Darisha Vidrine (’20, ’21, ’24, ’26) is nothing short of a business and engineering whiz.

She spent a decade progressing through various internships and jobs while continuing to aim higher in her education. Since enrolling at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University – Worldwide in 2017, Darisha has earned the following degrees:

Her focus through it all? High-quality education.

"A quality education gives a person access to quality opportunities, and my Embry-Riddle education has opened doors in organizations I never thought were a possibility for me at one point in my life," she shared.

Embry-Riddle gave Darisha access to the education she needed to build her expertise. Let's rewind the clock to where it all started for her.

The Lead Up to Aviation Business

In an early career role, Darisha worked in the aviation supply chain at PHI Aviation, formerly known as Petroleum Helicopters. She spent 10 years in procurement and inventory management, visiting aviation facilities and learning from industry experts.

"I was responsible for the procurement and inventory distribution of PHI Aviation's largest fleet of 42 Sikorsky S-76 A & Model helicopters, as well as a fleet program of 10 Leonardo AW139s," she explained.

In 2012, she met Maame Ama Assan (’12), an international marketing representative and project analyst at PHI Aviation and an alumna of Embry-Riddle's Daytona Beach Campus.

"I read about her earning a Master of Science in Aeronautics in the [company] newsletter and was impressed and inspired by her journey and character traits," she said.

This event became the catalyst for Darisha's pursuit of higher education and inspired her to enroll in an associate degree program in business.

"It was out of this experience," she explained, "that I learned that not all online programs are created equal, as I had the desire for a quality education where people were supportive, collaborative and inclusive."

Inspired by her peer, Darisha contacted admissions advisors at the closest Embry-Riddle Worldwide location and soon became an Eagle.

"I still recall sharing my industry experience with [one of my advisors, Shannakay Watson,] and how she understood my desire to advance," she said.

Communication and Collaboration at Embry-Riddle Worldwide

When Darisha enrolled in her undergraduate business programs, her goal was to build a foundation in project planning, writing and communication skills. Learning communication and writing techniques equipped her to engage in more meaningful discussions in her personal and professional life.

One of the lasting highlights of her business programs was Embry-Riddle's two-way communication standard.

"Having a space to provide feedback on our experiences and seeing the university re-evaluate and re-develop their curriculum based on this genuine input helped me to realize that both online and on-campus experiences matter to the leaders of our institution," she said.

Beyond preparing Darisha to lead aviation business initiatives, her undergraduate education gave her the confidence to chart different territory in her graduate programs.

There were many faculty and staff members who provided genuine feedback and showed interest in my success.

Mastering Engineering at Embry-Riddle

At first, Darisha was intimidated by the idea of engineering — until she took a course in Aviation Maintenance Management that covered Systems Reliability and Maintainability. This deepened her curiosity about systems engineering and helped her connect the concepts to her everyday practical experiences in the supply chain.

Studying engineering from both management and systems perspectives allowed Darisha to deepen her understanding of how the engineering and business sides of aviation intertwine. Embry-Riddle also provided a clear pathway for her to maximize her knowledge.

"Enrolling in the Engineering Management program and deciding on my specialization early in the program provided a streamlined opportunity to earn a second master’s degree, so I accepted the challenge," she said.

On the Cutting-Edge of Engineering Research

In addition to pursuing graduate studies and conducting on-campus research, Darisha continued pursuing new professional heights. Her first engineering internship at the Flight Safety Foundation gave her the tools to identify and manage risk and learn from success and failure in day-to-day operations through a systems lens.

She later interned as a project systems engineer at NASA's Langley Research Center, strengthening her research skills in topics such as automation, aviation safety and model-based systems engineering.

“At my NASA internship, I was mentored by Dr. Samantha Infeld and Embry-Riddle alumnus Michael Vincent (’14),” she elaborated. “This experience led to the opportunities to travel to an industry conference in San Diego, California, and to co‑author my first research paper, which was presented to the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) SciTech 2025 Forum.”

Darisha's passion for engineering inspired her to continue her studies and research. Now a doctoral candidate, Darisha is leading emerging systems engineering research.

"It was the encouragement and support of my professors and NASA mentors during my master's programs that inspired me to continue to go further in my education," she said. "My research will focus on how human behavior, system design and regulatory frameworks shape safety outcomes in evolving autonomous aviation and aerospace environments."

Accomplishing it All

On Oct. 10, Darisha celebrated earning her M.S. in Systems Engineering at the Frontiers of Flight Museum in Dallas, Texas. This marked her fourth in-person Embry-Riddle commencement ceremony shared with family, friends and peers.

"Attending in person gave me the exciting opportunity to connect and celebrate with other graduates and inspire my children to prioritize their education and celebrate their achievements," she said.

Darisha continues to shape the academic community and the aviation industry. She was recently accepted to present her latest abstract at AIAA's 2027 SciTech Conference and was featured in the 2026 November issue of the Royal Aeronautical Society’s AEROSPACE magazine (page 61).

With robust educational experiences, research achievements and international recognition under her belt, Darisha is just getting started.

“My career goals are to position myself as an independent researcher and thought leader, contributing to high‑impact initiatives and guiding organizational decision making on an executive level,” she said. “With over two decades of industry and academic experience, I can face the future with greater optimism and confidence.” 

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