84: Brooke Owens Fellowship with Lori Garver

On this inspirational episode, Beth talks with former NASA Deputy Administrator Lori Garver about the Brooke Owens Fellowship.

Created to honor the legacy of a beloved space industry pioneer and accomplished pilot, Dawn Brooke Owens (1980 – 2016), the Brooke Owens Fellowship is designed to serve both as an inspiration and as a career boost to capable young women and other gender minorities who, like Brooke, aspire to explore our sky and stars, to shake up the aerospace industry, and to help their fellow people here on planet Earth. This incredible organization matches up to forty students per year with purpose-driven, paid internships at leading aerospace companies and organizations and with senior and executive level mentors. Join Beth and Lori as they share this sincere conversation about a friend, a desire, and a mission to turn promising students into thriving leaders.

What is the Brooke Owens Fellowship? PAID INTERNSHIPS & EXECUTIVE MENTORSHIP FOR EXCEPTIONAL UNDERGRADUATE WOMEN AND GENDER-MINORITY STUDENTS IN AEROSPACE

Learn More about Brooke Owens and the Brooke Owens Fellowship at : http://www.brookeowensfellowship.org/

About Dawn Brooke Owens: Brooke was a beloved friend and colleague to many in the aerospace industry. Coming from humble beginnings in a small mining company town (population: ~2,750) just outside of Death Valley National Park, Brooke managed to make a lasting impact on the industry through talent, character, and sheer determination.

Always an excellent student – she was valedictorian of her high school class… though she was always quick to point out that there were only two students in her class! – Brooke was an alumna of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and the International Space University. Professionally, she worked at the NASA's Johnson Space Center, the non-profit XPRIZE Foundation, the Federal Aviation Administration's Office of Commercial Space Transportation, and the White House Office of Management and Budget.

Brooke also committed herself to whole-hearted service. Supporting organizations such as AidChild and Mercy's Village International, Brooke was passionate about making her world a better place by supporting children orphaned by the HIV/AIDS crisis, ending human trafficking, fighting poverty, and empowering girls and women.

Outside of work and her philanthropic efforts, Brooke was a caring, warm, and adventurous spirit. She was an accomplished pilot, and spent many of her happiest moments flying. She found time to go kayaking, run triathlons, become a party DJ, perform at spoken word events, and a million other things.

Brooke was the sort of person for whom no amount of time on this Earth would have been enough to do all that she wanted to do. Thankfully, she was also the sort of person who lived life to its fullest, and found joy in every moment.

About Lori Garver: Lori Garver is the former Deputy Administrator of NASA. Prior to her Senate confirmation, she headed the NASA transition team and was the lead space policy advisor to Senator Clinton and Senator Obama during the 2008 presidential campaign.

Lori is currently the CEO of Earthrise Alliance - a philanthropic initiative established to fully utilize Earth science data to combat climate change. Earthrise Alliance funds fellowships and awards grants to partner organizations that engage and activate educators, journalists, voters and decision makers.