Izzy Allen

I'm deeply passionate about making science accessible to people of all levels. I'm a firm believer that to know your subject the best, you have to be able to communicate to different audiences effectively. Being able to bridge that gap, especially showing kids who love sports that you can do both, has always been a key passion of mine and part of the reason why I pursued a STEM degree in the first place. Specifically one that people always categorize as overly hard, even though that may not always be the case. It's always doable, even if it is hard. Working at the Virginia Air and Space Science Center has opened so many opportunities for me on how to better communicate with youth, especially piquing people's interest in science, engineering, and STEM. I can bridge those gaps and help destigmatize things like math, which is a common issue, especially with younger people. And this is someone who didn't get an A in math until Calculus 3. I'm always trying to make sure that I reach those people, because if it's not now, then it's not yet. My time at Virginia Union has given me the most industry opportunities and internships, and I'm extremely grateful for that. It has helped shape my ambition for bigger things.