Auburn Aviation’s female students soaring high

Auburn University’s tradition of industry leadership and status as a trend-setting institution is on full display in the School of Aviation.

With more than 600 students in professional flight and aviation management majors, the school boasts three times the national average of female students in professional flight, setting itself apart from the rest of the nation’s leading collegiate aviation programs. In addition, groups such as Women in Aviation, the Aviatrixes College Wing of The Alabama 99s Chapter of The Ninety-Nines and pilots competing in the annual Air Race Classic consist of talented women from the Plains.

Not only is Auburn Aviation highlighted by gifted and dedicated women, but they are taking on various leadership roles.

For Emily Brutko, a recent professional flight graduate from Lebanon, Pennsylvania, her way of leading is represented by her role as a flight instructor for current students. A certified flight instructor who was named Best Certified Flight Instructor at the National Intercollegiate Flying Association SafeCON nationals in 2024, Brutko now trains students to follow in her footsteps.

She said the program’s above-average percentage of female students was one of the main draws that attracted her from her home in the Northeast.

“Knowing the statistics at Auburn was one of the reasons I also chose this flight school,” said Brutko, who dreams of becoming a captain with a major airline. “Since I did grow up around aviation, I knew how amazing it was for a college program to constantly have two-to-three times the national average of women. It truly is one of a kind and a community that always welcomes others with open arms.”

Barry Brutko, a longtime pilot, introduced his daughter to flying when she was just 9. She’s been hooked ever since. 

“Every summer, we used to attend EAA AirVenture, the largest air show in the world, and we discovered Auburn had a flight school,” she said. “Knowing I wanted to continue training and become a professional pilot, I toured campus. I immediately fell in love with the university and the community it provided.”

Inspiring flight drives new passion

Molly Sims can relate. The Roswell, Georgia, native is a senior in professional flight who fell in love with aviation after taking a discovery flight her first semester on the Plains.

Her choice of major also has helped Sims keep a balanced outlook.

“Flying gives me a new perspective on life and the world around me,” said Sims, president of Auburn’s Eta Mu Sigma Honor Society. “All of the things on my mind — school work, drama among friends, et cetera — don't seem like a big deal to be worried about and are so small in the grand scheme of things.

“It’s created a passion so strong that I wanted to be a pilot for the rest of my life.”

Sims dreams of one day flying for Delta, where her mother, Debbie, works as a flight attendant. She joins Brutko in praising Auburn Aviation’s welcoming environment for all students.

“I think it’s amazing and truly a testament to how open Auburn is to everyone with a passion and hunger for knowledge and hard work,” said Sims, who plans to graduate this summer. “Auburn stands by its creed and demonstrates that through its students and faculty.”

Destined to help others connect, soar

An Ozark, Alabama, native, Kylie Gallaspie grew up close to the U.S. Army aviation hub of Fort Novosel. Several of her family members work in the aviation industry, and Gallaspie developed a keen interest in the realm from an early age.

Her experience as an aviation management major has helped fuel Gallaspie’s fire.

“Aviation was always more than just a fascination; it felt like a part of who I was,” said Gallaspie, who hopes to work in aviation sales after graduation. “When I came to Auburn, I heard incredible things about the aviation program, and that only reaffirmed my passion. I chose aviation management because it perfectly blends my love for aviation with my interest in business and leadership.”

Gallaspie serves as vice president of the Auburn Business Aviation Association, where she helps connect students with the business aviation industry in meaningful, hands-on ways and helps them find career paths within business aviation while gaining the tools and networking skills necessary to land competitive internships and full-time roles.

Being part of a program that leads the charge in recruiting and welcoming female students gives Gallaspie a sense of pride.

“The women in Auburn Aviation feel supported and have built a strong, empowering community, not only through various organizations like Women in Aviation and the Ninety-Nines, but also within the program itself,” she said. “There’s a true sense of belonging and mutual respect that is felt across the board.

“We are a community that lifts each other up, celebrates our differences and works together to reach new heights — literally and figuratively. The fact that Auburn attracts and retains such a high number of women in aviation speaks volumes about the inclusive culture, the strength of the program and the future it’s helping to build in the industry.”