Education
I once told my freshman high school math teacher that I was bored in his class and I thought being in his class was a waste of my time.
Needless to say… high school version of me needed to learn a few lessons.
My primary education is a story in and of itself, but here’s the bullet points:
I skipped 6th grade
I took dual enrollment courses at my local University which allowed me to graduate high school with enough college credits that I could’ve gotten an Associate’s Degree.
I started in the public school system, and then I went to a private school for 3 years, then back to public school system for my last two years of high school.
I’m really thankful for the teachers who helped push me and support me to my best. We didn’t know what the limit was, so they helped me find it. They have been pivotal in shaping me to who I am today.
I can only describe the entirety of my time in primary school as “chaotic good,” but I made it here. I must’ve done something right!
I ended up obtaining my Bachelor’s of Science in Nuclear Engineering from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. The path to get there was quite unusual though, literally starting from day 1.
I quite literally cried out of frustration (I was an emotional teenager, okay?) that I was going to UW-Madison. It wasn’t my dream school. In fact, it wasn’t even in my Top 5. The day I accepted my enrollment, I remember walking out of class and drinking water from the water fountain and simultaneously crying.
After taking four and a half years to get my degree, I wouldn’t change a thing. I got into nuclear engineering out of spite against my dad, but UW-Madison and the education I got there is part of what brought me my passion as a nuclear engineer. I learned that nuclear science plays a role in our everyday life - we just don’t know it. This isn’t something to be scared of, it’s something to embrace.
Throughout my undergrad, I took a co-op (basically an extended internship) with Constellation. I worked in the Nuclear Fuels Vendor Independent Methods group for a total of three semesters, alternating between school and work. This meant I was graduating with my Bachelor’s, but also a year of full-time work experience. Additionally, I had opportunities to work at the Reactor Technology & Integration lab with Professor Lindley, and at the HSX Stellarator with Professor Geiger. My senior year was spent as Miss Wisconsin and Miss America, so I unfortunately wasn’t able to get a ton of research lab time during that year and a half.
At UW-Madison, I was also involved with the Wisconsin Waterski & Wakeboard Club team, the American Nuclear Society chapter, and the Rotoract club. I didn’t just get a world-class education and have student job opportunities of my lifetime; I also made friends who stood up in my wedding and have been with me through thick and thin.
So what’s next? Currently I’m pursing a Master’s of Business Administration through Arizona State University - Online. I’m scheduled to graduate in December of 2026, completing the degree in two years. I’m thrilled to be learning various skills to help operate the existing nuclear energy fleet and to help with the deployment of the next generation of nuclear reactors in the United States and across the globe.
As of right now, a PhD is not in the plans. However, you make plans like that and things always change, so we’ll see! I’m looking forward to enjoying my professional career, writing books, and continuing to publicly speak. Learning doesn’t always have to be in the classroom.
