Shayna Gersten GS'24 named Matthew Isakowitz Commercial Space Scholar
Congratulations to Shayna Gersten, GS'24, who has been named a Matthew Isakowitz Commercial Space Scholar!
Shayna will join a class of ten 2025 Matthew Isakowitz Commercial Space Scholars. The ten selected “Matthew Scholars” will have the opportunity to advance their aerospace careers through policy-focused paid internships at cutting-edge commercial space companies in the Washington, D.C. area. They will also participate in exclusive professional networking opportunities, from attending an executive speaker series to connecting with accomplished members of the space community. Ultimately, the Matthew Scholars will remain connected with each other and the 200 Alumni of the Matthew Isakowitz Fellowship Program, as they continue to excel in their academic and professional careers.
Shayna graduated from Columbia with a degree in Computer Science.She has nearly two years of experience in legal and government affairs in both the private sector and federal government, having interned with NASA, the U.S. Department of State, and the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Driven by a fascination in space and tech governance she has focused on researching and working in international policy, regulatory affairs, and technology-driven governance.
Her passion for space policy was sparked during her internship at NASA’s Office of International and Interagency Relations (OIIR), where she gained firsthand experience in space diplomacy, international collaboration, and space law. This experience inspired her to further explore the space sector, leading her to a research role in the Aerospace Security Project within the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), where she focused on cislunar commercial activities and lunar spectrum policies. Shayna later joined Astrolab as an intern on the Lunar Terrain Vehicle Services team. In this role, she contributed to projects supporting Astrolab's lunar program management and the complex web of commercial space contracts and fulfillment.
Building on her policy and industry experience, Shayna is eager to deepen her understanding of the commercial space sector. As an Isakowitz Commercial Space Scholar, she is excited to join the Commercial Space Federation this summer, where she will engage with industry leaders, advocate for space policies that support the growth of commercial space enterprises, and expand her expertise in space law, regulation, and market development.