Riddle was also approved for a second year as the Air Force ROTC’s Special Warfare Training Hub. This program synchronized 49 cadets across the Southeast Region and Air Force special warfare operators to provide a “day in the life” of physical training, team-building exercises and troop-leading procedures. Our program orchestrated numerous base visits where cadets were provided the opportunity to hear from senior leaders, experience flight simulators and take part in incentive flights.
Detachment 157 continues to be recognized for a “Tradition of Excellence,” having been awarded the #1 Air Force ROTC unit in the Southeast Region for 2023. We are also proud to announce that several of our enlisted and officer staff have been recognized for their outstanding performance at the Southeast Region and Headquarters Air Force ROTC level.
# 1
Highest
# 2
Air Force ROTC in the Southeast Region in 2023
Number of Rated Officers for Flying Assignments
The Nation’s 2nd Largest Detachment with 460 Cadets
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Carol Mitchell
Human Factors Student Presents Radiation Research on Global Stage
ORIGINALLY WRITTEN BY MELANIE AZAM WITH EMBRY‑RIDDLE’S NEWS TEAM
COAS graduate student Carol Mitchell admits to being both excited and nervous while traveling halfway around the world to present her research on cosmic radiation at the 74th International Astronautical Congress in Baku, Azerbaijan.
“It was an amazing, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” said Mitchell. “I was able to meet and talk to people from around the world about our research.” She was chosen to present at the international conference after being named a finalist at the American Astronautical Society’s Wernher von Braun Memorial Symposium , held last fall at the University of Alabama, in Huntsville. For Mitchell, who conducts research under the supervision of faculty mentor Dr. Amber M. Paul in COAS’ Omics Lab, this marked just the latest challenge she has taken on in her pursuit of a career in space and medicine. Mitchell’s research
uses a systems-biology approach to assess the effects of cosmic radiation on the immune response and its connection to functioning adrenal glands in male versus female mice. In addition to her work in the lab, Mitchell is simultaneously completing a master’s degree in Human Factors at Embry-Riddle, as well as a master’s degree in regenerative and stem cell technologies at Johns Hopkins University . “I manage my workload with strict time management and discipline,” she said. “It is my motivation to get elsewhere and keep succeeding.” Next on her list, she said, is to earn a doctorate, focusing on “regenerative medicine, immunology and space medicine.”
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Building on a Dual Passion for Space and Science
Mitchell’s family lives in Clarksville, Tennessee, but most of her childhood was spent constantly moving around the U.S. “I’m a military kid, so I moved around 21 times before my parents retired in Tennessee,” she said. Her father served in the Judge Advocate General’s Corps, while her mother was a U.S. Army nurse and is now a nurse practitioner. “I kind of grew up in the hospital with my mom taking us with her to work, so I had this love for science and medicine,” Mitchell said. “Plus, I have always loved space and wanted to be an astronaut. I never thought it could be possible to do both.”
Due to her exceptional engagement, Mitchell was invited to participate in research with Dr. Paul on a NASA Space Biology mission that launched this November from Kennedy Space Center . “I am very proud of her accomplishments so far, and I’m certain this is only the beginning for her,” said Paul, the Wessel endowed assistant professor of Aerospace Physiology and Immunology in the Department of Human Factors and Behavioral Neurobiology. Ultimately, Mitchell said it has been the hands-on, one-on-one experience she has gained with Dr. Paul in the Omics Lab that has allowed her to present her research half a world away. “I have had opportunities here that I wouldn’t have at other universities,” said Mitchell.
Carol is one of those students that any principal investigator would be fortunate to have. She is hardworking, bright and a team leader. Her dedication to learning and passion for space biology was apparent early on in our initial conversations.
Dr. Amber M. Paul | Assistant Professor, Embry-Riddle Omics Lab
That’s why she was thrilled when she found a major — Aerospace Physiology — that combined her interests. After transferring to Embry-Riddle from Quinnipiac University, in Connecticut, Mitchell said she found a wealth of research opportunities that allowed her to excel in the field. “I did not have those research opportunities previously, and I was nervous about being able to gain research experience,” said Mitchell. “But I was lucky that Dr. Paul took a risk on me and taught me all the skills I needed.”
Eagle Researchers Examine Gender, Racial Bias in Aviation Nadine Ragbir ORIGINALLY WRITTEN BY MICHAELA JARVIS WITH EMBRY‑RIDDLE’S NEWS TEAM
As the aviation industry strives to diversify its workforce, COAS researchers just published a paper demonstrating the bias faced by aspiring female and minority commercial pilots.
T he research, published in Technology in Society , showed that consumers and even other pilots respond more favorably to white male pilots than female and minority pilots. These findings represent a scientific look at consumers’ perceptions of pilot quality based on their gender or race and could provide strong guidance to the aviation industry. Human Factors Ph.D. student Nadine Ragbir, the lead author of the paper, said the most valuable part of the research was demonstrating that implicit, or unconscious, biases exist. “While some people know they are being biased or prejudiced against an individual, others may not even know they feel
that way,” said Ragbir. “Just being able to make people aware that there are unconscious biases that could influence their thoughts and actions is a step forward.” The experiment involved showing photographs of female and male pilots of various races to participants, then asking them to rate how well they thought the pilots would perform. Respondents gave higher ratings to white male pilots. Other students who worked on the research, which was funded internally by COAS’ Department of Human Factors and Behavioral Neurobiology, included Bradley Baugh, Mattie Milner (now graduated), Madhur Gupta, Drishti Valecha, Karla Candelaria-Oquendo and John Capps .
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(Photo: Pexels-Ekky Wicaksono)
Ragbir, who developed a childhood interest in aviation when her paratrooper uncle taught her about different kinds of aircraft, earned both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Human Factors . She said the topic of the research came about through collaboration, while the authors discussed a type of software tool used in behavioral research that can reveal implicit bias based on the participants’ response times. Basically, response times are longer when implicit bias is involved, because participants are reluctant to blatantly admit to biased responses and tend to take more time to consider. “Being in a school centered around aviation, we could not help but ask ourselves if these biases exist in airline passengers and pilots alike,” Ragbir said. She added that diversity and inclusion programs would be her first recommendation for the aviation industry. Despite the pandemic, air travel is projected to expand over the coming years, and with a large percentage of the industry’s workforce reaching retirement age, a shortage of aviation professionals is predicted, according to Dr. Stephen Rice, professor of Human Factors at Embry-Riddle. The research paper pointed out that bias could deprive the industry of the best job candidates.
“One of the main goals in hiring is to recruit and onboard the most qualified candidates,” the publication in Technology in Society read. “Potential employees are often unintentionally under-evaluated due to biases, and specific groups could be unfairly kept out of the cockpit and better candidates excluded.” The fact that pilots themselves demonstrated bias against female and minority pilots was of particular concern, Rice said. “Those pilots may be in positions of power one day to make hiring choices,” he said. The aviation industry needs to be aware that this bias exists because they need to make sure their hiring process is fair to women and minorities. They need to do whatever it takes to help women and minorities overcome these societal problems. Dr. Stephen Rice | Professor of Human Factors
Nadine Ragbir
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COAS DEAN’S AWARDS
The Dean’s Awards serve as recognition of outstanding productivity and contribution to the COAS community. These awards celebrate faculty with remarkable accomplishments and who have shown exceptional dedication and commitment to making a positive impact.
2022-2023 COAS Dean’s Award for Leadership and Innovation Presented to individuals who dedicate themselves to leadership achievements and/or innovations that contribute positively to the department/unit, college, campus and university. Emphasis is placed on endeavors that lead to increased visibility for both the department and the broader collegiate community. WINNERS: Commander LTC Jerry Reitano, Army ROTC Dr. Jen Wojton, Humanities and Communication Department
2022-2023 COAS Award for Teaching Excellence Awarded to individuals who showcase outstanding excellence and innovation in teaching, specifically focusing on methods that actively engage students in the learning process. Awardees do so through the creation of educational materials or textbooks, active participation in Center for Teaching and Learning Excellence workshops and short courses, peer observations, course materials reviews and a comprehensive summary of student end-of-course evaluation data and comments. WINNERS: Dr. Alesha Fleming , Anatomy and Physiology Program Coordinator, Human Factors and Behavioral Neurobiology Department Dr. Daniel Gressang , Security Studies and International Affairs Department
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2022-2023 COAS Award for Outstanding Publication Presented to an individual who has produced one or more significant publications, especially a monograph or book chapters that have had an impact on the discipline. WINNER: Dr. Andy Oler, Chair, Humanities and Communication Department
2022-2023 COAS Award for Research/ Scholarship Excellence Presented to an individual who has shown excellent productivity in research/scholarship, through grant applications, grant awards, invited talks and publications. WINNER: Dr. Joe Keebler, Human Factors and Behavioral Neurobiology Department
2022-2023 COAS Award for Undergraduate Student Mentorship Presented to an individual who has demonstrated a commitment to the excellence and impact of undergraduate mentoring, particularly benefiting COAS students by involving them in specialized training and hands-on learning.
2022-2023 COAS Award for Graduate Student Mentorship
Presented to an individual who has demonstrated a commitment to the excellence and impact of master’s and Ph.D. mentoring by engaging students in specialized training and hands-on learning.
WINNER: Dr. Mihhail Berezovski, Mathematics Department
WINNER: Dr. Aroh Barjatya, Physical Sciences Department
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The IAEP Laboratory : A Leader in Performance Research
The Integrative Aerospace and Exercise Physiology (IAEP) Laboratory in COAS has been at the forefront of innovative research, with two significant projects aimed at advancing human performance in aviation and extreme environments.
The research includes exhaustive pre- and post-training exercise assessments at sea level and simulated altitudes of 16,000 feet within the College of Aviation’s High Altitude Lab (HAL). Students are trained in the application of diverse clinical assessment techniques, including Doppler Ultrasound for imaging of inspiratory muscles and monitoring blood flow, pulmonary gas exchange measurements to assess lung function, venous blood collection for laboratory analysis and cardiopulmonary exercise testing to evaluate heart and lung performance during physical activity.
High Altitude Performance Under the leadership of Assistant Professor Scott K. Ferguson, Ph.D. , the IAEP team is poised to initiate a groundbreaking project, funded by the National Institutes of Health . This project strives to enhance exercise performance at high altitudes, a critical capability for individuals who rapidly transition from low to high elevations for work or recreational activities. Swift altitude changes are characteristic of special operations military forces that face immediate physical demands during transitions from sea level to mountainous terrains. Such research also informs work on cardiovascular diseases that impair oxygen transport within the body and disrupt lung function, thereby increasing the work of breathing. This project will provide insights into the therapeutic potential of using respiratory muscle training to improve the physical capacity of patient populations suffering from these types of diseases. Originating during Dr. Ferguson’s post-doctoral training in the Division of Cardiology at the University of Colorado’s Medical School, the research involves rigorous respiratory muscle training led by doctoral student Sabrina Ehrenfort from the Department of Human Factors . Sabrina is assisted by a dedicated team of undergraduate Aerospace Physiology students: Erica Bryant, Riley Dienna, Christopher Macduffee and Zoe Spanos. Together, they aim to fortify respiratory muscles to better accommodate the strenuous breathing conditions encountered at high elevations.
From Left to Right: Dr. Scott K. Ferguson, Liam Brennan (on bike), and Sabrina Ehrenfort (Photo: Kati Callahan Vickery)
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Risk-based Medical Certification Standards IAEP’s second project, which launches in fall 2024, seeks to develop risk-based medical certification standards for Unmanned Aircraft Systems operators for the Federal Aviation Administration . This two-year endeavor is not only set to establish the performance benchmarks for Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (UAS) pilots in commercial operations across the United States but also aims to advance medical certification standards industry-wide. As the Principal Investigator, Dr. Scott Ferguson will harness the collective expertise of ten faculty members from the Departments of Human Factors in the College of Arts and Sciences and Aerospace Sciences in the College of Aviation . Additionally, forthcoming collaborations with Kansas State University and the University of Vermont will solidify Embry-Riddle’s academic partnerships and reinforce its status among the nation’s elite institutions. The research conducted by the faculty and students in COAS is making a substantial global impact. The rigorous training of students in a multitude of clinical assessment
Ph.D. student Erica Bryant (Photo: Kati Callahan Vickery)
techniques not only enhances their academic and professional skills but also contributes to significant advancements in medical and aerospace sciences. Through their diligent efforts in projects ranging from improving high-altitude performance to establishing new medical standards for aviation, these students are at the cutting edge of research that has far- reaching implications, both within the aerospace industry and throughout the broader scientific community. Their work from the IAEP laboratory exemplifies COAS’ commitment to excellence and its influence on global innovation.
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Joseph LeDonne B.S. IN AEROSPACE STUDIES
Joseph LeDonne’s journey from an Aerospace Studies major to a newly appointed Volusia County Court Judge is a testament to the unexpected paths life can take. Raised in Florida, LeDonne graduated from Embry-Riddle in 2002 with a degree in Aerospace Studies (now called Interdisciplinary Studies) and minored in International Relations, Aviation Safety, Humanities and Social Sciences. Post-graduation, LeDonne pursued a law degree at Stetson University, completing his legal studies in December 2005. While most expected him to stay in Florida and begin his law career there, he did just the opposite and took the bar in Colorado, passed and practiced as a prosecutor in district court 2006 to 2013, and then briefly in private practice from 2013 to 2014. While there, his experience in criminal law deepened his understanding of justice, advocacy and the complexities of legal proceedings. In 2014, he returned to his home state of Florida, marking a significant shift in his legal career. He first served as an attorney for the Department of Children & Families for a year, before being hired by the 7th Judicial Circuit State Attorney’s Office where he was able to return to his passion, prosecuting felony cases for the State of Florida. However, as he advanced in his career, a desire for an even greater challenge compelled him to apply to be appointed as a County Court Judge. In December 2023, LeDonne received a life-changing call. The Governor’s office informed him of his appointment as a Volusia County Court Judge. “I was just at work doing what I normally do. I got the call from the governor’s office congratulating me on my appointment as a County Court Judge. It didn’t even register for a while that my life had just drastically changed in an instant,” he said.
The appointment of Joseph LeDonne to be a judge in Volusia County is well-earned. He is an incredible leader, and his professional achievements, hard work, and commitment to civic service set an example for our students. We are proud to have contributed to his academic development, and I have no doubt that he will have a shining career on the bench. P. Barry Butler, Ph.D. | Embry-Riddle President His legal acumen, combined with his commitment to justice, made him an ideal candidate for the bench. Currently presiding over criminal cases in DeLand, Judge LeDonne reflects on the impact of his role: “As a judge, I can make an impact on so many lives as I interact with a high volume of people on an almost daily basis. “ Looking back on his time at Embry-Riddle, he appreciates the well-rounded education he received, acknowledging the balance between STEM areas and philosophical studies, a combination that proved valuable in law school. “Embry-Riddle attracts lifelong learners. I think highly of Embry-Riddle; that’s why I had my investiture there. It gave me an incredible start to a fulfilling career.”
From Left to Right: LeDonne, his wife Lauren and Judge Chris Miller
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Corey Sites B.A. IN INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDIES
In 2017, Corey Sites unexpectedly arrived in Washington, D.C. after being medically evacuated from his seventh and ultimately final deployment with Air Force Special Operations Command . The following year, he was hospitalized at Walter Reed National Military Hospital watching his health deteriorate. On April 29, 2019, Corey served his last day of his 11 years of active duty. This unexpected turn of events, or as he calls them “life quakes,” dramatically altered Corey’s life plan. Struggling to pivot his experiences into a fulfilling civilian career, Sites, like many veterans, felt lost after retiring from the military. With unwavering support from his wife Alexis, family, friends and invaluable resources such as the Special Operations Command Care Coalition, Sites began his journey at Embry-Riddle and began to turn the tide. He found a degree that allowed him to build upon his experiences, and he began to thrive once more. Now, in his final semester of his Interdisciplinary Studies degree, Sites has returned to Washington, D.C. to embark on the next chapter of his life. Sites has an internship with the House of Representatives Subcommittee on Aviation. “This humbling opportunity allows me to serve the nation and the stakeholders of the aviation industry at the highest level,” he said. Working alongside members of Congress, Sites will contribute to keeping our skies safe, efficient and modern — an experience that will undoubtedly shape the rest of his life. With this transition from military to civilian complete, Sites’ journey continues. He offers this advice: “Do not quit. Great things lie just ahead.”
Official logo of the U.S. House of Representatives Subcommittee on Aviation
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DIVERSE. LEARNING. COMMUNITY.
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