Getting Set Up for Success: Alisha Khan Talks Campus Involvement, Internships and Post-Graduate Studies

Through business-centered student organizations, summer internships and continuing education, Aviation Business Administration student Alisha Khan is readying herself for a fulfilling career in procurement and supply chain management.

Although Alisha Khan (’26) didn’t grow up surrounded by the aviation community, she knew from a young age that aviation was something she wanted to do. Beginning flight training at age 13, Alisha began to envision her future in the aviation industry.

“At first, my dream was to become a commercial pilot, but I like the nine-to-five,” she shared. “I’m a very routine person, so I became really interested in the business aspect.”

After searching online for degrees that combined business and aviation, Alisha came across Embry-Riddle's Daytona Beach Campus, deciding it was the perfect fit.

“For a specific degree like Aviation Business Management, I knew I would want to surround myself with like-minded people,” she said. “There are so many universities that provide the same degree, but I wouldn’t be surrounded by the aviation community all the time — that drives me, and I get to learn so much more.”

Now pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Aviation Business Administration with a focus on Supply Chain Management, Alisha is getting involved on campus, working toward professional goals and preparing to begin her master’s degree in Aviation Finance.

Learning and Growing on Campus

Involved in organizations like the Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA), the Business Aviation Student Association (BASA) and serving as vice president of the new Communications Club, Alisha is finding ways to make networking a priority. She also helps develop her peers as an undergraduate tutor in the David B. O'Maley College of Business.

“I’m always going to go back to networking: those clubs focus on building and maintaining relationships,” she said. “And there’s always a new person who’s going to tell you all about their experiences.”

She also shared how the College of Business became more than the place where she was earning her degree — it became the place where she cultivated lifelong friendships with classmates and built a family.

Faculty with an Impact

Throughout her time at Embry-Riddle, Alisha has appreciated the university’s faculty members and their unique insights.

“They’re not teaching aviation just to teach aviation — they actually have some sort of background in the industry,” she shared. “It’s one thing to teach from a PowerPoint, but it’s a whole other thing to teach lessons they’ve actually experienced.”

Alisha also gained valuable internship experience because of an encouraging nudge in the right direction. As a first-year student, Alisha was uncertain that companies would be interested in her as an intern. However, Dr. Ahmed Abdelghany, associate dean and professor in the College of Business, pushed Alisha to apply for an internship at Sun Country Airlines.

“As a first year, getting a procurement internship in an airline like that was huge. It was exactly what I wanted to do, and it opened doors to so many other opportunities,” she said.

Immersed in the Real World

During the summer of 2024, Alisha was a finance and procurement intern at Sun Country Airlines in Minneapolis. By interning at a smaller airline, Alisha found herself gaining hands-on experience and valuable lessons almost immediately.

“The sourcing department was made up of three people, including me, so we did everything,” she shared. “I went in not even knowing what an RFP (Request for Proposal) was, but before I knew it, my manager was helping me build one that was sent out to Coca-Cola and Pepsi. Three months later, I submitted one that I created on my own with no edits.”

This summer, Alisha interned at New Smyrna Beach Municipal Airport (NSB) as an airport administration intern. One internship focus was the Voluntary Noise Abatement Program (VNAP), which is an initiative that provides a recommended flight path to minimize excessive noise in developed areas.

Taking the Next Step at Embry-Riddle

After graduating a year early with her bachelor’s degree, Alisha will be continuing her education at Embry-Riddle through the combined degree program, adding a master’s degree in Aviation Finance.

"The reason I chose Aviation Finance is because a degree in Business Administration with a focus on Supply Chain Management is very specific, and I felt that a master’s degree in that would broaden my education,” she shared.

After finishing her education, Alisha hopes to work in a smaller airline like Atlas Air or Sun Country Airlines. “I really like that Atlas Air is a cargo-based airline, which is something I’m interested in,” she explained. “I’d also return to Sun Country Airlines because I love their environment.”

For fellow and future students, Alisha advises determination: “Just know that hard work and discipline will be rewarded,” she said. “It might be challenging right now, but in the future, you’ll look back and be proud of what you’ve accomplished.”