About NVA STEM
OUR STORY: 25 YEARS OF BUILDING THE VILLAGE
It Started With Nubian Village Academy
Our story began more than 25 years ago as Nubian Village Academy, a private school founded on the belief that children thrive when education is connected to culture, community, mentorship, high expectations, and real-world experiences.
From the beginning, our goal extended beyond academic achievement. We wanted young people to understand that their future was not limited by what they could see in their immediate surroundings.
We wanted to create a village around them.
That philosophy would eventually become the foundation of NVA STEM.
THE WORLD HAS ALWAYS BEEN OUR CLASSROOM
From the earliest days of Nubian Village Academy, we believed that some of the most powerful learning happens beyond the walls of a classroom.
So we took our students beyond them.
It began with our first cross-country educational tour, giving young people an opportunity to see America beyond their own community. Those early journeys grew into travel to national conferences, college campuses, educational institutions, cultural landmarks, STEM destinations, and eventually countries around the world.
2009: A NEW DIRECTION — STEM BECOMES THE PATHWAY
In 2009, Executive Director Nin Aseeya Ra-El began shifting the organization's focus toward science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
The goal wasn't simply to teach STEM subjects.
It was to connect young people directly to the people, places, careers, and experiences behind STEM.
One of the first major steps was establishing a youth chapter affiliated with the National Society of Black Engineers, creating opportunities for students to participate in engineering activities, competitions, college exposure, professional mentorship, and the larger NSBE community.
College engineering students and STEM professionals became an important part of the NVA model—giving younger students something incredibly powerful:
the opportunity to see someone they could become.
TAKING STEM TO THE SKIES
Our vision soon expanded into aviation.
Through partnerships with EAA Chapter 231 and the Youth Aeronautic Education Foundation, students were introduced to aviation through experiences that went far beyond learning about airplanes.
Young people had opportunities to participate in Young Eagles introductory flights, explore aviation careers, learn aviation fundamentals, and receive mentorship designed to help interested students pursue pathways toward a Private Pilot License.
As aviation technology evolved, our programming expanded to include unmanned aircraft systems and preparation pathways for students interested in earning the FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate.
For some students, their first flight became much more than an exciting Saturday experience.
It became the moment they realized the sky could become a career.
2019: THE RICHMOND ACE ACADEMY TAKES FLIGHT
In 2019, NVA STEM partnered with the Organization of Black Aerospace Professionals (OBAP) to launch the Richmond ACE Academy.
The program opened another pathway for young people to explore the enormous range of opportunities within aviation and aerospace.
Students could discover that the industry needs far more than pilots. Aerospace connects engineering, aircraft maintenance, air traffic control, airport operations, meteorology, technology, unmanned aircraft systems, business, cybersecurity, and countless other professions.
Through ACE Academy, students meet professionals, participate in hands-on activities, visit aviation environments, and begin connecting their interests with real career possibilities.
Exposure creates possibility. Mentorship turns possibility into a pathway.
FROM EDUCATIONAL TRAVEL TO
STEM ABROAD
As NVA's focus evolved toward STEM, our long tradition of educational travel evolved with it.
Today, STEM Abroad builds upon more than 25 years of taking young people beyond their communities to learn through experience.
Our students don't only read about high-speed rail—they travel to Japan and experience one of the world's most advanced transportation systems.
They don't only study sustainable cities—they visit places around the world where engineering, architecture, technology, transportation, and environmental innovation can be experienced firsthand.
They don't only learn that STEM is global.
They experience it for themselves.
Our international programs combine STEM exploration with history, culture, global citizenship, and adventure because preparing young people for the future also means preparing them to understand the world in which they will live and work.
OUR JOURNEY AROUND THE WORLD
United States → Guatemala → Belize → Mexico → Canada → Egypt → Costa Rica → Iceland → Dubai, UAE → China → Japan → South Africa → Switzerland
Our Mission
NVA STEM exists to expose K–12 students to STEM careers and educational pathways through hands-on experiences, mentorship, professional engagement, aviation, college and corporate exposure, and global learning opportunities.
We connect students with the people and experiences that help transform curiosity into confidence—and confidence into a pathway toward their future.
Our Vision
We envision a generation of young people who do not simply hear about opportunities in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, aviation, and emerging industries.
They see themselves belonging there.
Our vision is to build a sustainable village of families, college students, educators, STEM professionals, corporations, and community partners working together to ensure that young people have the exposure, mentorship, experiences, and relationships necessary to pursue ambitious educational and career pathways.
