A Broadened Perspective on Aviation

Sophia Shannon (’27) arrived at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University's Daytona Beach Campus to become a corporate pilot. After a year of pursuing an Aeronautical Science degree, she developed a sudden passion for the safety side of aviation.

"I took an Introduction to Aviation Safety course and had a professor who completely changed my perspective on what a career in aviation could look like," Sophia said. "I came to the university believing I knew exactly what I wanted my career to look like, but ... being willing to explore something new completely changed that path. That's where my dream of becoming an aircraft accident investigator began."

After transferring into the Aviation and Aerospace Safety program, Sophia began investing in her professionalism to prepare for her future career. She joined several organizations, including the International Society of Air Safety Investigators and the Aviation Safety Advisory Council (ASAC).

"Through ASAC, I had opportunities to meet industry professionals, volunteer, attend aviation-related events and connect with other students who shared my interests," she said. "One of the best parts of Embry-Riddle is how many opportunities there are to get involved."

As Sophia gained experience, she began researching internships, exploring year-round options. She was ready to broaden her professional horizons and was willing to change campuses for the right opportunity.

"My goal was to gain as much hands-on experience as possible and continue learning outside of the classroom while completing my degree," she explained.

Same Embry-Riddle, New Campus

During the summer term, Sophia was offered an aviation safety internship at Frontier Airlines based in her hometown of Denver, Colorado. She accepted the offers and officially transferred into the Aviation Safety program through Embry-Riddle's Worldwide & Online Campus.

While it was bittersweet closing the chapter on being an on-campus student, Sophia was excited to get involved and build her expertise in new ways.

"Transferring to Worldwide gave me the opportunity to continue my Embry-Riddle education while also beginning to gain the real-world experience I had been looking for," she said. "Being a Worldwide student actually gives me a unique opportunity to combine university involvement with involvement in the industry itself."

So far, Sophia's Worldwide program has delivered on its promise of being the ideal online learning experience. Before starting her fall internship, she had an opportunity to grow acclimated to a new learning environment and find her rhythm for staying organized.

"[Worldwide courses] offer a level of flexibility that is especially valuable for students working full-time jobs or internships," she said. "My goal is not simply to get my assignments turned in, but to make sure I am still putting quality effort into my education while giving my internship the same level of commitment."

My [Worldwide] professors have been extremely helpful and knowledgeable, and I have also enjoyed learning from my classmates, many of whom come from very different professional backgrounds and career paths within aviation.

The Student Internship Experience

Sophia came into her Frontier Airlines internship with a growth mindset. Her excitement to learn as much as possible helped her stand out during the interview process.

"One thing I have learned throughout my education is that there will always be more to learn in aviation, especially in safety," she said. "I believe I was chosen because I showed a genuine passion for learning from the industry professionals around me."

The internship will allow Sophia to study airline safety programs and principles and apply what she learns in a hands-on context. While Sophia interns by day and studies by night, she will cement the real-world lessons from the classroom in real time.

"Overall," she explained, "I hope to expand the knowledge I have gained at Embry-Riddle and begin applying it in a real-world aviation environment. I want to see firsthand how the safety principles I have studied are applied within an airline and continue developing my skills as a future aviation safety professional."

Start Your Career at Embry-Riddle

Sophia plans to continue building experience in challenging roles and a variety of organizational contexts. Her focus is on gaining robust industry experience.

"Every organization approaches safety from a slightly different perspective, and I think gaining exposure to those different approaches will ultimately make me a stronger and more well-rounded safety professional," she said. "I hope to use those experiences to continue working toward my goal of a career in aircraft accident investigation."

Attending Embry-Riddle not only redirected Sophia toward her dream career but also offered the resources and options to kick-start it before she graduates. Listening to the advice and wisdom of her peers and professors opened her eyes to the world of opportunities available on campus and beyond.

As Sophia reflects on the butterfly effect that her first aviation safety course created, she urges her peers to take advantage of the opportunities they discover at Embry-Riddle.

"During my first year, I was relatively shy and honestly had no idea how to get plugged into everything Embry-Riddle had to offer," Sophia explained. "Join the club, introduce yourself to the professor, attend the event and talk to the industry professional. You never know which connection or experience could completely change the direction of your future."

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