As demand for FAA-certified drone pilots continues to grow across the United States, Steffanie Rivers, founder of and the first Black woman to launch a drone academy in Texas, has announced the National HBCU Aviation and Drone Leadership Initiative. The initiative is designed to introduce students and graduates of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) to career opportunities in aviation, drone technology, entrepreneurship, and workforce development.A graduate of Tennessee State University, Rivers credits her HBCU experience with shaping the leadership, confidence, and commitment to service that continue to drive her mission of creating opportunities for others.”As an HBCU graduate, I learned that leadership is not about waiting for opportunities,” Rivers said. “It’s about creating opportunities for yourself while helping create them for others. Tennessee State University taught me the importance of leadership, community, and believing in myself.”Commercial drone technology is transforming industries including public safety, construction, infrastructure, agriculture, logistics, emergency management, energy, real estate, and engineering. Yet Rivers believes many students—particularly Black and minority students—remain unaware of the growing career opportunities available.
