Candidates for leadership provide statements: ANS Board of Directors

Ballots are scheduled to be sent via email on Tuesday, March 4, 2025, and must be submitted by 1:00 p.m. (EDT) on Tuesday, April 15, 2025.

U.S. Directors

Allen

Todd Allen, an ANS member since 1991, is chair of the Nuclear Engineering and Radiological Sciences Department at the University of Michigan.

Statement: As a board member, I would focus my attention on three specific things: 1) connecting the positive story of nuclear technology with the young generations we need to carry forward the technology; 2) working to establish principles of innovation that incentivize us to deploy a second generation of commercial nuclear technology soon while also imagining the third, fourth, and fifth generations; and 3) embracing a sophisticated understanding of the technical and social elements of any new technology and using that knowledge to facilitate deployment.

It would be a privilege to join the leadership of ANS at such an exhilarating time.

Dovas

Kostas Dovas, an ANS member since 2013, is vice president of training at Constellation.

Statement: I am thrilled to run for a position on the ANS Board of Directors. As a nuclear professional, I see ANS as key in expanding nuclear technology to meet America’s clean-energy needs. Throughout my 28-year career, I’ve focused on elevating workforce performance and building talent pipelines. I aim to bring this passion to the ANS board, collaborating with the Nuclear Energy Institute, Institute of Nuclear Power Operations, and academia to develop the workforce and pipelines needed to grow our nuclear fleet and achieve our clean-energy goals.

Hu

Lin-Wen Hu, an ANS member since 1991, is a senior research scientist at MIT’s nuclear reactor laboratory.

Statement: It has been an honor to be a member of ANS for over 30 years, serving in various roles across professional divisions and committees. I look forward to the opportunity to serve as a board member. I am deeply committed to the Society’s mission of advancing and promoting nuclear sciences and technologies for the benefit of society. The deployment of nuclear power is critical for achieving decarbonization goals; however, we must prioritize nonproliferation through robust safeguards and international cooperation. ANS plays a vital role in these efforts by fostering the future workforce, expanding nuclear infrastructure, encouraging technical collaboration, and leading advocacy for public support. If elected, I will focus on four key initiatives: 1) workforce development, by supporting universities and minority-serving institutions, as well as ANS’s certification programs; 2) revitalization of research reactors and nuclear infrastructure; 3) demonstration and deployment of advanced reactors and small modular reactors; and 4) promoting international cooperation to achieve nonproliferation efforts.

Kotek

John Kotek, an ANS member since 2017, is senior vice president of policy and public affairs at the Nuclear Energy Institute.

Statement: ANS has an essential role to play in the professional development of its members and in the advancement of a wide range of nuclear technology applications. This includes serving as the irreplaceable voice of America’s nuclear professionals in informing the development and implementation of policies and regulations and in raising public awareness of the many ways in which nuclear technologies make our lives better. As an active participant in federal and state policy deliberations, I can attest to the tremendous progress ANS has made in recent years and the role it has played in the dramatically improved outlook for nuclear energy in the United States. As an ANS board member, I will draw on my experiences in both the public and private sectors to help build on these impressive accomplishments and enable nuclear technologies to achieve their full potential in energy production, health care, scientific discovery, and beyond.

McCarthy

Kathryn (Kathy) McCarthy, an ANS member since 1979, is director of the U.S. ITER Project at Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

Statement: My experience with ANS has been an important part of my career and has afforded me opportunities that helped shape me into the professional that I am today. I think that the importance of participating in professional societies is less appreciated today than it was when I was in the early part of my career. If elected to the Board of Directors, I will bring a breadth of experience in ANS and my professional career to help shape the future of ANS. To be successful, the value of ANS must be recognized by professionals at all stages of their career; my time as an individual contributor and my many years of experience as a manager in multiple institutions has taught me how to listen to and learn from a diverse set of employees. This is an exciting time in the nuclear energy world, and ANS is well positioned to continue its legacy as an important resource to nuclear energy research and deployment, both fission and fusion. If elected, I will use my experience to give back to this important professional society.

Pointer

W. David (Dave) Pointer, an ANS member since 1996, is director of the Nuclear Engineering and Fuel Cycle Division at Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

Statement: In the 28 years that I have been a member of ANS, the Society has significantly evolved, rising to meet the challenges of the moment. I have had the opportunity to serve the Society in many roles and contribute to providing better support to early-career professionals, development of more structured communications programs, growth of new scholarships, and expanded avenues for sharing of technical information. We’ve come a long way, but we can’t be complacent in recent successes. The Society must continue to strive to better serve its membership, adapting our nonprofit business strategy to an evolving society, providing more direct access to information in the era of emerging AI, and serving as a more actively engaged wayfinder that helps U.S. companies succeed in deploying new nuclear technology, both domestically and in the international market. I am honored to be nominated and hope to continue to have the opportunity to serve the incredible membership of ANS in this role.

Prat

Catherine M. Prat, an ANS member since 2012, is a lead engineer at Westinghouse Electric.

Statement: In the vein of our recent Winter Meeting’s theme, “Now Comes the Hard Part”, one of the aspects of being a Board Member that I most value is having the opportunity to do the hard work that is necessary to continue moving ANS and our industry forward. As we look at the priorities of the Society over the next few years, growing in our professional development offerings, increasing membership, revamping how and when we offer meetings and conferences – all these endeavors will take decisive leadership and hard work by our members, and I am excited to do my part. It is also important to the success of our Society that all members feel welcome and able to contribute their unique perspectives and skills to these efforts and, if elected, I will strive to foster such a community. Having served on the Board of Directors as the first Young Member board member, I know the effort and drive necessary to be a successful board member, and I look forward to continuing to serve ANS.

Sooby

Elizabeth Sooby, an ANS member since 2018, is an associate professor at the University of Texas–San Antonio.

Statement: I am passionate about growing our nuclear energy workforce in the United States by educating and training the next generation of scientists and engineers. Since starting at the University of Texas–San Antonio in 2017, I have developed a research and development program focused on the study of uranium compounds and advanced reactor materials, which has garnered over $11 million in funding to support the study of these novel fuels and structural materials alongside the training of undergraduate and graduate students. Prior to my arrival at UTSA, nuclear materials research was nonexistent on campus. It’s been a joy to grow this program and observe other faculty and academics join the effort. ANS is currently filled with growth opportunities, as well. The certificate program, webinars, outreach efforts (not to mention resources), and public-facing focus that facilitates the sharing of information and pronuclear perspective is refreshing. I’d be honored to increase my impact as an ANS board member—to learn, to contribute, and to continue to advance and promote our professional society while fostering an environment aimed at increasing our workforce.

Stanke

Grace Stanke, an ANS member since 2019, is a nuclear fuels engineer at Constellation.

Statement: Nuclear science as a whole is at the precipice of an expansion, yet it needs to continue to educate. As a communicator, social media enthusiast, and clean-energy advocate, I believe I can contribute valuable knowledge regarding the communication of the nuclear expansion to the ANS board. Additionally, I would love to aid future nuclear communicators and provide toolkits for them to utilize. From working on media interviews to arranging school visits, ANS can be the forefront messenger of the nuclear expansion to the general public. It is necessary to maintain integrity and honesty as new buyers and companies are becoming involved in nuclear, and to continue to persevere as an industry. As a board member, I would love to contribute to ANS’s public outreach efforts, media exposure, and critical analysis of the expansion of nuclear.

Willams

Bradley Williams, an ANS member since 2010, is a senior policy advisor at Idaho National Laboratory.

Statement: It is an honor to be considered for the ANS Board of Directors. ANS is entering a pivotal moment as the world recognizes the essential roles of nuclear energy and associated nuclear technologies. In the United States, this is evidenced by the unprecedented and historic bipartisan support for nuclear energy, the resurgence of nuclear engineering degree programs across the country, and numerous new nuclear project announcements backed by significant investment. After almost two decades working in and around the federal government, I understand the critically important role ANS plays in ensuring the future of nuclear science and technology, backed by thousands of dedicated ANS members working across the various nuclear disciplines. Serving on the ANS Board of Directors will afford me the opportunity to give back to the Society that has given me so much. If elected, I look forward to utilizing my expertise to advance the ANS mission and member priorities.

Non-U.S. Director

Willams

Deborah A. Hill, an ANS member since 2004, is a criticality technical leader, senior fellow in criticality safety, and head of fellowship at the U.K. National Nuclear Laboratory.

Statement: ANS has evolved significantly during the 15 years that I have been actively involved in Society leadership. Implementation of the 2020 Change Plan had a noticeable impact on ANS’s finances and the services provided to members (e.g., certification), but there is still much to do. ANS is perfectly positioned to be the premier international nuclear society during this time of significant sector growth, with its unrivaled skills—to do that, it needs strong leadership and a clear vision that drives progress while representing the diverse interests and needs of its members, both domestically and abroad. As a non-U.S. board member candidate, I am excited that the extensive knowledge, insight, and collaborative partnerships that I developed as Professional Divisions Committee chair could be used to positively influence the wider Society, and I would be tireless in serving the needs of the international membership through the External Affairs Committee.

Bilbao y León

Sama Bilbao y León, an ANS member since 1995, is director general of the World Nuclear Association.

Statement: I have been an active member of ANS since I was a student, and I have had the honor and the privilege to serve on the board of ANS on two occasions already. Yet, at a time in which the nuclear sector is finally getting the visibility and the recognition that will allow us to deliver the full potential of nuclear energy, I think I am in an ideal position to contribute even more to ANS by bringing the global point of view and connecting ANS to the realities of the international nuclear scene.

Student Director

Marshall

Julia Marshall, an ANS member since 2021, is a graduate student at the University of Wisconsin–Madison.

Statement: It’s an exciting time to study nuclear science, and I see that excitement reflected in my peers’ dedication to their work and student chapters. If elected student director, I would be honored to represent the many student sections, which do incredible work to advance nuclear science and technology with outreach, professional development, and more. I’ve gained perspective on what supports students through my time in ANS and serving on the Student Sections Committee. The Society has made great strides in supporting student involvement, and I hope to see this momentum continue. If elected, I would like to work to expand opportunities for student engagement within ANS—especially with the expanding number of new student chapters—as well as connections between student chapters and the Society on a national level, helping to strengthen the Society, now and for the future.

Mobley

John Mobley IV, an ANS member since 2019, is a graduate student at the University of Michigan.

Statement: ANS has long served as a vital support network that fosters not only the personal and professional growth of its members but also a strong community within the nuclear field. My active involvement with ANS began during a pivotal academic transition—when I became legally blind. It was the support of ANS that enabled me to continue pursuing my passion for nuclear. Through roles within the Young Members Group; Student Sections Committee; and Education, Training & Workforce Development Division, I have come to see firsthand how advocating for enhanced access and inclusion is essential to addressing the workforce imperatives facing our discipline. If elected student director, I will work to ensure that ANS remains a strong resource for students from all backgrounds by promoting mentorship, expanding access to development opportunities, and amplifying student voices. By strengthening our network, we can empower more students to join and thrive in the field, contributing meaningfully to the future of the industry.