The Team

SEDS-USA Leadership

Sara Alvarado

Executive Director

SEDS USA

Audrey Scott

Chair

Board of Directors

Barrett S. Caldwell

Chair

Board of Advisors

Owen Marr

Chair

Young Professionals Board

Board of Directors
Staff
Board of Advisors
Young Professional Advisory Board

Our student board sets the direction for the organization, with a strong emphasis on tackling what matters to our members.

Audrey Scott, Chair: University of Chicago

Audrey Scott is a third-year student at the University of Chicago studying astrophysics. An aspiring polymath with a planned double major in anthropology and a professional past in art and communications, she aims to promote the space industry as an interdisciplinary field for everyone. When not studying, she enjoys reading sci-fi and expanding her ever-growing comic collection.

Raul Mariani, Vice-Chair: Case Western

Raul Mariani is a third-year student currently working on a Co-Op at a landing gear company. Pursuing a double major in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Raul hopes to work in the aerospace industry after graduation. Raul was the founder of the SEDS chapter at Case Western Reserve University and currently continues to work on the executive board as treasurer. Super excited for the opportunity given to him, Raul is thrilled to be able to work with SEDSUSA and its board of directors and hopes to make it better for all its members.

Nathan Drzadinski, Secretary: Purdue

Nathan is a second-year Electrical Engineering student at Purdue University with a minor in Theatre Production and Design. Over the last year, he has enjoyed leading the Command and Data Handling team of Purdue Space Program’s Satellite team. He is over the moon to be on the Board of Directors this year and hopes to help create a positive impact. When not doing schoolwork or exploring his passion for space, Nathan loves to go on outdoor adventures.

Griffin Hentzen, Chair of the Council of Chapters: Purdue University

Griffin Hentzen is a third-year Mechanical Engineering student currently on Co-Op at Sierra Space. At Purdue, he has been the Chief Engineer of Purdue Space Program’s CubeSat team for the past four semesters, where he has guided the design of their 3U CubeSat. On the Board, Griffin hopes to spend this year connecting SEDS more with each of its chapters and looks forward to seeing SEDS grow at a chapter and national level. Outside of his involvement with space, Griffin likes to read sci-fi, enjoy the outdoors, and explore new cheese varieties.

Rohan Gupta, Treasurer: University of Chicago

Rohan is a third-year student studying physics, astrophysics, and computer science at the University of Chicago. As a member of the SEDS chapter at the University of Chicago, he helped organize SpaceVision 2022, hosted at the University of Chicago and can’t wait to work more with SEDS-USA on projects at a national level. Outside of studying, he is an avid boxer, and also loves flying, currently holding a Private Pilot’s License.

Andres Permuy, Member at Large: Georgetown University

Andres Permuy is a fourth-year Physics Major and Math minor at Georgetown University. His current goal is to work as an Orbital Roboticist to utilize automation in the space industry for extraterrestrial exploration and orbital debris mitigation. Currently, Andres leads the Georgetown University Space Initiative (GUSI) as the Co-President and conducts robotics research at the Communication, Culture, and Technology masters program at Georgetown University.

Theodore Courtois, Member at Large

Theodore Courtois is a Mechanical Engineering student in the Texas A&M Engineering Academy and is currently dual enrolled at both Texas A&M and Austin Community College. Theodore is the founding President of SEDS at ACC and has helped the new chapter develop a robust rocketry program where he is currently the Recovery Team Lead. Theodore plans to work with the SEDS-USA Board of Directors to expand access to SEDS to community college students across the nation. Beyond his passion for space, Theodore enjoys 3D printing and building custom electronics.”

Meet the team of students and young professionals that make the SEDS mission happen.

Sara Alvarado

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

University of Central Florida

Sunny Narayanan

Multidisciplinary Education

NASA Post-Doc Fellow

Florida State University

Christopher Rehberg

WEBMASTER

Aerospace Engineer
Dynetics

Jay Kamdar

DIRECTOR OF PROJECTS

Aerospace Masters Missouri Institute of Science and Technology

Volunteers

Volunteer positions support staff in projects to push initiatives along. Volunteer positions generally last one semester and are a great first step into obtaining experience within a national non-profit.