Hispanic Star: Ellen Ochoa

Read about the first Latina in space, Ellen Ochoa, one of the most groundbreaking, iconic Hispanic and Latinx heroes that have shaped our culture and the world, in this gripping biography written by Claudia Romo Edelman and Nathalie Alonso, with black-and-white illustrations by Manuel Gutierrez, perfect for fans of the Who Was and She Persisted series.

Meet award-winning engineer and veteran astronaut Ellen Ochoa--once just a girl from Los Angeles, California. The granddaughter of Mexican immigrants, Ellen would pursue a career in physics at a young age and go on to earn master’s and doctorate degrees in electrical engineering from Stanford University. In 1993, Ellen became the first Latina in space. As a retired astronaut, she became the first Hispanic and second female director of the Johnson Space Center, has been an advocate for women and minorities in STEM fields, and was inducted into the Astronaut Hall of Fame.

Hispanic Star proudly celebrates Hispanic and Latinx heroes who have made remarkable contributions to American culture and have been undeniable forces in shaping its future.

Claudia Romo Edelman is the founder of the We Are All Human Foundation and Hispanic Star and has worked for twenty-five years with internationally recognized institutions, including the United Nations, the Global Fund, the World Economic Forum, and UNICEF. She’s led some of the most successful global campaigns in the last decade, including Product (RED), the launch of the Sustainable Development Goals in collaboration with the United Nations, the creation of the SDG Lions, and the rebranding of the UN Refugee Agency. Visit her at claudiaromoedelman.com.

Nathalie Alonso is a Cuban American writer and journalist born and raised in Queens, New York. She is part of the Spanish editorial team at MLB.com as well as a member of the Baseball Writers Association of America. Her writing for children has appeared in the magazines Faces and Cobblestone. Nathalie earned a BA in American studies from Columbia University. Visit her at nathaliealonso.com.