Originally from Nashville, Madison Newbell is a Southern girl through and through. A current senior studying aerospace engineering with a concentration in astronautics at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, Florida, Newbell admits, “I kind of fell in love with the school before I fell in love with the major, mainly because I just didn’t know what I wanted to do.
“So when I applied here, I applied for astronomy and astrophysics. Somebody from the school called and said, ‘You need to switch to aerospace engineering because you can do it. You could also make more money.’” Newbell found her new major to be a perfect match for her, and she has excelled in workplace internships—her research has involved delving deep into the intricacies and efficiencies of rocket mechanics. Next up after graduation? Obtaining the qualifications to become and astronaut, and starting her own aerospace business.
But pursuing a career in this field doesn’t come without challenges. Aerospace engineering remains a male-dominated field—the profession’s workforce is only 15% women. Unfortunately Newbell has had her fair share of gender discrimination as an undergraduate. She tells Glamour, “It’ll be somebody who I’ve gone to school with for years and they need help preparing for a test, and I’ll ask to help, but they don’t believe me because they see their guy friend coming over. And in the end, I could have helped you.”
Says Madison Newbell, “Being a double minority in my field means I often have to work harder to prove my worth and secure my place at the table.”
Glamour: What was your childhood dream job? Did you always want to go into the STEM field?
Madison Newbell: No, I wanted to do everything. I wanted to be a chef. I wanted to be a dietitian. I wanted to be a surgeon. But I can definitely say anything that involved me being in a position to make things better. And anything with math and science.
What’s the most exciting internship you’ve had in the STEM field?
Out of my three, I went to Mojave, California, for Masten Space Systems. I was coming out of my freshman year, so I didn’t know much, but it was really cool to go across the country to work in the middle of nowhere for a while, and that’s where I did my actual hands-on learning. I got way better at coding. I got to actually work on a physical rocket, so I felt like that hyped me up as an engineer. But what really sold me was when I went to the Federal Aviation Administration and I got the inside scoop on how things actually work.
Seeing as you want to pursue a career in this field, have you thought about what it will be like as a woman? Do you have any concerns or hesitations?
Not going to lie. It is discouraging sometimes, but I do see a big push. That’s why I am really happy about the whole presidential election. It just goes to show that women are capable. I see changes happening every day, but I am nervous that it’s going to take a long time.
