Mary Meeker

Flying in a small aircraft for the first time did more than introduce Mary Meeker to flying. It helped set the course for a career in aviation that has spanned more than two decades.

Meeker joins The Polytechnic School, part of the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering at Arizona State University, as an assistant teaching professor in the aviation program. She brings 23 years of experience as a commercial airline pilot and 10 years of teaching experience as a faculty associate at ASU. She earned a master’s degree in aviation and aerospace management from Purdue University in 2020.

Her lifelong love of travel initially sparked her interest in aviation, but it was that first flight in a small aircraft while studying at ASU that transformed it into a career goal.

“The flight was so much fun and filled me with excitement to keep flying,” Meeker says. “I instantly knew aviation was the right career path for me.”

Now, Meeker returns to the program as a full-time faculty member with expertise in airline operations and professional flight. She says the opportunity to give back to the program and inspire future aviators attracted her to the position.

As aviation technology evolves, Meeker wants to explore how those changes will shape the industry and how the aviation program can incorporate emerging technology. In her classes and mentorship, she hopes students develop both a joy for aviation and confidence in their knowledge and abilities.

Building a solid foundation is the Fulton Schools core value that resonates with her.

“Students in this program tend to progress at different rates,” she says. “I truly believe that giving students a solid foundation in aviation will help them thrive throughout their careers.”

Meeker’s years in the flight deck also shape what she brings to students. She takes pride in helping safely transport all of the passengers she’s encountered during her 23 years as an airline pilot. Whether they were traveling for vacations, weddings, graduations or family reunions, she values the role aviation plays in helping people maintain meaningful connections.

Outside aviation and teaching, Meeker enjoys spending time with her family, traveling, hiking and taking rides in her side-by-side, off-road vehicle.

Written by Joy Gaeraths