Associate of applied science, nuclear power technology
Performance improvement coordinator
Xcel Energy, Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Station
Rachel has truly had a lifelong passion for nuclear energy: “Not many seventh graders could tell you the difference between a pressurized water reactor (PWR) and boiling water reactor (BWR), but I could!” However, as life goes, it’s not always a straight path to your dream career path. “I ended up getting a degree in business administration and eventually working at a financial institution,” Rachel noted. While she enjoyed the job for a couple years, she still felt like something was missing.
Fate’s first push back to nuclear came when she met her partner, because he was a licensed reactor operator. “Listening to him talk about his job sparked my interest in the industry again and I started searching for a college program. Bismarck State College’s online nuclear power technology (NUPT) program came up, and it checked all the boxes. It was a broad program that seemed to cover a variety of topics, from radiation protection to systems and components, while still having an operational focus,” she said. Rachel also appreciated how it provided a good knowledge base for how both PWRs and BWRs operated.
The combination of her business degree and completion of the first year of the program secured her a position as an administrative assistant at Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Station. Her knowledge from the NUPT program gave her confidence and an advantage in her current role and pursuit of advancement. “I had enough basic knowledge that I felt like I already had experience in the industry. There are a lot of abbreviations, acronyms and definitions within the industry that can make anyone’s head spin, but having the background on equipment helped me piece things together and support departments like operations, supply chain, and radiation protection. This not only helped me become confident in my role but also be able to position myself to transition to a new role in relatively short period of time,” Rachel said.
Rachel transitioned into her current role as a performance improvement coordinator, where her focus is on operating experience and benchmarking. “I work with the Institute of Nuclear Power Operations (INPO) to ensure our plant is reporting operating experience (OE). This is very important for our industry, as it allows other plants to know about issues we have run into, and issues other plants have had we might encounter,” she said, adding, “Being able to pursue an education and career within the industry was like a dream come true. I feel fulfilled in my job, and every day I learn new things. I also feel like I am a part of something bigger than myself, as the nuclear industry is currently going through a renaissance.”