• Brooke Owens Fellow, Class of 2026

• Georgia Institute of Technology, Aerospace Engineering, ‘26

• Mentor: TBD

• Brookie Mentor: TBD

Riva Sharma is a fourth year aerospace engineering student at the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta, GA. She chose aerospace because it felt bold, technical, and a intimidating in the best way. Riva excels most when given a challenge, the harder the better.

Riva has also pursued hands on industry experience through internships in start-up aerospace environments that exposed her to fluid systems, manufacturing operations, and fast paced test programs. She has previously interned as a Fluids Ground Support Equipment intern at Firefly Aerospace and a Fluids Manufacturing intern at Hermeus Corporation. These experiences reinforced her interest in propulsion systems and engine design.

At Georgia Tech, Riva's involved in the Yellow Jacket Space Program, where she works on design and manufacturing of engine components. She also organizes events for Women of Aeronautics and Astronautics as the board's community chair and diversity, equity, and inclusion chair for WoAA international. She is particularly interested in making aerospace feel less intimidating and more collaborative for the next generation.

Outside of class, she enjoys playing electric guitar and playing with her friends in their band, Market Crash. Her favorite Artists are Fleetwood Mac, Beabadoobee (which accordingly earned her the nickname Rivadoobee), and Billy Joel. If you want to get her talking, ask her about film analysis and storytelling, she probably won't stop.