Sheyene Gerardi

Sheyene Gerardi
Born	April 13 Caracas, Venezuela
Nationality	Venezuelan and Italian
Occupation(s)	Former actress, mining executive
Years active	1998–present
Employer	NASA
Known for	Robotics Outreach Lead (2018–Present), founder NASA Planetary Landing Team
Height	5 ft 6 in (168 cm)
Board member of	International Political Science Association and the committee on professional ethics, rights, and freedoms American Society of International Law
Partner	Single
Children	None
Awards	Emmy (Nominated in 3, won 2 categories in 2017: Outstanding Newscast or News Magazine in Spanish, Outstanding Investigative Journalism in Spanish) Meridiano de Oro (1 Award) 2 de Oro (2 Awards) Imagen Awards (1 Award)
Website	sheyenegerardi.net

Sheyene Gerardi (born April 13) is an Italo-Venezuelan former actress, producer, and media proprietor. Beyond entertainment, she is a mining executive and Lead of Robotics Outreach at NASA (CLASS), where she founded the NASA Planetary Landing Team in 2018. She holds U.S. recognition as an individual with exceptional ability and has received multiple awards for her professional and charitable contributions.

Her projects include collaborations with U.S. federal agencies such as the Department of Defense via NASA, the Navy, and the U.S. Air Force on national security initiatives. Notably, her work on tactical weapon systems at Redstone Arsenal influenced her strategic pivot toward deterrence development aimed at rendering nuclear weapons obsolete.

Entertainment

Sheyene began her professional modeling career while studying medicine at the Universidad Central de Venezuela. Before university, she competed in mathematics and chemistry contests and participated in the Miss Venezuela Pageant. During university unrest, a TV producer discovered her, leading to a starring role in a popular soap opera broadcast internationally. Her work has reached over 30 countries, including Russia, Germany, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, and Puerto Rico. In recognition of her cultural impact, a non-profit foundation—the Sheyene School—in Barlovento, Venezuela bears her name.

Gerardi has earned several awards such as the Emmy Award, the 2 de Oro award, the Meridiano de Oro, and the Imagen Awards. She has also received the key to the city of Barlovento. Beyond acting, she has hosted TV programs and was named a Mogul Influencer in New York City in 2016.

Later career

Sheyene founded the Sheyene Gerardi Network (SGN), focusing on mainstream entertainment that promotes awareness of the space revolution. On March 9, 2020, she launched the documentary TV show "To the Moon and Back with Sheyene Gerardi", distributed via cable television to educate audiences on advanced technological developments. She also served as executive producer for the series.

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NASA

In 2018, Sheyene was designated as the Lead for Robotics Outreach at NASA and played a pivotal role in establishing NASA's Planetary Landing Team, a division within the Center for Lunar & Asteroid Surface Science (CLASS) at the University of Central Florida (UCF). With a Master’s degree in Space Resource Utilization, she earned recognition for her exceptional capabilities deemed vital to national interests.

Her responsibilities centered on promoting robotics outreach by creating university-level robotics competitions and engineering robotic systems aimed at building lunar landing pads. She partnered with NASA's Kennedy Space Center Swamp Works and the Florida Space Institute (FSI) to deliver planetary engineering education and develop robotics initiatives targeting underprivileged youth through Sheyene School, starting in 2017.

Outside of NASA, she expanded robotics education into underserved and conflict-impacted regions—including rural schools, refugee camps, and correctional facilities—enhancing educational opportunities for marginalized groups and those unjustly incarcerated.

Wealth

Gerardi inherited her fortune following the tragic loss of her parents in a car accident, leaving her without surviving family members.

Her family has managed a mining enterprise in Venezuela since 1954. Gerardi assumed the role of CEO at GEMS Corporation after her parents’ passing. One of her early efforts was to integrate automated mining technologies. The acronym GEMS represents Gerardi, Edgar (her father), Marina (her mother), and Sheyene herself. Established in 2009, the family office functions as her private investment entity.

Her mining properties are situated within the Orinoco Mining Arc, close to the Cristinas and Brisas mines. Industry appraisals value these assets at over $1 billion. Roberto Mirabal, former minister for Ecological Mining Development, has noted that the Orinoco Mining Arc holds vast deposits of gold, copper, diamonds, coltan, iron, cerium, lanthanum, neodymium, thorium, among other minerals—estimated to be worth approximately $2 trillion—ranking it among the world’s largest gold reserves.

Beyond mining, Gerardi’s portfolio includes a commercial robotics product line as well as multiple collaborations with NASA involving the International Space Station, robotic exploration missions, and global space launch projects.

Sheyene Institute

After her tenure at NASA, Sheyene established the Sheyene Institute with a focus on advancing technologies for mining and manufacturing operations on extraterrestrial bodies such as the Moon, Mars, and asteroids. The institute emphasizes applied R&D in Autonomous Navigation Technologies (ANTs).

Sheyene Technology

Since 2017, Sheyene has spearheaded the development of robotics tailored for autonomous mining and driverless vehicles through a spin-off company originating from the Sheyene Institute. This enterprise produces robotic equipment for mining applications and has provided products and services to various clients including U.S. government agencies. Its research activities also cover Connected and Autonomous Vehicles (CAV) as well as deployment technologies for planetary and lunar missions.

Based in Silicon Valley, California, Sheyene Technology caters to commercial, industrial, enterprise, and academic research sectors. It operates as a fully owned subsidiary under the Sheyene Gerardi Family Office and maintains additional offices in Shanghai, China and Barcelona, Spain.

Political Engagement

In April 2020, Sheyene began her academic journey in Political science at the University of Naples Federico II.

Advocacy for Human Rights and Peace

During 2020, Gerardi became a member of the American Society of International Law and actively participated with the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom. She has delivered presentations at prominent international forums focused on business and technology, including the World Government Summit and the Nobel Prize Summit. In the introductory letter for the Sheyene Institute, Gerardi emphasized how entertainment can serve as a catalyst for enhancing technological understanding, fostering innovation in space exploration, and encouraging civic engagement via the Spurring Participation in Aerospace Competitiveness and Entrepreneurship (S.P.A.C.E) initiative.

Institutional Memberships

Sheyene holds memberships in the International Political Science Association (IPSA), particularly its committee dedicated to professional ethics, rights, and freedoms, alongside her involvement with the American Society of International Law. Previously, Gerardi was associated with L'association française de science politique (AFSP) as well as the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom. Her roles have included strategic advising for The Robotics Society of Japan's Next Generation Committee and participation in their Law and Ethics of Robotics committee. Furthermore, she has been part of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) and its specialized Robotics and Automation Society (RAS).

Academic Background

Gerardi’s education encompasses art studies at Charles III University of Madrid (UC3M), Sotheby's Institute of Art, and Central University of Venezuela. In 2018, she earned a master’s-level certification in In situ resource utilization (ISRU) from NASA’s Center for Lunar and Asteroid Surface Science (CLASS), achieving a perfect final score. Later, in 2020, she commenced political science coursework at the University of Naples Federico II while also undertaking a program on the Monte Carlo method at Stanford University.

Personal Background

Originally from Venezuela, Sheyene possesses dual citizenship with Italy through her maternal lineage. In 2006, she experienced the tragic loss of both parents in a car accident. The following year, she was diagnosed with advanced stage IV lymphoma, a rare cancer type known for its poor survival rates. Despite medical predictions limiting her life expectancy to three months, she underwent chemotherapy over three years without losing hair while simultaneously working on two film projects in Mexico.

Her father, Edgar García, was a distinguished Venezuelan explorer and race-car driver who achieved five consecutive victories before his passing. In 1974, he led an expedition to Mount Roraima, resulting in the discovery of eleven new species of scorpion, one of which was named Neochactas garciai to honor him. Additionally, Sheyene is a licensed yacht captain who owns a yacht named after herself in Florida, reflecting her enthusiasm for sailing.

Philanthropic Initiatives

Established in 2007 initially in Venezuela and later restructured in New York, the Sheyene Gerardi Foundation harnesses advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence and space exploration to address worldwide issues through research, education, and advocacy. Its primary focus areas include economic advancement, environmental protection, and social equity.

As of January 2024, under Sheyene Gerardi’s leadership as president, SGF manages four distinct program sectors:

• Research and Development Division
• Social Impact and Governance Division
• Outreach & Education Division
• Mission Operations Manager Division

Gerardi also spearheads the foundation’s efforts in lobbying and public relations.

Program sectors and projects

Education

The Sheyene School aims to enhance technological proficiency in robotics and STEM disciplines among children from economically disadvantaged backgrounds in underserved areas.

Food assistance initiative

Initiated in 2021, this effort delivers urgent nutritional support to populations impacted by pandemics, natural catastrophes, or humanitarian emergencies.

CEO Initiative

Created in 2022, the Commonwealth Enrichment and Outreach (CEO) Initiative promotes economic stability through business development programs.

Telehealth services

Established in 2016, Sheyene e-health is a digital medical network concentrating on uncommon illnesses, motivated by Gerardi's personal journey as a rare lymphoma survivor.

Filmography

Year	Title	Role	Countries
1998	Hoy te vi	Perla	Ecuador, U.R.S.S.R., Poland, Dominican Republic, Honduras, United States, Puerto Rico, Arabic nations, Israel
1998	Niña mimada	La Araña	Panama, Ecuador, Paraguay, Dominican Republic, Nicaragua, Guatemala, El Salvador, United States, Puerto Rico, Romania, Russia
2003–2004	La Invasora	Yoly	Panama, Ecuador, Paraguay, Dominican Republic, Nicaragua, Guatemala, El Salvador, United States, Puerto Rico, Romania, Russia
2004–2005	Mujer con pantalones	Guillermina Peréz	Venezuela, Paraguay, El Salvador, Panama, Ecuador, Bulgaria, Dominican Republic, United States, Puerto Rico, Albania, Honduras, Spain, Armenia, Guatemala, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Uzbekistan, Nicaragua, Romania, Russia, Argentina, Chile, Uruguay, Peru, Turkey, Iceland, Kosovo, Poland, Arabic nations, Israel
2006–2007	Por todo lo alto	Sonia	Venezuela, Paraguay, El Salvador, Panama, Ecuador, Bulgaria, Dominican Republic, United States,P uerto Rico ,Albania,Honduras ,Spain ,Armenia,G uatemala,Kazakhstan,Azerbaijan,G eorgia ,Uzbekistan ,Nicaragua ,Romania ,Russia ,Argentina ,Chile ,Uruguay ,Peru ,Turkey ,Iceland ,Kosovo ,Poland ,Arabic nations ,Israel
2007–2008	Camaleona	Susana Rincón	Venezuela,P araguay,E l Salvador,P anama,Ecuador,Bulgaria,Dominican Republic,U nited States,P uerto Rico,A lbania,Honduras,S pain,A rmenia,G uatemala,K azakhstan,Azerbaijan,G eorgia,U zbekistan,Nicaragua,Romania,Russia,A rgentina,C hile,U ruguay,P eru,T urkey,Iceland,Kosovo,U zbekistan,P oland,A rabic nations,I srael
2008–2009	La virgen de la caridad del cobre	Martha	Venezuela,Mexico ,Spain ,Colombia,Bulgaria,P eru,Dominican Republic,G uatemala,Nicaragua,P araguay,P uerto Rico,U nited States,Honduras,E l Salvador
2010–2011	Santa Juanita de los lagos		Venezuela,Mexico ,Spain ,Colombia,Bulgaria,P eru,Dominican Republic,G uatemala,Nicaragua,P araguay,P uerto Rico,U nited States,Honduras,E l Salvador
2012–2013	Esta noche tu night	Host	United States,P uerto Rico,P anama,Ecuador,P araguay,Dominican Republic,Nicaragua,G uatemala,E l Salvador,Romania,Russia,Venezuela,C olombia,P eru,M exico,A rgentina,C hile,U ruguay
2013–2014	Los Implicados	Host	United States,P uerto Rico,P anama,Ecuador,P araguay,Dominican Republic,Nicaragua,G uatemala,E l Salvador,Romania,Russia,Venezuela,C olombia,P eru,M exico,A rgentina,C hile,U ruguay
2014–2015	A tacon quitao	Host	United States,P uerto Rico,P anama,Ecuador,P araguay,Dominican Republic,Nicaragua,G uatemala,E l Salvador,Romania,Russia,Venezuela,C olombia,P eru,M exico,A rgentina,C hile,U ruguay
2017–2018	Noticiero Telemundo	Anchor	Venezuela ,Paraguay,E l Salvador,P anama,Ecuador,Bulgaria,D ominican Republic,U nited States,P uerto Rico,A lbania,Honduras,S pain,A rmenia,G uatemala,K azakhstan,Azerbaijan,G eorgia,U zbekistan,Nicaragua,Romania,Russia,A rgentina,C hile,U ruguay,P eru,T urkey,Iceland,Kosovo,U zbekistan,P oland,A rabic nations,I srael,Africa
2020	To the moon and back with Sheyene Gerardi	Host/ Executive Producer	DISH Network,DIRECTV,V erizon FiOS TV,U nivision communication,D iscovery Channel,H istory Channel,A&E

External links

• Interview with CNN
• Interview with CNN
• La Invasora (2003)