AIAA Publications Committee Chair Jacqueline O’Connor, an Associate Fellow, received the Aerospace Educator Award, Higher Education from Women in Aerospace (WIA) on 11 December at the 40th annual WIA Awards Dinner. O’Connor, a professor of mechanical engineering and Associate Head for Faculty at Penn State University, was recognized for distinguishing herself as a remarkable teacher, mentor, and role model.
O’Connor has held several leadership roles within the Penn State’s College of Engineering. She is the founding director of the Center for Gas Turbine Research Education and Outreach and leads the Reacting Flow Dynamics Laboratory. She was named associate director of the Penn State Climate Consortium, a university-wide initiative that fosters interdisciplinary solutions to challenges arising from climate change, in 2024 and was most recently named the acting director for the 2025-2026 academic year. In her work with AIAA, O’Connor is also an associate editor of the AIAA Journal, and is a member of the AIAA Aerospace Artificial Intelligence (AI) Advisory Group.
AIAA celebrates the well-deserved recognition of her exceptional work in aerospace education and mentorship.
