Stargazing under the clear Oklahoma skies, a young Elizabeth Apala was spellbound by both the distant galaxies and the Choctaw, Chickasaw, and Cherokee mythologies passed down by members of her tribes. After taking an astronomy class in an observatory that had been built by members of the Choctaw Nation, she realized she could study the stars without having to leave her beloved home planet – even without leaving the land her family had lived on for generations. Today, Elizabeth’s work for NASA is divided between researching black stars and supporting DEI initiatives. She is especially dedicated to helping create pathways for Native American students to find careers in astrophysics.
