Family Fellow Phoenix-Avery Reaches for the Stars 

In a recent Astrobites feature published during #BlackSpaceWeek: Black in Astro’s annual event—a national celebration of Black excellence in space-related fields—Foster Love Family Fellow Phoenix-Avery shared her remarkable path from foster care to astrophysics. In the interview, Phoenix-Avery shares how a foundation of community and support like that from the Family Fellowship helped guide her from foster care to a future in astrophysics.

Finding Inspiration Through Loss and Curiosity

Phoenix-Avery’s love for space began when her mother gifted her a telescope as a child. After losing her mom and entering the foster care system, she continued to pursue her interests with the help of mentors, teachers, and the Foster Love Family Fellowship. Her path reflects this year’s #BlackSpaceWeek theme, “Weaving the Universe Together,” as she bridges communities within and beyond academic science.

Overcoming Barriers in Higher Education

When she enrolled at The Ohio State University, was one of the only students from her high school to attend. Ohio State University came with its challenges: cultural adjustments, microaggressions, and early academic setbacks. During her first year, she found herself on academic probation. 

Instead of giving up, she turned to faculty, peers, and mentors and found her way forward. Phoenix-Avery  leaned on her support systems, and used every challenge as motivation to grow. 

Attending the National Society of Black Physicists conference became a turning point, showing her what was possible and who she could become. “It was so amazing to see so many different people who looked like me achieving and going beyond in the field.”

Powered by the Family Fellowship

Through Foster Love’s Family Fellowship, Phoenix-Avery found a network that believed in her. She shared that many people assume foster youth don’t have goals, but “those aspirations lie deeply within.” The Family Fellowship helped her access key resources and reminded her she wasn’t alone. Now, she uses her voice to advocate for more opportunities for foster youth in higher education and STEM.

Learn more about the Family Fellowship HERE. 

Blazing Ahead

Since then, Phoenix-Avery has been paying it forward: she serves as a DEI representative, mentors other students, and teaches astronomy at Columbus’s Center of Science and Industry (COSI). She’s also explored international education through language studies in Portuguese and outreach in Brazil and Portugal.

This summer she is researching cosmic microwave background radiation at the Flatiron Institute in New York City.

We’re honored to walk alongside Phoenix-Avery and all of our Family Fellows as they reach for the stars. 

To support the Family Fellowship program and scholars like Phoenix-Avery, CLICK HERE.