A university can measure its history in dates, buildings, and achievements, but its real legacy is measured in people. That is what this centennial edition of Lift honors most, the Eagles who made us, and the Eagles who will carry us forward.
For 100 years, Embry-Riddle has prepared graduates to lead in aviation, aerospace, and space. Yet behind every career story is a moment that changed a student’s direction; a faculty member who challenged them, a mentor who opened a door, a classmate who pushed them higher, a staff member who made them feel supported and included.
This issue shines a spotlight on that human side of Embry-Riddle, the long-serving faculty and staff whose impact cannot be captured in a résumé, and the alumni stories that remind us how far an Embry-Riddle education travels. You’ll also see how our students continue to define the university in real time through the clubs they lead, the projects they build, and the bold goals they set for themselves.
A centennial is a milestone, but it is also a starting line. That is why we are announcing our centennial campaign, Imagine What’s Next: The Campaign for Embry-Riddle.
The next century will be shaped by forces already accelerating around us: advanced air mobility, autonomous systems, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and humanity’s continued push into space. Embry-Riddle will lead in that future the same way we always have, by preparing exceptional graduates and advancing the research that moves these industries forward.
The Imagine What’s Next campaign is a future-focused effort rooted in a simple belief: when talented students have access, support, and real opportunities to apply what they learn, they are prepared to lead. When faculty have the resources to teach, lead, and pursue discovery, they shape the future. When research and innovation are fueled by partnership, ideas move faster from the lab to the flight line, the space economy, and the systems that keep people safe.
This campaign is an open invitation to participate in shaping the next century of Embry-Riddle. Your partnership can help open doors through scholarships, expand experiential learning, strengthen faculty excellence, and accelerate the research that keeps aviation, aerospace and space advancing responsibly.
As you enjoy this special issue, I hope you feel the pride of what has come before and the momentum of what lies ahead. Thank you for being part of Embry-Riddle’s story. I invite you to join us in imagining what’s next and in your help as we build the future together.
You can learn more about the campaign by visiting next.erau.edu.
