Lina Salsabila Youssfi

Lina Salsabila Youssfi’s fascination with outer space began in an August 2006 kindergarten class, when her teacher shared that Pluto had been reclassified as a dwarf planet. 

“I remember that I talked about it at home for a while, although I may not have fully understood what that meant,” she says.

Youssfi initially dreamed of becoming an astronaut. But as she learned about space exploration, she became more interested in the spacecraft that make those missions possible. 

“That’s how I knew I wanted to pursue aerospace engineering,” she says. 

Youssfi studied aerospace engineering with a concentration in aeronautics in the School for Engineering of Matter, Transport and Energy, part of the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering at Arizona State University. Despite her enthusiasm, she initially struggled with imposter syndrome and questioned whether she belonged in engineering.

One turning point came in FSE 100, when she and her team built a solar-powered car from scratch.

“Although it might not have been the prettiest car ever, it worked exactly how my team and I expected it to,” she says.

Since then, she’s been chasing the feeling and satisfaction from having an idea and making it come to life.

Through the ASU/NASA Space Grant, Youssfi worked with Assistant Professor Gokul Pathikonda to study airflow separation over porous surfaces in a wind tunnel. Her goal was to understand how to control airflow, which can help improve the performance of aircraft. Since June 2025, Youssfi has been a student satellite pilot, commanding and monitoring a satellite fleet at Viasat.

Beyond involvement in research, Youssfi made time to help create a sense of belonging for others. As president of SADIK, ASU’s Middle Eastern and North African Student Union, she built a community for students who, like her, were nervous about finding their people and fitting in when they first came to ASU.

“SADIK quickly became a home for me where I met some of my closest friends who I now call family,” she says. “Providing a safe space for students with similar backgrounds to get to know each other and feel supported throughout their college is one of my biggest achievements at ASU.”

Youssfi also volunteered with RISE Tutoring, Helping Hands and the Welcome to America Project, supporting immigrants and communities in need through tutoring and outreach.

A first-generation American and first-generation graduate, Youssfi is proud to be the first woman to earn an engineering degree in her extended family. After graduation, she will continue at ASU through the Accelerated Master’s degree program in mechanical engineering with a focus on propulsion.

“I hope to motivate students, especially first-generation Americans and international students, to reach for the skies and remember that they are more than able to do whatever they put their hearts into and dream of doing,” she says.

Favorites

Hobby: Cycling/spin
TV show: Brooklyn Nine-Nine
Activity: Collecting trinkets (sonny angels, smiskis, mofusands)
Sports: Soccer
Book: Don’t Believe Everything You Think by Joseph Nguyen

Read about other exceptional graduates of the Fulton Schools’ spring 2026 class.

Written by Roger Ndayisaba