JPL Director Delivers Keynote Address for Caltech Y

At its largest event in seven years, the Caltech Y welcomed JPL director and Caltech alumna
Laurie Leshin to its Friends Dinner on February 28 at the Athenaeum. The quarterly event offers
an opportunity for Caltech Y donors to meet student members and learn from some of the top
minds in science and engineering.
At the dinner, Leshin shared some of JPL’s upcoming missions, which seek to reveal new
knowledge about our planet, our galaxy, and the universe. Within the next few years, JPL will
work with the European Space Agency to retrieve samples from Mars and bring them to Earth.
The lab will also launch a new satellite to observe extreme natural disasters such as
earthquakes, tsunamis, and landslides, among many other programs and missions.
“It is exciting to hear the great work JPL is planning as part of its study of the universe,” said
David Martinez, senior relationship manager, TIAA. “Dr. Leshin’s passion and dedication for her
work and space exploration is electrifying.”
As the first woman appointed to lead JPL, Leshin also discussed her career and acknowledged
the mentors who supported her. Leshin’s ability to be a trailblazer in the lab and in the executive
office serves as an example for Caltech students and complements the mission of the Caltech
Y.
“For many of Caltech students, it is not a question of whether they will take on the mantle of
leadership, but in what ways and what type of leader will they be,” said Athena Castro, Caltech
Y executive director. “The Caltech Y at its core is about providing opportunities for students to
develop and practice those leadership skills, to gain perspective that will allow them to be the
very best leader they can be, to develop a moral and ethical compass, to influence change, and
to make a positive difference in the world.”
Over the years, Albert Kyi, a Caltech senior and president of the Caltech Y student executive
committee, has seen his fellow students take the lead to organize trips, book speakers, and find
new ways to give back to their community.
“While our amazing staff play an important role in helping us get events done, it is the students
who ultimately shape and drive the Caltech Y,” Kyi said. “As a result, the events and programs
we put on help target needs that we the students see in our community.”
Several organizations generously supported the event through table sponsorships, including
The Aerospace Corporation, Honeybee Robotics, Keck Institute for Space Studies, Mandala

Space Ventures, and Off World. Valet parking was underwritten by Enterprise Financial
Holdings.
Established in 1916, the Caltech Y is an independent nonprofit affiliated with Caltech that
empowers students to become responsible citizens of the world. Gifts of all sizes support one of
our five pillars—leadership, service, civic engagement, adventure, and perspective. For
instance, Caltech Y students tutor local middle and high school students through the Rise
program and travel to Washington D.C., to dialogue with elected officials and policymakers.
With its Advocating Change Together award, the Caltech Y provides funds to select students
who want to take a deep dive into a local, national, or global issue that is important to them.
To learn more about the Caltech Y, please visit caltechy.org or follow us on social media,
@CaltechY on Instagram and Facebook, and @Caltech-Y on LinkedIn.