When Chloe M. Amoroso walked across the stage as valedictorian of the Cleveland State University with a 4.0 GPA. She majored in Mechanical Engineering in the Washkewicz College of Engineering. It marked not just the culmination of years of academic rigor, but the fulfillment of a bold pivot - one fueled by curiosity, grit, and a dream to reach the stars. 

Originally an art major with a talent for expression and a mind for math, Chloe made the rare and radical decision to switch disciplines entirely. 

“I missed the grit and critical thinking that came with solving physics problems and complex math equations,” she says. “Weird, I know!” But that longing for challenge and change, led her to mechanical engineering, and ultimately to a clear goal: to become a mission specialist. “If I were to continue going to college,” she recalls, “I needed to shoot for a goal so challenging and wild that even if I failed, I could look back with no regrets and know I gave it everything.” 

That same sense of purpose brought her back home to Cleveland. “I was born and raised here. It’s full of opportunity and home to the people I care about most,” Chloe says. It didn’t hurt that NASA Glenn Research Center was just around the corner. When she transferred to CSU to pursue mechanical engineering, she believed she was right where she was meant to be. 

And she was right. 

Now a summer intern at NASA Glenn Research Center, Chloe is also beginning her master’s degree while continuing her role into the fall. Her aspirations are as stellar as they are grounded: she hopes to one day earn a full-time role at NASA Glenn Research Center, gain years of professional experience, and eventually apply to the astronaut candidacy program. 

Getting here, though, was no easy launch. Chloe navigated common student challenges like heavy course loads, financial pressures, and the search for meaningful direction. Her solution was strategic: she secured on-campus employment to help with expenses and streamline her schedule. “Finding a path for after college was not easy,” she notes. “But networking at events and expressing my concerns to trusted mentors helped me make informed decisions.” 

Those decisions led her to opportunities she once only dreamed about—like the Ohio Space Grant Consortium (OSGC) master’s fellowship and her role at NASA. But perhaps her most transformative experience was co-leading the CSU student organization Sisters in STEM. Together, the group organized STEM-tastic Explorer’s Day, a major outreach event for girls in grades 1–8. “We showed ourselves we can make a difference in other people’s lives through education and outreach,” Chloe says. “That was once a responsibility I left to others. Now, my perspective has changed.” 

She credits much of her growth to two CSU mentors: Dr. Maryam Younessi-Sinaki and Dr. Brian Davis. “Dr. Younessi introduced me to Sisters in STEM and helped me publish my first conference paper. Dr. Davis helped me believe in myself as a researcher and a leader.” Their influence helped transform Chloe from a student navigating new terrain into a confident, capable engineer. 

Throughout her CSU experience, Chloe found balance in the friendships she built—especially those forged through late-night study sessions and shared deadlines. “We had a healthy balance of competition and genuine support,” she recalls. That support helped keep her motivated through even the most rigorous semesters. Chloe was also Triple Jumper on the Track and Field team and was part of the Senior Design Capstone team: NFPA Fluid Power Vehicle Challenge. 

To incoming students, Chloe offers this advice: “Get involved. Talk to people. Shake hands. Maintain a positive attitude. Everything I was able to do came from networking and not being afraid to ask for what I wanted to achieve.” 

For Chloe, being named University Valedictorian is more than a title; it’s a reflection of her commitment to excellence, to service, and to going after the “wild goals” that shape who we become. “It shows me that I truly channeled all my efforts toward being the best student I could be at the time,” she says. “No regrets. No excuses. Just all my effort.” 

As she steps into the next phase of her journey, closer to becoming a mission specialist, and even an astronaut, Chloe Amoroso remains grounded in her values and dedicated to uplifting others. 

Follow Chloe’s continued journey on LinkedIn and revisit her inspiring commencement speech as a lasting reminder of where passion, purpose, and persistence can lead.