Earlier this year, Atlas Air launched its first formal university partnership with Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (ERAU). Through the program, Atlas Air will provide ERAU students priority access to opportunities and information and will guarantee ERAU pilots an interview for Atlas Air’s Pathway to Success Program. As a partner, Atlas Air will recruit, train and hire qualified graduates of Embry-Riddle’s Daytona Beach, Florida Aeronautical Science degree program.
(L-R) Teslim Balogun, Nigel Baynes, Manami Murphy, Leisa Snyder, Danielle Jones, Brian LaPorte, Patrick Stone and Alex Geller
“Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University is a leader in aviation education,” said Leisa Spears Snyder, Director, Workforce Development. “Our partnership will help strengthen the pipeline for a talented, diverse workforce at Atlas Air.”
Leisa and the Atlas Air team recently engaged with Embry-Riddle students through a series of events held over four days on the Daytona Beach campus.
Jeff Carlson, Senior Vice President, Flight Operations and a graduate of Embry-Riddle, was the featured speaker at the Atlas Air Partnership Announcement/Information Session. Jeff reviewed the opportunities the Pathway to Success program offered students and took questions from students afterwards.
“It’s clear to me that the future for aviation is very bright,” said Jeff. “These young students asked all the right questions. They wanted to know more about our mission, our culture, our commitment to ESG and the kind of work that we do. I took great pride in being able to speak to how Atlas cares for the world we carry, through the meaningful work we do every single day.”
“This first event really set the tone for the rest of our visit,” said Leisa. “It was exciting
(L-R) Alex Geller, Sophia Borrelli, Denise Borrelli, Leisa Snyder and Robert Scheulen
to see the non-stop interest in Atlas at each one of our events.”
Over the course of the following days, the Atlas Air ambassador team – Teslim Balogun, Line Training Scheduler, Nigel Baynes, Pilot Support Agent, Denise Borrelli, Director, Flight Crew Ops, 737 First Officer Alexander Geller, 737 First Officer Danielle A. Jones, 767 First Officer Brian A. LaPorte, FO 737 Manami S. Murphy, 767 Captain Robert Scheulen and Training Instructor and 737 First Officer Patrick H. Stone – met with flight instructors and students to discuss the opportunities at Atlas and specific next steps to take.
“The turnout each day was consistently incredible,” said Leisa. “At the end of our visit, we connected with more than 3,000 students in-person. I’m so grateful to our onsite volunteers, as well as our colleagues – Chelsea Fisch, Meghan Glynn, Jaronda Mills and Carl Pitts – who provided key support in the days leading up to the event. I’m confident this is the start of a productive and meaningful partnership with Embry-Riddle, which will help Atlas build a strong workforce.”
