Finding Her Path in Engineering

For Faith Lee, finding her place in engineering has not been about following one straight path. Instead, her journey has been about exploring new opportunities, being willing to change direction and discovering what truly excites her.

Growing up in Houston, Texas, Lee was surrounded by aviation and space. With NASA’s Mission Control and George Bush Intercontinental Airport nearby, aerospace was always a familiar part of her world. That early exposure eventually led her to Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, where she began exploring what she wanted her own place in the industry to look like.

When Lee first arrived at Embry-Riddle, she planned to study aeronautical science and pursue her private pilot’s license. However, she soon realized that her passion was not necessarily in the cockpit. While working on a class project that involved building a miniature glider, Lee discovered a different side of aviation that caught her attention: engineering.

That experience encouraged her to make a change and pursue aerospace engineering. Her journey did not stop there. Lee also explored civil engineering, giving her the opportunity to learn about another side of the engineering field and further understand where her interests and strengths fit best.

For Lee, changing programs was not a setback. It was part of figuring out what she was passionate about. Her journey has since become an example for other students who may find themselves questioning whether the path they started on is really the right one.

Her engineering experience has extended well beyond the classroom. Lee completed an internship with Spirit AeroSystems and later earned a co-op opportunity with Delta Air Lines as a liaison engineer in Tech Ops. These experiences gave her the chance to see how engineering principles are applied in the aviation industry and how engineers contribute to the systems and operations that keep aviation moving.

But Lee’s impact at Embry-Riddle goes beyond her own career.

As the current president of the Society of Women Engineers, Lee has become a leader within the university’s engineering community. Through SWE, she helps create opportunities for students to connect with professionals, explore engineering careers, and build relationships with others who share their interests.

Her leadership has also made her an inspiration to students who may not have everything figured out yet.

Lee’s own experience shows that students do not have to be afraid to switch programs, explore a different field, or admit that something they once wanted is no longer their passion. Sometimes, finding the right career means being willing to take a step in a new direction.

That willingness to explore is something Lee encourages in the students around her. Get involved, talk to people, and try something new. Take the opportunity to go somewhere or meet someone you normally would not, because you never know which experience might introduce you to something you are passionate about.

From Houston to Embry-Riddle and from the classroom to the aviation industry, Lee has continued to follow that mindset. Her path has taken her through aerospace and civil engineering, industry experience and student leadership, but perhaps her greatest impact has been showing other students that it is okay not to have everything figured out.

Sometimes, finding your passion starts with simply being willing to look somewhere new.