Editor’s note: This story is part of a series of profiles of notable spring 2025 graduates.
By Gabrielle Sangervasi
For most of high school, Phoenix local Nelson planned to major in forensics. Then, one day, she decided it wasn’t for her anymore.
For her, it was the perfect opportunity to ask: If she could do anything in the world, what would she want to do?
Photo courtesy of Hailey Nelson
“Well, the answer I landed on was a bit … out of this world, per se. I decided I wanted to be an astronaut,” Nelson says.
After researching what would be needed to pursue such a specialized and competitive career Nelson decided to triple major in astrophysics, chemistry and French at Arizona State Univesity.
“My French major often throws people for a loop since it seems quite different from the other two, but it has many advantages. As we move into a scientific future full of collaboration, speaking a second language opens many doors for international work and understanding. However, the biggest reason for this major is that I just enjoy learning French,” Nelson says.
Her enthusiasm for discovery has afforded her unique and exciting experiences outside of academics as well. She was able to create an astrophysics curriculum and teach it to students in Guanajuato, Mexico. She has traveled to multiple countries and taught French at a local middle school for two years.
One of her most notable experiences though had to do with sharing her love for space.
Through her work as both a docent for the Arizona Science Center in downtown Phoenix and her position as the arts, exhibits and archiving intern for the Psyche Student Collaborations program, Nelson helped bring an extensive Psyche-inspired exhibit to the center. The exhibit is currently on public display at the Arizona Science Center for the next few months.
“She handled everything,” Cassie Bowman, School of Earth and Space Exploration associate research professor and co-investigator on the ASU-led NASA Psyche mission, “from helping identify pieces, to advising on exhibit layout, to making sure they had the needed information about the artwork and the mission.”
And all of Nelson’s hard work in and outside of the classroom has not gone unnoticed. During her time at ASU Nelson received multiple scholarships and awards for her work across disciplines, including the Royal Society of Chemistry Certificate of Undergraduate Excellence, nominated by the ASU School of Molecular Sciences; Barrett, The Honors College’s Mensch Prize for Physical Sciences; and the School of Earth and Space Exploration’s Karin Valentine Science Communication Award, named for the late Valentine, media relations and marketing manager for the school.
“This award (the Karin Valentine award) was an incredibly special moment to me, as I was able to honor Karin Valentine’s memory through my work in science communication and outreach between my work with the Arizona Science Center, NASA’s Mission to Psyche and my honors thesis,” Nelson says.
After graduating in May, she will start her next adventure toward becoming an astronaut this fall as a doctoral student in astrophysics at ASU.
Here she shares more about her college journey.
Question: Why did you choose ASU?
Answer: I never expected to stay in Arizona for university, as after 16 years in Arizona, I had grown tired of the hot summers. However, when offered the incredible opportunities that I have been afforded at ASU, attending has easily been one of the best decisions of my life.
During my time here, I have worked for two NASA missions, met many influential and prominent scientists and academics who have made a lasting impact on my life, and had an environment that let me fully explore the world through my academics and person. The opportunity to complete my thesis as I did is something that I would not have been able to do anywhere else, and it was the most rewarding thing I have ever done.
I am incredibly excited to be continuing my time here at ASU through my PhD in astrophysics with the School of Earth and Space Exploration beginning in the fall of 2025.
Q: What’s something you learned while at ASU — in the classroom or otherwise — that surprised you or changed your perspective?
A: The most impactful thing I have learned here is that even as a young person, I can make a bigger difference than I expected. For example, on the last day of my honors thesis in-person experience, teaching about astrophysics to high school and college students in Guanajuato, Mexico, one of my students asked me to sign his Stephen Hawking book. Reflecting on this meaningful moment, I felt both humbled and inspired that as a 20-year-old undergraduate student, my own passions in astrophysics resonated with others through teaching. This is something that I will remember for the rest of my life.
Q: Which professor taught you the most important lesson while at ASU?
A: Dr. Cassie Bowman has shown me that it is possible to pursue research and also the relationship between science and art. One of my biggest passions is science communication and museum science, specifically exhibit development and sharing science in a way that is understandable for everyone.
Dr. Bowman hired me at NASA’s Mission to Psyche as an archivist, exhibit curator and event coordinator. Through my work here, I have had the opportunity to truly explore the world of curation through experience, developing my own exhibits and curating pieces for museums across the United States. Her support and trust in me to develop these on my own has allowed me to significantly develop my new skill sets and to make connections with many inspiring scientists and renowned museums. Realizing that it is possible to exist in both worlds, as a researcher and a curator, has been something that I am truly grateful for and has helped me recognize that I would like my future to include these joint endeavors.
Q: Would you encourage other students to pursue multiple degrees? How did it impact your workload?
A: Pursuing three degrees, or any multiple, is never going to be easy. However, I would encourage it to anyone who is interested. It requires you to learn time management, stress management, how to plan a schedule for yourself and how to make sure you have a work-life balance. These skills are required for later in life, and understanding personal boundaries when in a forgiving environment is something that is really important.
Q: After you complete your PhD, what do you hope to pursue as a career?
A: After I complete my PhD, I plan to pursue becoming an astronaut through the academia route. I aim to become a professor, completing research that furthers our knowledge of the universe while continuing my work in outreach and science communication. For example, I would love to work with Columbia University and the American Museum of Natural History through their respective partnership.
Moreover, I would love to become a full-time traveler and continue on my journey of seeing everything that Earth has to offer. Traveling is one of my biggest passions, and is how I spend any free time that I have. I am incredibly excited to be going to my 31st country this year, and have learned so much about other people, cultures and myself during the past few years of backpacking adventures.
Q: What’s the best piece of advice you’d give to those still in school?
A: Try everything. This is the best time in your life to put yourself out there and learn as much as you can. ASU is an incredibly diverse place, and there are more opportunities than you could ever dream of; you just have to go find them. School, like life, is what you make of it, so make the most of it.
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