University of Advancing Technology's Official Technology Blog

As University of Advancing Technology’s (UAT) Class of 2025 prepared to close one chapter and step boldly into the next, they were introduced to someone who has done just that—on a cosmic scale. Kellie Gerardi, researcher, astronaut, and mother who became only the 90th woman in history to travel to space, was awarded an Honorary Doctorate from UAT—not just in recognition of her achievements, but as a symbol of what’s possible when determination meets opportunity. 

Chancellor Valerie Cimarossa introduced Gerardi as someone who “pushes boundaries not just for herself, but for all of humanity.” She noted that Kellie's ability to share her authentic self through social media has helped make space exploration “visible, relatable, and exciting” to millions of people.

In 2023, Gerardi flew as a payload specialist on Virgin Galactic’s Galactic 05 mission, conducting experiments in biomedical science and fluid dynamics. One of the payloads she carried had been decades in development—once compromised during a shuttle flight and then lost in a rocket explosion—until she successfully executed the test in space herself.

She also helped redefine who belongs in space by wearing a continuous glucose monitor (CGM) during her mission. The moment was groundbreaking for children with type 1 diabetes—who had often been told they could do anything in life except become an astronaut.

Despite years of preparation, nothing could fully prepare her for the profound emotional experience of seeing Earth from space.

“Looking down and knowing every human being—past and present—was on that beautiful blue marble below... and realizing I wasn’t on the same planet as my baby… It was intensely emotional and beautiful.”

It was a moment of clarity, connection, and awe—one she’s still processing, and one that has shaped the way she speaks about space as not just a destination, but a deeply human experience. That impact—both technical and emotional—is exactly what earned her a place among USA TODAY’s 2025 Women of the Year.

Standing on the commencement stage, Gerardi reflected not just on her own journey, but on the mindset that got her there.

“It’s easy to believe that success falls on extraordinary people,” she said. “But the reality is that ordinary people make themselves capable of extraordinary things.”

She urged graduates to leave UAT in “Why-Not-Me Mode”—ready to take bold risks, question limitations, and reimagine what’s possible. As Kellie Gerardi prepares for future research missions and continues to inspire the next generation of explorers, her honorary doctorate is not a conclusion—it’s another launch.

“Thank you for welcoming me into your community. It’s an immense honor.”

For a woman who turned barriers into breakthroughs, her parting words now belong to every graduate stepping into uncertainty: Why not you?

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