• Patti Grace Smith Fellow, Class of 2025

• Georgia Institute of Technology, Aerospace Engineering, ‘26

• Host Institution: Barrios

Lauren Leitch is a third-year Aerospace Engineering major at Georgia Tech, with a minor in International Affairs and a French Language certificate. She is passionate about the intersection of space law, policy, and international collaboration, as well as spacecraft design and manufacturing. Beyond academics, she actively involved in several student organizations that contribute to my technical and cultural growth. She was recently elected as the Social Media Manager for The Dance Company, where she helps promote the group through creative digital content. As a Georgia Tech tour guide and Aerospace Engineering Ambassador, she loves sharing her enthusiasm for the university and aerospace field with prospective students. She is also an engaged member of the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE), AeroAfroAstro (AAA), the African American Student Union (AASU), and the Caribbean Student Association (Caribsa), which have all played a significant role in her personal and professional development.

Lauren first learned about the Patti Grace Smith Fellowship through AeroAfroAstro, and is incredibly grateful for this opportunity. She believes being selected as a Patti Grace Smith Fellow will help shape her academic and professional journey in the aerospace industry.  This summer, she looks forward to applying her knowledge in real-world settings, growing both technically and professionally, and discovering how her international focus fits into her long-term career in aerospace. Lauren believes this fellowship will allow her to gain invaluable industry experience, expand her professional network, and further explore her role in advancing aerospace technology and policy globally. It represents a significant step toward her goals, and is eager to see where it takes her.