Creating Connections Through Astronomy and Astrophysics

From a very young age, Astronomy and Astrophysics student Gwynlyn Hannah (’26) knew that she was interested in space and studying the stars. The dark skies in rural Oklahoma, where she grew up, provided the perfect opportunities to make Gwynlyn’s interest in the stars blossom into a dream of becoming an astrophysicist.

When searching for a university, Gwynlyn saw Embry-Riddle as a natural fit, reminding her of the tight-knit community of her hometown and providing an educational foundation with a strong reputation within the aerospace and aviation industries.

“Embry-Riddle stood out immediately due to its research culture, faculty accessibility and facilities, especially the Daytona Beach Campus's one-meter telescope,” she said. “After attending Preview Day and hearing faculty and students speak about their research and how passionate they are about their job, I knew this program would provide the comprehensive academics, mentorship and opportunities I was looking for.”

Well-Rounded Involvement

Apart from her studies, Gwynlyn is involved in a variety of campus organizations, including Alpha Xi Delta, which gives her a support system and community service opportunities; Order of Omega, recognizing students in Greek-life organizations with high standards of leadership; the Embry-Riddle Cheer Team, where she engages with the campus community and supports our athletic programs; and the Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics, where she gains experience with real-world problem solving.

“Through these experiences, I have developed leadership skills, teamwork, time management and the ability to balance demanding academics with extracurricular commitments,” she said.

Gwynlyn is also a member of the Student Engagement marketing team, which she has been involved with since her first year at Embry-Riddle. After being involved with marketing and communications through her high school student council, Gwynlyn felt that a role with Student Engagement would help her get involved and further develop critical communication skills.

“Through this role, I have seen firsthand how powerful social media and strategic communication can be in building community and increasing student engagement,” she shared. “I have gained valuable experience in outreach, organization, time management and effective communication. These skills complement my technical background and will be useful in STEM environments by helping me communicate scientific ideas clearly and professionally throughout my career.”

Sharing Her Love for Space and Community

In the summer between her first and second years at Embry-Riddle, Gwynlyn had a summer position as a docent for the National Weather Museum and Science Center in Norman, Oklahoma, which gave her a broader scientific perspective and strengthened her understanding of meteorology and Earth sciences.

The next summer, she worked as a camp counselor for the U.S. Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama, helping to shape young minds and get them interested in learning about space.

“I vividly remember being their age and having the same curiosity and enthusiasm, so being able to nurture that interest in others was incredibly meaningful,” she said.

“These students are future scientists, engineers and aviators, and outreach plays a critical role in shaping their confidence and aspirations. I would strongly encourage other college students to pursue similar opportunities because they reinforce why STEM education and mentorship matter.”

Overall, Gwynlyn is especially motivated by the importance of building connections in scientific industries, both professionally and academically.

“Collaboration drives discovery and experiences to happen through shared ideas and teamwork,” she said. “I hope to carry this skill forward by continuing to collaborate with scientists across disciplines, learning from others’ perspectives and contributing to scientific communities.”

Looking Toward the Future

This past summer, Gwynlyn worked at the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) in New Mexico, solidifying her confidence in her academic path and career aspirations.

“At AFRL, I collaborated with scientists to study space environment effects on spacecraft,” she explained. “This experience highlighted the real-world importance of research and how a background in data science helps my ability to analyze and interpret complex datasets."

In addition to her bachelor’s degree, Gwynlyn is enrolled in Embry-Riddle's accelerated master’s program in Data Science. After graduation, she hopes to study space weather, spacecraft environments and space systems and find a role that combines physics with data science and computational modeling.

For current and future students, Gwynlyn says one of the most important things to find is a good sense of balance.

“Academic success is meaningful, but being a good scientist also means maintaining perspective, building relationships and taking time to recharge,” she said. “Prioritizing balance between academics and personal life has been one of the most valuable lessons I have learned.”