KENNESAW, Ga. | Dec 18, 2024

From a young age, Cindy Bishop-Aguilar was captivated by the night sky, spending hours with her grandfather and watching the stars. It was this early fascination with space that would ultimately lead her to Kennesaw State University, where she pursued an engineering degree.

At KSU’s Southern Polytechnic College of Engineering and Engineering Technology, she charted her course in mechanical engineering with a minor in aerospace engineering, driven by her desire to develop a well-rounded skill set and pursue a career in space exploration. Bishop-Aguilar recently earned her bachelor’s degree during KSU’s Commencement exercises, launching the next chapter in her life.

A graduate of nearby North Cobb High School, Bishop-Aguilar said her senior design project gave her substantial experience in the aerospace field, particularly via her team’s participation in Aerospace Corporation’s In-Space Servicing, Assembly, and Manufacturing (ISAM) Design Challenge. The project required students to develop a manufacturing method for satellites that could function in the extreme conditions of space. She and her team developed a space-based laser cutting concept capable of fitting inside a Venus-class spacecraft bus.

Bishop-Aguilar’s team earned a second-place finish for their efforts, a significant achievement given the intense design constraints.

“I’m really proud of the team and the work we did,” she said. “We only had one semester for this aerospace project, whereas my mechanical engineering senior design project had two semesters. Seeing all our hard work pay off and getting recognition from both our professor and our industry mentor was incredible.”

In addition to her engineering achievements, Bishop-Aguilar has also explored the ethical side of engineering. During her last semester at KSU, she researched the controversial Titan submersible disaster in her Engineering Ethics class. The incident, which saw the implosion of a submersible exploring the Titanic wreck, raised significant questions about engineering responsibilities in high-risk industries.

“We were able to access court documents, emails, and data that had just been released to the public,” Bishop-Aguilar said. “It was a unique opportunity to dive deep into the ethical aspects of the case.”

Bishop-Aguilar credits much of her success to the mentorship she’s received from KSU professors, particularly part-time assistant professor Vijay Goyal.

“Cindy consistently ranked in the top 1% of my classes, delivering high-quality work on time and demonstrating a strong ability to learn independently,” Goyal said. “Having taught her in several classes, I can confidently say she tackles any challenge and excels beyond expectations.”

Outside of engineering, Bishop-Aguilar has honed her leadership and organizational skills through her work in event management. For three years, she served as the student lead at KSU’s Fifth Third Stadium Box Office, managing ticket distributions for high-profile events, including concerts and graduations.

Her commitment to networking and building relationships was further sharpened by shadowing the CEO and president of the International Association of Venue Managers.

Looking ahead, Bishop-Aguilar plans to return to KSU in the fall to pursue a Master of Business Administration (MBA) with a concentration in Organizational Entrepreneurship and Innovation.

“I want to combine my engineering background with business skills to bring innovative solutions to the industry,” she said. “There are so many possibilities in both fields, and I’m excited to see how they can intersect.”

– Story by Raynard Churchwell

A leader in innovative teaching and learning, Kennesaw State University offers undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees to its more than 47,000 students. Kennesaw State is a member of the University System of Georgia with 11 academic colleges. The university’s vibrant campus culture, diverse population, strong global ties and entrepreneurial spirit draw students from throughout the country and the world. Kennesaw State is a Carnegie-designated doctoral research institution (R2), placing it among an elite group of only 7 percent of U.S. colleges and universities with an R1 or R2 status. For more information, visit kennesaw.edu.