Former NASA Flight Director Michele Brekke returns for AEM visit

MINNEAPOLIS / ST. PAUL (9/26/24) — Michele Brekke, a former NASA flight director and Department of Aerospace Engineering and Mechanics alum, returned to the department earlier this month to visit with students and staff.

Brekke’s visit on Sept. 12 consisted of lab tours, student showcases, and meeting with department members. This included visiting with Professor Ryan Caverly and touring his lab, viewing eclipse-ballooning footage with Professor James Flaten and his ballooning students, and touring Professor Lindsay Glesener’s lab in Tate Hall where, in collaboration with Professor Demoz Gebre-Egziabher, they are building miniature spacecraft, payloads and sensors. These spacecraft systems are being built by CSE students from various programs including AEM, physics and computer science.

A highlight of the afternoon was Brekke taking time to meet with students in the Akerman Hall hangar. She spoke to the group about her extensive background and career highlights before answering student questions and offering advice.

Brekke last visited the U in 2019, when she served as the Homecoming Parade Grand Marshal.