UMES and NASA expanding partnership, giving students more hands-on opportunities

DELMARVA – Expanding opportunities for education, workforce development, and research, that’s what will come out of the Space Act Agreement, which was signed Tuesday between University of Maryland Eastern Shore and NASA.

“What this will allow us to do is have students get hands on experience while they are in school, but also internships that will hopefully lead them to jobs here right on the Wallops Island,” Dr. Heidi Anderson, UMES President, said.

The HBCU has a long standing partnership with NASA Wallops, but the agreement will allow them to do more on-site projects and support mission work alongside Wallops professionals.

“They actually play an important role in the success of the mission they are not just watching, they are designing, they are building, their testing, and then they are flying it,” David Pierce, Wallops Facility Director, said.

Which Dr. Anderson, the UMES president said is a plus for her students.

“Especially, from the standpoint of students of color right now in the country we lack having enough people of color, African Americans, Hispanics or other people of color in flights in science and in technology areas,” Dr. Anderson said.

But, we’re told it also will be positive for the economic growth of this region, as well as future work that NASA is getting ready for.

“We’re now giving back an individual who will stay in this particular Delmarva region and then you’re talking about what they are going to give back from a standpoint of economics to the community,” Dr. Anderson said.

“That work gives them experience they wouldn’t find anywhere else, 1 its completely unique to wallops and across the country, and this will prepare them for a future in stem related fields,” Pierce said.