• Brooke Owens Fellow, Class of 2026

• University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Aerospace Engineering, ‘26

• Mentor: TBD

• Brookie Mentor: TBD

LaMya Powell is a senior in Aerospace Engineering at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and a member of the Brooke Owens Fellowship Class of 2026. Originally from Chicago, Illinois, she is passionate about sustainable aviation and is particularly fascinated by the potential of zero-emission vehicles to shape the future of flight. Her love of aerospace began with admiring stars in the night sky, few as they were in Chicago, watching planes twinkle as they lined up over Lake Michigan to land at O'Hare, and being an avid Star Trek fan. Over time, she became drawn to problem-solving and invested in engineering strategies that directly improve people's day-to-day lives. She hopes to build a career at the intersection of aerospace innovation, sustainability, and community impact.

At Illinois, LaMya is an undergraduate researcher in the Laboratory for Electric Aircraft Design and Sustainability, studying jet noise. She has also explored projects with the university’s Center for Sustainable Aviation. Her interest in sustainable aerospace also draws from varied professional experience. She has interned with Southern Company, Exelon, Emerson Professional Tools, and Pentair, working in operations, sustaining engineering, and R&D. Across these roles, she enjoyed researching and testing systems, identifying areas for improvement, and iterating on designs to boost efficiency and reliability for end users. These experiences clarified her desire to work towards sustainability and societal impact.

LaMya has explored sustainability internationally. With eight years of Mandarin study, she studied abroad in China and helped reduce water consumption at Zhejiang University, an experience that broadened her view of how engineering and environmental priorities connect globally. On campus, she is active in the National Society of Black Engineers and is proud to have received the Sutter Passion for Flight Award and the Illinois Promise Scholarship.

In her free time, she enjoys expressing herself through vocal performance, capturing special moments through photography, getting lost in a good novel, taking nature walks to unplug and stay grounded, and spending quality time with family and friends to recharge.

In Summer 2026, LaMya will join Joby Aviation as a Powertrain Mechanical Engineer Intern on the Battery Team. In the Long term, she hopes to use sustainable aerospace practices to positively impact marginalized communities and help ensure that the benefits of innovation are more widely felt.

LaMya is honored to be joining the Brooke Owens Fellowship and looks forward to connecting with fellows, expanding her perspective, and growing through new experiences while making the most of every opportunity. She hopes her impact will extend beyond technical contributions by supporting and empowering others within this great community while also serving as a positive example for the young women and girls who follow.