Women’s History Month Celebration (Day 3)

For day 3 of our Women’s History Month celebration, we recognize: Dr. Powtawche Valerino!

Dr. Powtawche Williams Valerino is a mechanical engineer at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, a STEM advocate, and Rice University’s first Native American PhD Engineering graduate. Part African-American and part Mississippi Choctaw, Valerino was a first-generation engineer. She graduated from Stanford University with a Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering before earning her Master’s in the same discipline. Valerino has served as a navigation engineer for the Cassini and Solar Probe Plus Navigation Team. Aside from her work at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Valerino is also an active STEM advocate, having been recognized by the NAACP for her commitment to advancing her community. She has worked with Soledad O’Brien in encouraging Black and Latina women to pursue careers in STEM.