Mary Jackson Lecture: A Wandering Fluid Mechanics Scientific Career 9 March 2026 | 12–1 p.m. Online
On-Demand Recording Available
In this seminar, Ivett Leyva, Ph.D., P.E. will describe her remarkable career journey, which has led her to study various fluid mechanics problems, as well as the challenges and rewards of holding management and leadership positions. She will discuss topics related to preventing rocket explosions, including the construction of hazardous facilities for testing rocket propulsion and enhancing the scientific understanding of hypersonic flight. Leyva will also share insights from two hypersonic flight experiments she initiated at the Air Force, along with the portfolio she managed. Finally, she will conclude with her experiences as department head and her current efforts to establish a new research enterprise aimed at addressing applied research challenges from industry while tailoring graduates to meet industry needs.
The Mary Jackson Named Lecture is given in honor of Mary Jackson (1921–2005), who became the first black female aerospace engineer at NASA in 1958. The lecture is jointly sponsored by the Royal Aeronautical Society and AIAA.
Speaker:
Ivett A. Leyva, Ph.D., P.E.
Associate Dean for Research, Fort Worth Campus, College of Engineering. Arthur McFarland Professor, Aerospace Engineering, Texas A&M Fort Worth
