On October 19, 2022, Utah Valley University Foreign Affairs Club President had lunch with Dean Clark of the College of Humanities and Social sciences and Mary Shurtz of SpaceX

 

Dean Steven Clark introducing Mary Shurtz

 

On October 19, 2022, Utah Valley University Foreign Affairs President had lunch with Dean Clark of the College of Humanities and Mary Shurtz of SpaceX as part of the Degrees to Anywhere Lecture Series. By invitation, a few political science students were selected to participate in a lunch with Dean Steven Clark.

Group photo of the students and faculty at the luncheon

 

Mary Shurtz is the inaugural speaker in the Degrees to Anywhere Lecture Series to be held Wednesday, October 19, 2022 – 12:00 pm - 12:50 pm, Clarke Building Rooms 510 & 511.

After nearly four years at SpaceX, Mary Shurtz returns to UVU to present this lecture series. She started at the West Coast launch facility and then moved on to a position in the ground operations for SpaceX’s Starlink program. Recently, she left SpaceX to start her television and film studio. She found that the skills she acquired in private aerospace allowed her to tackle all the confounding issues that prevent creators from achieving their goals. Mary’s BS in Political Science and her Master’s in Art History may seem contradictory. However, Mary finds inspiration in every problem-solving, whether in logistics, aesthetics, or aerospace.

A part of Mary Shurtz’s lecture that stood out to me

Three parts of Mary Shurtz’s lecture that stood out to me and inspired me were the lesson on ‘perspective,’ the lesson on ‘Do not limit yourself, and the lesson on ‘Soft Skills that are Essential. One of the main takeaways from this lunch and learn was that the liberal arts teach someone how to ask “why.” As foreign affairs president, I have genuinely noticed this, and I have noticed that the more I ask why, the more I learn and the more I am able to support my club best.

                    Stephan Atkinson, President, Foreign Affairs Club at UVU 

 

 

Link to the Utah Valley University lecture series; https://www.uvu.edu/chss/degrees_to_anywhere/mary_shurtz.html