Commencement Speakers

 

Vanessa E. Wyche
Acting Associate Administrator 

Vanessa E. Wyche is the acting associate administrator of NASA. She is the senior advisor to NASA acting administrator Janet Petro. In her role, Wyche leads the agency’s 10 center directors as well as the mission directorate associate administrators at NASA Headquarters in Washington. She acts as the agency’s chief operating officer for more than 18,000 employees and an annual budget of more than $25 billion. 

Previously, Wyche was the director of NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, home to America’s astronaut corps, Mission Control Center, International Space Station, Orion, and Gateway programs, and its more than 11,000 civil service and contractor employees. Her responsibilities included a broad range of human spaceflight activities, including development and operation of human spacecraft and NASA astronaut selection and training.

Wyche also oversaw NASA Johnson’s activities supporting the commercialization of low Earth orbit, supporting the agency’s needs following the transition from the International Space Station in 2030, and led the center’s programs supporting the exploration of the Moon and Mars, including surface system capabilities for human and commercial robotic missions, as well as simulated missions for crews on Mars. 

During her 35-year career, Wyche has held several other leadership roles including Johnson’s deputy center director, director of Exploration Integration and Science Directorate, flight manager of several Space Shuttle Program missions, and executive officer in the Office of the Administrator, as well as additional center-level technical and program organizations. 

A native of South Carolina, Wyche earned a Bachelor of Science in Engineering and Master of Science in Bioengineering from Clemson University and was inducted into the Thomas Green Clemson Academy of Engineers and Scientists in 2019. She received an honorary Doctor of Science degree from Coastal Carolina University in 2022 as well as an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree from Texas Southern University in 2024.

Wyche is a member of the National Academy of Engineering. She has numerous awards and recognitions, notably the Presidential Rank Award, two NASA Outstanding Leadership Medals, and two NASA Achievement Medals, and she is an AIAA Associate Fellow.

Wyche is a passionate promoter of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM), and serves as a member of American Institute of Physics Foundation board of trustees, Clemson University’s College of Engineering, Computing, and Applied Sciences advisory board, and is a past chair of the Space Center Houston board of directors.

 

Antoinette Mosley
Bachelor of Business Administration, Accounting
Marilyn Davies College of Business

Antoinette Mosley, a Houston native of Bahamian heritage, walked a winding path to graduation, the completion of which is a testament to her resilience and determination. Starting college at 16, she navigated life's complexities before returning to complete her accounting degree after the pandemic, amassing an impressive 150 credits.

During her time at UHD, she served in numerous roles in the National Association of Black Accountants (NABA), organizing events like office visits to prominent Houston accounting firms and a trip to the NABA convention in Las Vegas, fostering career connections and professional growth. She also earned many prestigious scholarships, including the Ted Bauer and Deloitte scholarships, while also making the Dean’s List an impressive four times.

In addition to her academic dedication, Mosley is a dedicated mother to her 5-year-old daughter and is the youngest of three siblings. She enjoys going to the gym, sewing, art, and anime like Hunter x Hunter. She currently holds an intern position at the global professional services firm Grant Thornton and has secured a job there that she’ll begin immediately post-graduation. Of course, she’s preparing for the CPA certification exam as well. Mosley credits her professional success to the foundational skills she learned at UHD, both in her accounting courses and from the career center.

Reflecting on her journey, Mosley feels gratitude for the support she received from faculty, friends, and family, as well as for the opportunities she’s had to help other Gators reach their goals. And how does it feel now that she’s graduating? “It feels surreal to have accomplished exactly what I set out to do.”