Diego Rodriguez credits education, hard work for creating opportunities of a lifetime
2014-09-29
For Hispanic Heritage Month, Johnson Space Center is honoring a few employees whose character and culture have helped shape them into the people they are today.
At just 8, Diego Rodriguez was rolling up his sleeves to pick fruit and vegetables in his native Argentina to help his missionary parents support their five children.
Three years ago, he brought that same work ethic to Johnson Space Center's Office of Education, where he serves as the Internships, Fellowships and Scholarships manager, annually introducing dozens of college and a few high school students from across the country to NASA's programs.
"They don't come here to make coffee or copies,” Rodriguez said. “They come to work alongside the NASA staff. It would be easy to bring them here, say hello, give them an orientation and, in the end, say goodbye. But we don't do that. If we put them in the spacesuit lab, they work alongside our engineers to develop the next spacesuit. They really want to help NASA make it to Mars.”
He and Education Office Coordinator Missy Matthias are responsible for placing 30 interns in positions throughout JSC each fall and spring semester, as well as 120 each summer.
“I have an amazing job because I get to find the future workforce for NASA,” Rodriguez said. “We pick the best. We tell them it’s time to shine, show all of your skills, do a great job … so that when the decision is made, you will be considered for a future job. As NASA employees retire, we have a great pool of interns available to be considered for those slots, and it’s a win-win for NASA and the students.”
Many interns are pipelined to the JSC Pathways (co-op) program, and eventually find positions with NASA contractors.
In late October, Rodriguez departs for an extended temporary assignment with NASA’s Space Technology Mission Directorate in Washington, working in the Communication and Outreach Office, thanks to a connection forged over the summer at the National Council of La Raza’s annual STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) outreach conference in Los Angeles.
Prior to his departure, Rodriguez was honored during Hispanic Heritage Month.
As the first in his family to earn a college degree and subsequently master’s degrees in business and education, Rodriguez knows the value of education and hard work. It’s a message he stresses when he speaks before high school, college and job-fair audiences.
“I do have a passion for students and providing them with an opportunity, no matter where they come from, but especially the Hispanic and Latino students,” Rodriguez said. “I talk about getting an education. I use myself as an example, because I did not grow up with parents who went to college. Once you get degree, no one can take that away from you.”
Without formal educations, his father and mother turned to construction and house work, moving often to finance their missionary work. As their oldest son, Rodriguez labored as well, though he never lost sight of his mother’s wish that he graduate from college. The opportunity came through a friendship with a U.S. missionary family that brought him to Iowa to complete high school and attend college on academic and athletic scholarships.
In his small home town of Choele Choel, Rodriguez excelled at soccer, so much so that he played center midfielder on an Argentine national youth team. His play would further his educational aspirations.
“I had a good college career, but that was not why I went to college,” Rodriguez said. “I used soccer to pay for my college education. There was no other way I could pay for it.”
From Iowa, he and his wife, Erika, a speech pathologist, moved on to Milwaukee, where he earned his graduate degrees and then managed academic support programs for Marquette and the university’s School of Dentistry. His skills were just what the Office of Education at JSC was looking for when he applied for the coordinator position with the Internships, Fellowships and Scholarships program. He advanced to manager two years ago.
Still in Argentina, his parents and siblings are never far from his mind. Rodriguez’s earnings helped his sister and a younger brother graduate from college. Two younger brothers are pursuing their degrees with his financial assistance as well.
“They are on track to finish,” Rodriguez said. “I told them they don’t have a choice.”
He still plays soccer, bicycles and runs for recreation. Before starting his Washington assignment with NASA, Rodriguez plans to visit his family in Argentina and compete in a marathon.
His mother, Maria, is training to join him in the race—her first.
Mark Carreau
NASA Johnson Space Center
At just 8, Diego Rodriguez was rolling up his sleeves to pick fruit and vegetables in his native Argentina to help his missionary parents support their five children.
Three years ago, he brought that same work ethic to Johnson Space Center's Office of Education, where he serves as the Internships, Fellowships and Scholarships manager, annually introducing dozens of college and a few high school students from across the country to NASA's programs.
"They don't come here to make coffee or copies,” Rodriguez said. “They come to work alongside the NASA staff. It would be easy to bring them here, say hello, give them an orientation and, in the end, say goodbye. But we don't do that. If we put them in the spacesuit lab, they work alongside our engineers to develop the next spacesuit. They really want to help NASA make it to Mars.”
He and Education Office Coordinator Missy Matthias are responsible for placing 30 interns in positions throughout JSC each fall and spring semester, as well as 120 each summer.
“I have an amazing job because I get to find the future workforce for NASA,” Rodriguez said. “We pick the best. We tell them it’s time to shine, show all of your skills, do a great job … so that when the decision is made, you will be considered for a future job. As NASA employees retire, we have a great pool of interns available to be considered for those slots, and it’s a win-win for NASA and the students.”
Many interns are pipelined to the JSC Pathways (co-op) program, and eventually find positions with NASA contractors.
In late October, Rodriguez departs for an extended temporary assignment with NASA’s Space Technology Mission Directorate in Washington, working in the Communication and Outreach Office, thanks to a connection forged over the summer at the National Council of La Raza’s annual STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) outreach conference in Los Angeles.
Prior to his departure, Rodriguez was honored during Hispanic Heritage Month.
As the first in his family to earn a college degree and subsequently master’s degrees in business and education, Rodriguez knows the value of education and hard work. It’s a message he stresses when he speaks before high school, college and job-fair audiences.
“I do have a passion for students and providing them with an opportunity, no matter where they come from, but especially the Hispanic and Latino students,” Rodriguez said. “I talk about getting an education. I use myself as an example, because I did not grow up with parents who went to college. Once you get degree, no one can take that away from you.”
Without formal educations, his father and mother turned to construction and house work, moving often to finance their missionary work. As their oldest son, Rodriguez labored as well, though he never lost sight of his mother’s wish that he graduate from college. The opportunity came through a friendship with a U.S. missionary family that brought him to Iowa to complete high school and attend college on academic and athletic scholarships.
In his small home town of Choele Choel, Rodriguez excelled at soccer, so much so that he played center midfielder on an Argentine national youth team. His play would further his educational aspirations.
“I had a good college career, but that was not why I went to college,” Rodriguez said. “I used soccer to pay for my college education. There was no other way I could pay for it.”
From Iowa, he and his wife, Erika, a speech pathologist, moved on to Milwaukee, where he earned his graduate degrees and then managed academic support programs for Marquette and the university’s School of Dentistry. His skills were just what the Office of Education at JSC was looking for when he applied for the coordinator position with the Internships, Fellowships and Scholarships program. He advanced to manager two years ago.
Still in Argentina, his parents and siblings are never far from his mind. Rodriguez’s earnings helped his sister and a younger brother graduate from college. Two younger brothers are pursuing their degrees with his financial assistance as well.
“They are on track to finish,” Rodriguez said. “I told them they don’t have a choice.”
He still plays soccer, bicycles and runs for recreation. Before starting his Washington assignment with NASA, Rodriguez plans to visit his family in Argentina and compete in a marathon.
His mother, Maria, is training to join him in the race—her first.
Mark Carreau
NASA Johnson Space Center