For Alabama A&M University alumna Tiarra Smith, the path to space exploration began long before she stepped onto campus. A native of Montgomery, Alabama, Smith always knew two things about her future. “I knew growing up that I wanted to work in space exploration, and I also knew I wanted to attend an HBCU,” said Smith. “Alabama A&M is a well-respected HBCU located in the heart of space exploration, so the choice was very clear.”

2026-01-05T12:00:00-08:00Tiarra Smith smiles at camera/_images/tiarrasmitheditfinal.jpgSmith Turns Mentorship and Internships into Software Engineering Role SmithTurns Mentorship and Internships into Software Engineering Role https://www.aamu.edu/about/inside-aamu/news/smith-turns-mentorship-and-internships-into-software-engineering-role.html