DIA Roundtable: The Impact of National, State, and Local Policies on the Nuclear Workforce

Emory Colvin (they/he) is a transgender, disabled PhD candidate at Oregon State University. A first-generation college graduate, they received their BS in nuclear and radiological engineering from Georgia Tech in 2007 and their MS in nuclear engineering in 2009. Their academic research has largely focused on space applications of nuclear technology; over four summers as a Center for Space Nuclear fellow, this focused on both nuclear thermal propulsion and the production of Pu-238 for radioisotope thermoelectric generators. Their current research continues research reactor modeling and radionuclide production analysis. During their MS and between degrees, they worked in health physics, in a US Naval shipyard, and as a math and physics instructor for a technical college sonography program. This last position led to a love of teaching and prompted their return to school for a PhD. In their spare time, they serve as a regional treasurer for the Society for Creative Anachronism (SCA) and work as a livestreaming deputy to expand access to SCA events to those who are unable to attend in person. They sneak in games of Dungeons and Dragons when they have time and attempt to corral two chaotic kittens.

Julie has 30 years’ experience in the nuclear sciences at Oak Ridge National Laboratory and is currently on a detail assignment with the Department of Energy Office of Science Isotope Program Office as a Technical Advisor. She holds a BS, Nuclear Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and a Masters, Nuclear Engineering, from North Carolina State University. After completing her master’s, she joined the staff at ORNL and has held positions in engineering, waste management, criticality safety, and isotope production. Julie has been an active American Nuclear Society member since 1988; where she is currently serving on the Board of Directors, is Chairperson of the Scholarship Policy and Coordination Committee, and serves on the Diversity and Inclusion at ANS Committee. She has also been active with the U.S. Women in Nuclear since 2003 and currently serves on the National Steering Committee and the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Oversight Committee. Julie is a proud mom of her 14-year old transgender son and is here today as that “mom."

Charlyne is a nuclear engineer and senior nuclear energy analyst on the Nuclear Energy Innovation team at the Breakthrough Institute in Washington, D.C. She also holds a courtesy faculty appointment as a nuclear materials research scientist at the University of Florida. Originally from St. Catherine, Jamaica, Charlyne moved to the U.S. in 2012 to pursue a career in science and technology focusing on energy solutions for current and future generations. She holds bachelor’s degrees in chemistry and mathematics, as well as a master’s and a PhD in nuclear engineering.

In 2021 she made history as the first black woman to obtain a PhD in nuclear engineering from the University of Florida and was awarded the Prime Minister’s National Youth Award for Excellence in Academics from the Office of the Prime Minister of Jamaica in 2022. Prior to joining the Breakthrough Institute, Charlyne was a distinguished Glenn T. Seaborg Postdoctoral fellow at the Idaho National Laboratory where she performed basic energy science research on self-organizing defect structures formed in nuclear fuel during neutron irradiation. Her expertise is in the advanced characterization and post irradiation examination of fuel for qualification and use in nuclear reactors.

Charlyne is a co-founder of the Empowering Garrison Girls (EGGs) non-profit organization whose mission is to reduce gender and economic inequalities for girls living in garrison communities in Jamaica. She is also an Atomic Ambassador with Generation Atomic, a non-profit that creates awareness on the nuclear energy through public education and advocacy. Her long-term goals are to help facilitate the introduction of nuclear energy technology to the Caribbean as well as to create STEM education programs in Jamaica that will offer a wide range of STEM disciplines not currently available in the Caribbean.

Prior to joining INL in March of 2020, Rebecca spent 16 years as a trial attorney in private practice in Boise, Idaho. She has worked on cases ranging from complex commercial disputes and patent litigation to medical malpractice and Title IX. In 2017 and again in 2018 the Idaho Judicial Council recommended her to the Governor for appointment to the Idaho Supreme Court. Immediately prior to joining INL, she developed a specialty in plaintiff’s civil rights work representing individuals in cases involving government misconduct. Rebecca served as a board member, amicus coordinator, and frequent presenter for the Idaho Trial Lawyers Association. As an adjunct professor, Rebecca taught prison abolition at the College of Idaho, and at the Concordia University School of Law she taught legal research and writing, trial advocacy and advanced appellate advocacy.

After graduating from the University of San Diego with degrees in political science and philosophy, Rebecca enlisted in the U.S. Army. She served four years as a Korean Linguist, Interrogator. She was the 2002 US Army Pacific Region Soldier of the Year and had the privilege of competing in the first ever Army-wide soldier of the year competition held in Washington D.C.

Rebecca currently works for INL’s Office of General Counsel as the company’s Labor and Employment Attorney where she frequently advises on strategic decisions involving the company’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion initiatives. She lives in Idaho Falls, Idaho, with her two kids and two dogs.

Sarah Davis is a nuclear engineer and the inaugural Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer for the North American Young Generation in Nuclear (NAYGN). She started her nuclear career studying at the University of Tennessee (go Vols!), receiving her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in nuclear engineering. While at UTK, she interned at Oak Ridge National Laboratory under the Nuclear Fusion group and focused on environmental qualification of nuclear power plant cables. After graduation, Sarah started work at a consulting firm as a Safety Analysis Engineer responsible for calculations and evaluations in terms of safety-related components and systems at various nuclear power plants. She co-founded and led the firm’s DE&I Committee and shortly after joined NAYGN’s Diversity and Inclusion Committee as one of the first members. After joining the committee, Sarah ran for the DEI Officer Position and has held the title for more than two years. She hopes to engage the industry by discussing various topics related to DEI and hopes to build a more inclusive organization and industry through awareness and education.