5 min read<\/p>\n
NASA\u2019s Modern History Makers: Maricela Lizcano<\/h1>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n\n\n\n![\"Maricela](\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/bc22009.jpg?w=1365\")
<\/figure>\nMaricela Lizcano poses inside NASA Glenn Research Center\u2019s Aerospace Communications Facility.<\/div>\nCredit: NASA\/Bridget Caswell<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n>back to gallery<\/a><\/p>\nMaricela Lizcano never dreamed of working for NASA.<\/p>\n
In fact, she wasn\u2019t planning on furthering her education until she had a revelation in her late twenties.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was watching one of those forensic shows, and I loved the way they caught the criminals with science,\u201d said Lizcano, research materials engineer at NASA\u2019s Glenn Research Center in Cleveland. \u201cI wanted to be able to do that. I realized I should be studying science and engineering.\u201d<\/p>\n
It took Lizcano about ten years to prepare mentally and financially to go back to school, and during that time, she received some startling news.<\/p>\n
\u201cI found out that I was losing my sight, and it was very scary,\u201d Lizcano said. \u201cI think that was one of the things that tossed me off the rails. I had so many questions: \u2018What am I going to do? How am I going to work or go to school? How quickly am I losing my vision?\u2019 There were no answers.\u201d<\/p>\n
Lizcano was diagnosed with Stargardt disease, a rare genetic eye disease that occurs when fatty material builds up on the macula \u2014 the small part of the retina needed for sharp, central vision.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy Stargardt disease started on the outer edges of my macula, and over time, it grew to the center,\u201d Lizcano said. \u201cBy the time I was 45 years old, it had pretty much taken all of my central vision, and now I rely on my peripheral vision to see.\u201d<\/p>\n
Eventually, Lizcano viewed this as another obstacle to hurdle, no different from any others she had experienced in her life. She attended the University of Texas\u2013Pan American, now called the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. She started during a second summer session, easing her way to full-time attendance while also holding a job.<\/p>\n
Because of her new disability, she couldn\u2019t see what professors were writing on the board. She taught herself to listen intently to the topics being discussed in the lecture, then after class, she read the textbook and rewrote the lecture notes using special magnification tools.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt took that much longer, but you learn to adapt,\u201d Lizcano said. \u201cThere are certain skills you develop because of the changes you have to make when you have a disability. I learned that I really have to listen.\u201d<\/p>\n
After five years, Lizcano completed her mechanical engineering degree. She didn\u2019t get a job right away after graduation, so she continued her education and earned master\u2019s and doctorate degrees.<\/p>\n
\u201cI can\u2019t just look at my disability as some great thing that I really had to overcome,\u201d Lizcano said. \u201cI think a lot of people overcome many obstacles because we are driven by the desire to achieve things. You don\u2019t see the challenges as challenges, you just see them as something to conquer to get to your goal.\u201d<\/p>\n
In 2010, former President Barack Obama signed an executive order to increase federal employment of individuals with disabilities. The executive order directed executive departments and agencies to improve their efforts to employ workers with disabilities through increased recruitment, hiring, and retention of these individuals.<\/p>\n
\u201cThrough the Workforce Recruitment Program, I had the opportunity to interview with representatives from federal agencies,\u201d Lizcano said. \u201cI heard nothing for a long time, but then suddenly I got an email from NASA Glenn asking if I\u2019d present my research.\u201d<\/p>\n
She accepted a job as a research materials engineer and now leads a team working on high-voltage materials for electrified aircraft<\/a>. She collaborates with various universities to develop composite insulation materials and lightweight conductors.<\/p>\nEven now working at NASA, Lizcano faces challenges that she finds ways to overcome. She depends on her fellow colleagues to carpool to work and accessibility tools \u2014 like the magnifier app \u2014 to use her computer.<\/p>\n
\u201cUnderstanding my needs allowed me to get over the fact that I lost my independence,\u201d Lizcano said. \u201cIt was a mind shift to be all right with asking for help.\u201d<\/p>\n
Lizcano\u2019s recommends a science, technology, engineering, and mathematics career to anyone looking for a challenge or excitement.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re always solving problems. If you\u2019re one of those people who really wants to make a difference in the world, STEM careers are a good place to start,\u201d Lizcano said. \u201cAny challenge that you may have in result of a disability is no different than the challenge you\u2019re trying to solve, and it will give you the motivation and unique skills you need to be successful.\u201d<\/p>\n
NASA is in a Golden Era of aeronautics and space exploration. In partnership with commercial and private businesses, NASA is currently making history with significant missions such as\u00a0<\/em>Artemis<\/em><\/a>,\u00a0<\/em>Quesst<\/em><\/a>,\u00a0and electrified aviation.\u00a0The NASA\u2019s Modern History Makers series highlights members of NASA Glenn\u2019s workforce who make these remarkable missions possible.<\/em><\/p>\nJacqueline Minerd
NASA\u2019s Glenn Research Center<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\nExplore More<\/h2>\n<\/div><\/div>\n
<\/figure>>back to gallery<\/a><\/p>\n Maricela Lizcano never dreamed of working for NASA.<\/p>\n In fact, she wasn\u2019t planning on furthering her education until she had a revelation in her late twenties.<\/p>\n \u201cI was watching one of those forensic shows, and I loved the way they caught the criminals with science,\u201d said Lizcano, research materials engineer at NASA\u2019s Glenn Research Center in Cleveland. \u201cI wanted to be able to do that. I realized I should be studying science and engineering.\u201d<\/p>\n It took Lizcano about ten years to prepare mentally and financially to go back to school, and during that time, she received some startling news.<\/p>\n \u201cI found out that I was losing my sight, and it was very scary,\u201d Lizcano said. \u201cI think that was one of the things that tossed me off the rails. I had so many questions: \u2018What am I going to do? How am I going to work or go to school? How quickly am I losing my vision?\u2019 There were no answers.\u201d<\/p>\n Lizcano was diagnosed with Stargardt disease, a rare genetic eye disease that occurs when fatty material builds up on the macula \u2014 the small part of the retina needed for sharp, central vision.<\/p>\n \u201cMy Stargardt disease started on the outer edges of my macula, and over time, it grew to the center,\u201d Lizcano said. \u201cBy the time I was 45 years old, it had pretty much taken all of my central vision, and now I rely on my peripheral vision to see.\u201d<\/p>\n Eventually, Lizcano viewed this as another obstacle to hurdle, no different from any others she had experienced in her life. She attended the University of Texas\u2013Pan American, now called the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. She started during a second summer session, easing her way to full-time attendance while also holding a job.<\/p>\n Because of her new disability, she couldn\u2019t see what professors were writing on the board. She taught herself to listen intently to the topics being discussed in the lecture, then after class, she read the textbook and rewrote the lecture notes using special magnification tools.<\/p>\n \u201cIt took that much longer, but you learn to adapt,\u201d Lizcano said. \u201cThere are certain skills you develop because of the changes you have to make when you have a disability. I learned that I really have to listen.\u201d<\/p>\n After five years, Lizcano completed her mechanical engineering degree. She didn\u2019t get a job right away after graduation, so she continued her education and earned master\u2019s and doctorate degrees.<\/p>\n \u201cI can\u2019t just look at my disability as some great thing that I really had to overcome,\u201d Lizcano said. \u201cI think a lot of people overcome many obstacles because we are driven by the desire to achieve things. You don\u2019t see the challenges as challenges, you just see them as something to conquer to get to your goal.\u201d<\/p>\n In 2010, former President Barack Obama signed an executive order to increase federal employment of individuals with disabilities. The executive order directed executive departments and agencies to improve their efforts to employ workers with disabilities through increased recruitment, hiring, and retention of these individuals.<\/p>\n \u201cThrough the Workforce Recruitment Program, I had the opportunity to interview with representatives from federal agencies,\u201d Lizcano said. \u201cI heard nothing for a long time, but then suddenly I got an email from NASA Glenn asking if I\u2019d present my research.\u201d<\/p>\n She accepted a job as a research materials engineer and now leads a team working on high-voltage materials for electrified aircraft<\/a>. She collaborates with various universities to develop composite insulation materials and lightweight conductors.<\/p>\n Even now working at NASA, Lizcano faces challenges that she finds ways to overcome. She depends on her fellow colleagues to carpool to work and accessibility tools \u2014 like the magnifier app \u2014 to use her computer.<\/p>\n \u201cUnderstanding my needs allowed me to get over the fact that I lost my independence,\u201d Lizcano said. \u201cIt was a mind shift to be all right with asking for help.\u201d<\/p>\n Lizcano\u2019s recommends a science, technology, engineering, and mathematics career to anyone looking for a challenge or excitement.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re always solving problems. If you\u2019re one of those people who really wants to make a difference in the world, STEM careers are a good place to start,\u201d Lizcano said. \u201cAny challenge that you may have in result of a disability is no different than the challenge you\u2019re trying to solve, and it will give you the motivation and unique skills you need to be successful.\u201d<\/p>\n NASA is in a Golden Era of aeronautics and space exploration. In partnership with commercial and private businesses, NASA is currently making history with significant missions such as\u00a0<\/em>Artemis<\/em><\/a>,\u00a0<\/em>Quesst<\/em><\/a>,\u00a0and electrified aviation.\u00a0The NASA\u2019s Modern History Makers series highlights members of NASA Glenn\u2019s workforce who make these remarkable missions possible.<\/em><\/p>\n Jacqueline Minerd
NASA\u2019s Glenn Research Center<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\nExplore More<\/h2>\n<\/div><\/div>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/lynn-bassford-headshot-crop2.jpg?w=300\")
<\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n