• Patti Grace Smith Fellow, Class of 2026

• Stanford University, Electrical Engineering & Computer Science, ‘27

• Host Institution: LeoLabs

Kennaissa (Kenna) Nabi, an Electrical Engineering and Computer Science student at Stanford University, is driven by building technology that earns trust through performance. He approaches engineering with an emphasis on iteration and real-world impact, especially in environments where reliability matters.

His interest in aerospace began early through the Summer Science Program at the University of Colorado Boulder in 2022, where he studied astrophysics. That experience made space feel tangible and inspired him to pursue work that keeps the connection intact across distance and uncertainty.

That focus continued through research in Hong Kong, where he worked on robotics and mapping problems that rely on autonomy to operate in complex environments. The experience reinforced his interest in systems that stay dependable without constant human intervention.

Kenna hopes to focus on mission-critical systems in aerospace, with a particular interest in resilient communications and autonomy that reduces operator workload. Long term, he plans to bring this focus into startup building by creating tools that make aerospace capability easier to deploy and more accessible. He also wants his work to reach back into his community through hands-on opportunities that help younger students build confidence by working with real hardware.