• Brooke Owens Fellow, Class of 2019

• Wichita State University, B.S. Aerospace Engineering and Minor in Mathematics, '21

• Host Institution: Mojave Air and Space Port

• Mentor: Zack Krevor

Khristian T. Jones is a recent graduate of the Wichita State University Aerospace Engineering program. Khristian is currently a Materials & Process Engineer at Virgin Galactic. As a child, she had a fascination with space and dreamed of one day having the opportunity to travel there. She decided at the tender age of fourteen that Aerospace Engineering just had to be in her future. Khristian did not discover her ambition for commercial spaceflight until college at an internship at The Spaceship Company. As an African American female that just has a passion for space travel, she never knew that something like being a commercial astronaut was achievable.

Khristian has always had a passion for STEM, but even more of a passion for showing young women that they can achieve a career in it. Growing up, there were not many role models for her to see that she could be a successful woman in a STEM field. Through her work at Engineering Outreach at Wichita State University’s SEEDS (Science Engineering Educational Development for Students) program, she discovered her passion for diversity advocacy in STEM.

Khristian has had a handful of work experience in the Aerospace Industry as a undergraduate student. As a Brooke Owens Fellow, she interned at the Mojave Air and Space Port. She has also worked at Airbus Americas and Southwest Airlines.

Khristian now spends her time outside of her nine-to-five to continue to inspire other aspiring young STEM professionals and advocate for justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion in the Aerospace Industry through her work as co-founder of the Patti Grace Smith Fellowship.