Sonia Kekeh
Massachusetts Institute of Technology | Northwood Space
Sonia is a third-year undergraduate at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology majoring in aerospace engineering and minoring in African and African Diaspora Studies. She is passionate about advancing equitable and sustainable space development and plans to pursue a career in space governance and accessibility.
Sonia is particularly interested in the intersection of aerospace engineering and public policy. She aims to leverage her technical training and policy interests to help shape responsible space governance frameworks, strengthen international collaboration, and expand equitable access to space technologies and opportunities. Her long-term goal is to contribute to a future in which the exploration and utilization of outer space benefits all of humanity.
Sonia's interest in aerospace engineering was sparked by watching Hidden Figures, where she saw her own ambition reflected in the stories of Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan, and Mary Jackson. Their legacy continues to inspire her commitment to representation and impact within the aerospace field. She hopes to serve as a similar source of inspiration for the next generation of Black women pursuing careers in STEM.
Previously, Sonia conducted research in MIT's Media Lab as a member of the Space Enabled Research Group under Dr. Danielle Wood, where she studied African space agencies and their policy frameworks. She plans to deepen her technical expertise throughout the remainder of her undergraduate career and intends to begin her professional journey in industry, working at the forefront of aerospace innovation and policy integration.