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For Catherine Veranese, a senior air traffic and airspace management student at ���ϳԹ���, the path to becoming an aviation professional has been paved with hands-on experience, leadership opportunities and industry connections.

As a member of the inaugural Flash Fellows cohort and a student lab instructor in the air traffic control lab, Veranese has embraced ���ϳԹ���’s personalized learning environment within the College of Aeronautics and Engineering. "By working in the air traffic control labs, I have been able to develop meaningful connections with my peers," Catherine said. "I love teaching, and adapting air traffic control concepts for each student has deepened my understanding across different aeronautics disciplines."

Her involvement in Flash Fellows, a leadership development program, equipped her with skills that enhanced both her teaching and problem-solving abilities. The program’s workshops focused on connection-based leadership and goal setting, which Veranese plans to leverage in her future role as an industry mentor.

Beyond campus, Veranese’s internship with the provided valuable exposure to advanced manufacturing. Her work mapping manufacturing supply chains helped her develop a broader industry perspective that she says will benefit her aviation career. Veranese also participated in the Federal Aviation Administration's Working Development Group, where she studied emerging unmanned aircraft systems. This experience reinforced her belief that aviation professionals must stay current with new technologies to maintain public confidence in the industry.

"Since aviation is still a relatively young industry, our job as professionals is not just to complete our duties, but to inspire the next generation," she said.

Drawing from her diverse experiences at ���ϳԹ���, Veranese advises new aeronautics students to engage broadly across the university community. She emphasizes the dual benefits of networking and gaining diverse perspectives, noting that understanding multiple aspects of aviation creates well-rounded professionals. “The more people you know, the more diverse perspectives you can understand and accumulate into your own personal knowledge base,” Catherine said. “Having a large and diverse network of professional connections can be a major help in your career.”

���ϳԹ���’s Bachelor of Science in Air Traffic and Airspace Management is part of the Federal Aviation Administration’s Air Traffic-Collegiate Training Initiative (AT-CTI) to provide a broad education in several areas of aviation to operate the National Airspace System in the 21st century. The Air Traffic and Airspace Management major offers practical simulation-based training to prepare students for professional work in air traffic control and management.

The major recently evolved from Air Traffic Control to Air Traffic and Airspace Management reflecting our commitment to preparing students for both current and emerging aviation careers. Our curriculum combines traditional air traffic control with advanced airspace management concepts, equipping graduates with comprehensive skills for today’s complex aviation environment.