A lifelong love of planes and jets, paired with unwavering support from her parents to pursue her dreams, led Olivia Voyzey through a rigorous aerospace engineering degree at Kent State as a first-generation college student. “Being a first-generation student means opening doors my family never had the chance to walk through,” Voyzey said. “For my family, it represents pride, perseverance, and proof that dedication can create opportunities.”
Those opportunities did not always come with a clear roadmap. “I often had to figure out how to access resources, understand academic expectations, and advocate for myself in unfamiliar situations,” she said. She learned how to seek support, finding community in study groups, lab teams and student organizations that made the demands of engineering feel achievable.
Voyzey credits faculty mentorship for shaping her path and pushing her to grow. She said each mentor challenged her in different ways, offering tough love at times and patient guidance when she needed help working through complex problems. “What they all shared was a dedication to helping students succeed and develop into the engineers this generation needs,” she said. Their support led her into hands-on nanosatellite research in the Spacecraft Design Lab, where she is now project manager for a 6U hyperspectral imaging mission focused on the freshwater resources of Lake Erie’s western basin. The research sharpened her growing interest in spacecraft behavior in very low Earth orbit.
She is especially fascinated by skip-entry maneuvers, which allow a spacecraft to “skip” through the upper atmosphere and extend its orbital lifetime. She said modifying orbital mechanics code to explore new approaches to satellite lifetime and performance was a milestone achievement. “Watching the simulations reveal new insights about spacecraft behavior was both exciting and rewarding,” she said.
Those achievements reinforced her decision to continue her education. “I wanted to deepen my expertise in spacecraft systems and propulsion,” she said. Now in Kent State’s Master of Science in aerospace engineering program, she is studying air-breathing electric propulsion and orbital maneuvering strategies for small satellites to optimize performance. She has discovered a passion for pushing the boundaries of space technology and hopes to continue reaching new heights. “I want to make an impact wherever I can.”
As she works toward leadership and research roles in the aerospace industry, Voyzey hopes her journey sends a message to others. “Being first-generation means you’re paving new paths,” she said. “I want younger students and family members to know that curiosity, hard work, and asking for help are powerful tools for reaching ambitious goals.”
Learn more about the support and community available to first-generation students at Kent State at /i-am-first.