Michaela Lucas

Michaela Lucas is the Co-Director of the NASA Space Grant and EPSCoR Programs for Nebraska. This NASA program is the "face of NASA" in each state. It provides funds for students and faculty to engage in NASA-related projects such as space payloads, university rocket and robotics competitions, high altitude ballooning, and more. Michaela developed the Nebraska Space Ambassador program in 2013. This elite group of Nebraska educators offers training to increase the STEM skills of other teachers. She partnered with NASA’s Kennedy Space Center (KSC) to host the first national conference for educators at KSC in 2018 and 2019. She continues this opportunity only now it is limited to Nebraska teachers.

Previously, Michaela served as a full-time aviation faculty member at the University of Nebraska at Omaha, where she taught Aviation Safety, Airport Safety & Security, Diversity in Aviation, Introduction to Aviation and Aerospace, and other courses. She served as director for a national aviation policy seminar for university students in Washington, D.C. Michaela continues to teach as an aviation adjunct instructor for UNO.

Michaela is dedicated to inspiring young women toward careers in aviation and aerospace. She was elected to the Board of Directors of Women in Aviation International in 2018 and presently serves as Secretary for the organization. She has been attending the annual conference since 1993, and sponsoring students to attend since 1995. Michaela served as Faculty Advisor for the UNO Women in Aviation Chapter from its inception in 2000 until 2022. The Chapter received the UNO Outstanding Student Organization Award in 2006, and Michaela received the UNO Outstanding Advisor Award in 2005 and 2013.

She received her undergraduate and graduate degrees from UNO, and is a licensed pilot.