Get to Know Genevieve (Parker) Rozzo, TFA Class of 2014
When did you graduate from TFA?
2014
Where did you attend college?
I attended college at Carnegie Mellon University where I graduated in 2018 with a B.S. and M.S. in Mechanical Engineering.
Please share any awards, academic, or professional accomplishments.
Aeon 1 Engine Test Director 2022-2023, Department of Defense SMART Scholarship, Carnegie Mellon University Mechanical Engineering Forstall Award based on academics, leadership, and contributions to the department, Carnegie Mellon University Engineering Bennet Prize for Engineering Excellence
Please share about your career, family, and hobbies.
I work for Relativity Space as a Propulsion Test Engineer. We built the world’s first fully 3D-printed rocket, Terran 1, which launched for the first time in March 2023. I work in Test Operations as an Engine Test Director, which means I prepare the engines and facility for test and operate the engine tests. Right now I’m also working on structural design and build for our newest engine test stand. I live in Slidell, Louisiana with my husband, Matt, our daughter, Mia, and our dog, Shep. My husband is a full-time student at the University of New Orleans studying Anthropology. In my spare time, I enjoy cooking, baking, being outside, and playing volleyball.
Please share about your current church home and involvement.
We attend Northshore Church in Slidell, and we also attend a small group on Wednesdays where we study the Bible more deeply in community.
How did TFA prepare you for the next steps in your life?
TFA not only invested in me as a student but also as a person. It was clear that the faculty and staff cared for me because they never hesitated to help me or talk to me during breaks or after school. Having that many supportive adults in my life made me feel secure and loved as a child and teen. I continued to seek out a Christian community in college and beyond, which helped me find community and stay strong in my faith. Now that I am a professional, I work hard every day to love and support my coworkers just as I experienced at TFA.
What teacher(s) and/or coach(s) had the most impact on your life, why/how?
Mr. Harrison had a huge impact on my life. He made math and physics cool. His classes were challenging, but also the most fun. He knew how to keep us engaged with funny comics and YouTube clips. And he always told me to “go run NASA”. His encouragement and the fun I had in his classes magnified my interest in engineering, which I eventually studied in college.
Mr. Kowars made reading and writing fun again. He freed me from the demanding structure of the 5 paragraph essay, instead guiding me to focus on quality literary analysis and deep thought. I was finally excited to write for once, and the space he gave me to process my thoughts led to some of my best, most original essays. Mr. Kowars wanted us to learn to write and read well, but more than that, I knew he wanted us to become the best versions of ourselves. He showed this by treasuring our thoughts and opinions and by engaging us in enriching experiences like guest speakers and musicians.