In celebration of Women’s History Month, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University will host a free Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) focusing on reshaping the aerospace and aviation industry, titled “Leadership for Women in Aerospace and Aviation.”

The virtual course, meant for anyone looking to hone their leadership skills, will feature top industry professionals who will address the industry’s need to prepare current and future female leaders in the aerospace and aviation sectors. The course includes key insights that will help provide women with strategies to succeed as leaders, as well as guidance on how to overcome unique career challenges. In addition to testimony from successful female leaders, the course will feature subject matter experts from Embry-Riddle to discuss key research findings related to the success and retention of women in the industry.

“Embry-Riddle is proud to offer this course to provide women the opportunity to excel in leadership roles,” said Dr. Bettina Mrusek, chair and assistant professor in the College of Aeronautics at the Worldwide Campus.

As of 2021, women make up less than 10% of the total aviation workforce, according to a study conducted by alumna Dr. Rebecca Lutte (’91), associate professor at the University of Nebraska at Omaha’s Aviation Institute and member of the FAA’s Women in Aviation Advisory Board (WIAAB). Specifically, female workers comprise only 2.6% of maintenance technicians, 3% of CEOs and 4.6% of pilots. Those low percentages extend industrywide as well, as evidenced by women making up only 11.6% of aerospace engineers, 15.6% of aviation higher education faculty, 16.7% of airport managers, 16.8% of air traffic controllers and 19.7% of dispatchers.

“Our speakers include top industry experts whose career experience will help inform and motivate others,” added Dr. Linda Weiland, associate professor in the Worldwide Campus’ College of Aeronautics. “We envision that MOOC participants represent the future leadership of our industry.”

Featured guests include the following:

  • The Honorable Marion Blakey, former FAA administrator and former president of Rolls-Royce North American
  • Stephanie Chung, leader for Wheels UP
  • Dr. Becky Lutte (’91)
  • Joan Robinson-Berry, former leader in The Boeing Company
  • Captain Tammie Jo Shults, Southwest Airlines pilot, WIAAB member
  • Dr. Ellen Stofan, Smithsonian Institution
  • Bobbi Wells, American Airlines, WIAAB member
  • Denise Wilson, JetAVIVA, founder, Desert Jet, Five Time Inc. 500 Entrepreneur

The six-week course, co-sponsored by a NASA Nebraska Space Grant, is built around four modules and should take about 16 hours to complete.