Madison T. Hobbs ’19

Graduate student at MIT’s AeroAstro

Education: Harvey Mudd (B.S.), Applied Dynamics; MIT, pursuing a Ph.D. in Aeronautics and Astronautics

What I’m Doing Now: I’m starting the second year of my master’s degree, and I hope to finish my Ph.D. in Aeronautics and Astronautics in four to five years. My ultimate goal is to become a professor. I’ve loved working on the industry side, at SpaceX, but I’ve always valued mentorship, which comes from some really wonderful relationships with Kent Place teachers. Becoming a professor aligns more with the life I want to live. That said, if someone asks me tomorrow if I want to travel to space, I would definitely go!

How KPS Influenced Me: From a young age, I loved space. I would watch all the Kennedy Space Center launches, but I didn’t know what I wanted to do with that interest. As a Kent Place lifer, I pursued all the STEM classes early on. Math was my favorite subject, but I also loved Latin and my humanities classes. I loved participating in the Mock Trial Team and the Black Cultural Association. Kent Place taught me that not only is it ok to have disparate passions, it makes you a better person. I minored in Classics in college, and having that other interest and skill outside of aerospace has kept me grounded, allowing me to pursue a competitive field yet stay balanced. 

Kent Place also taught me that people want to hear what I have to say. Teachers always welcomed our thoughts, so I was emboldened to propose ideas even if I didn’t know what the reaction would be. That has carried me as a Black woman in engineering. Even at MIT, there are not many Black women in aerospace or STEM programs in general, but I have the confidence to go into rooms knowing I have something of quality to share. 

My Proudest Accomplishment: Having the determination to design my own major in Applied Dynamics in college. I could have pursued a more traditional engineering or math major, but I fell in love with the theoretical aspect of math; I wanted to learn more about the mathematics behind engineering. Being willing to step into the unknown and forge my own path very much recalls my experience at Kent Place. Had I not designed my own major I would not have had the opportunity to work for two summers at SpaceX, where I analyzed the loads on the Falcon Heavy rocket and ensured that various satellites and spacecraft successfully separated from it and continued on into space. Knowing I played a small role in subsequent successful space missions felt great. 

Advice for My KPS Sisters: I have two pieces of advice: (1) Never discount the power of community, whether people in your KPS community, former teachers, classmates, or just people in your life who cheer you on. Those relationships will help you when you’re stuck, remind you of who you are, and uplift you. (2) Don't be afraid to try everything, early and often — a new hobby to ground you, or a new class, for example. In my case, that willingness to try new things really shaped the trajectory of my career.