ERAU Department of Aviation Maintenance Science Adds Five New Female Instructors

As more women enter the Aviation Maintenance industry, demographics that have historically reflected a mostly male workforce, are changing. ERAU plans to help to diversify the industry and has just added five new female instructors to its faculty.

“Those faculty members bring an incredible wealth of knowledge to the department and our students,” said R. Eric Jones, associate professor and AMS chair. “Aviation maintenance science is different today than it was in past generations, and that is a good thing. We want our department to reflect the wide range of talent currently working in the field. We want all of our students to ‘see it so they can be it.’”

Lashonda Clarke, a newly hired assistant professor, speaks on three factors that can help diversify the workforce.

“No. 1 is exposure — women, for example, may not know that there are aviation maintenance jobs available to them,” Clarke said. “No. 2 is finances,” she said, adding that she relied on scholarships over the course of her time in school.

“And No. 3 is mentoring. Some students actually need a little push and motivation.”

Originally from the Bahamas, Clarke earned her associate’s degree at St. Petersburg College before transferring to Lewis University. She worked at Amazon when she graduated, supporting technology on drones.

“With urban air mobility on the rise, a whole new spectrum of aircraft will be coming out, and all of it will require maintenance,” Clarke said.

AMS sophomore Margaret Washington, who has a concentration in maintenance management and a minor in project management comments her experience on being a woman in the field.

“Diversity is such an incredible asset in maintenance because this field relies heavily on teamwork and collaborative troubleshooting. Part of finding productive solutions is having a range of voices and experiences contributing to the troubleshooting process,” Washington said. “To any women considering AMS, I would say don’t be hesitant to explore your options. Celebrate the variety you bring to the table.”

“I do receive the occasional jest that has something to do with me being a woman,” she continues. “But these comments are dwarfed in comparison to the overwhelming encouragement, respect and sense of community that I have been lucky enough to experience in this field.”

FMI: www.erau.edu