For EE Junior Amehja Williams, it all started with a dream of conducting Artic-based research.
As an aspiring astronaut with her sights set on crewing the first expedition to Mars, Williams applied to the NASA-Partner Eclipse Ambassador Program, facilitated by the Astronomical Society of the Pacific (ASP), in 2024.
Designed to prepare 500 communities for the back-to-back 2023 and 2024 solar eclipses, 700 college students and other enthusiasts reached 200,000 people in 47 states and 3 territories. The program culminated in the inaugural NASA-funded Heliophysics Winter Field School in Fairbanks, Alaska (January 4-11, 2025). There, nine undergraduate eclipse ambassadors—selected from a competitive applicant pool of 75—received an introduction to space physics graduate studies through guest lectures from subject matter experts at the University of Alaska – Fairbanks: Geophysical Institute. Immersed in topics such as electromagnetism, observation of the aurora, data analysis, and instrumentation, participants plunged into the depths of solar science. Students collected hands-on citizen science space weather data and presented an original final “epiphany” essay reflecting on their life-changing experiences.
Throughout the week, they viewed the Aurora through an all-sky camera, collecting data through mobile magnetometers, which allowed them to compare data with one another at a later time, Williams explained. They also had the opportunity to tour Poker Flats Research Range, a sounding rocket launch site which NASA uses for some of its groundbreaking projects. Beyond the fieldwork, Williams was amazed by the vast wilderness-that and the moose!—and the snow!
“It was just so amazing, the way [the landscape] expanded. But the most amazing thing,” Williams continued, “was the people I was working with […] there weren’t many restaurants, so we all cooked together, and that was such a bonding experience. It was fun, and we learned so many things from each other.”
For Williams, she was impressed by the “powerful” Harissa sauce used to flavor a Moroccan Stew (the classic grilled cheese were a hit too). These community experiences were elevated through the indigenous Alaskan perspectives students were honored to explore during the field school.
Williams credits Chanda Jefferson, the Director of Community and Outreach at the Cora Ingrum Center, with her success as an Eclipse Ambassador.
“Ms. Jefferson is an amazing mentor,” Williams said. “I would not have made it this far without her guidance. She taught me so much about the logistics behind coordinating with local schools.”
Williams’ comments refer to her work at Mary McLeod Bethune School, a local Philadelphia K-8 school. In this capacity, Williams reached over 345 students in her endeavor to educate local youth on the eclipse. As such, Williams worked with students on activities such as moon phases with Oreos, NASA straw rockets, and eclipse masks painting—complete with eclipse safety glasses. Many more activities, such as Lego Sailboat racing, garnered significant excitement. Powered by a fan to push the boats forward, the students competed eagerly. “It celebrated the science behind motion and racing,” Williams said. She had the chance to further connect with students through these activities at the 2025 Annual Penn STEM Field Day on-campus event as well.
Ms. Jefferson’s excellent guidance and experienced perspectives were instrumental in the success of these events, in addition to the multitude of volunteers from organizations like NSBE, SHPE, AWE, Wharton Aerospace, Penn Aerospace, and Heights Philadelphia. Jefferson’s powerful teamwork skills and steadfast commitment to empowering student leaders like Amehja Williams cultivated a unique and unforgettable community experience for the April 2025 solar eclipse. Williams feels truly privileged for the opportunity to work with and learn from such an outstanding and dedicated community leader like Ms. Jefferson.
While the Eclipse Ambassadors program is no longer currently recruiting, like Williams, the community continues its commitment to service and science communication. As part of the Winter Field School program, Williams plans to take what she learned about Heliophysics—or the study of how the Sun influences space, the planets, and technology through its steady outpouring of solar wind, which carries the Sun’s magnetic field–to the local community. She is currently co-planning, in collaboration with two of her fellow Winter Field School teammates, a heliophysics education event at the Liberty Science Center in New Jersey. Their joint presentation will expound upon the thrilling complexities of heliophysics for a family-friendly audience during the October 2025 Community Night.
Enrolled in the ESE accelerated master’s program, Williams loves the flexibility of the EE program. One day she’s in the Singh Center’s clean room fabricating graphene transistors and the next day she’s studying wave polarization and electromagnetics. Then the week after she’s designing a PCB or debugging her microcontroller. Outside of school, Williams loves both reading and writing poetry. In addition, she performs as a vocalist in the Penn Jazz Ensembles, which recently culminated in the semesterly concert, free and open to the public, in Fisher-Bennett Hall.
Read More: