March is Women’s History Month, which celebrates the contributions women have made in a variety of fields. In the nuclear industry, women have been propelling technologies forward for decades, and it is important the industry continues to create a culture of investment in women and their success.
U.S. Women in Nuclear (U.S. WIN) is a national organization of nuclear professionals with the mission to position the United States for the future of nuclear energy and technology through the advancement of women.
The Beginnings of U.S. WIN
The national U.S. WIN chapter of WiN Global started in the United States with the help of NEI, in 1999. Carol Berrigan, NEI’s Executive Director of Federal Programs and Supplier Relations, had a strong hand in bringing U.S. WIN to where it is today and is the 2018 award recipient of the U.S. WIN Patricia Bryant Leadership Award, which honors women who have demonstrated leadership in WIN’s core values.
“U.S. WIN is an excellent and inclusive organization that has had a significant impact on my professional growth over the past nearly two decades,” said Berrigan. “Engagement with U.S. WIN and WiN Global has helped me to expand my understanding of the global industry and broaden my network in the U.S. and across the world.”
U.S. WIN is now the largest chapter of WiN in the world. NEI is an important strategic partner to U.S. WIN, which also collaborates closely with other third-party organizations like the American Nuclear Society (ANS) and North American Young Generation in Nuclear (NAYGN).
“U.S. WIN has taught me leadership skills, management, and organizational skills, and so much more. I would not be the same professional I am today without the experiences I continue to gain from U.S. WIN,” said Kaitlin Rekola, NEI’s Senior Staff Counsel of Legal and NEI’s U.S. WIN liaison.
Value to its Members
U.S. WIN hosts opportunities for members to develop skills in emerging topics, such as hydrogen and space technology, and provides forums for members to discuss nuclear energy and network.
Another core function of U.S. WIN is outreach. The over 5,000 members of U.S. WIN’s more than 80 chapters are committed to supporting their communities and sharing information about nuclear science and technology. Members engage with communities by advocating and educating in schools, as well as participating in, and offering professional development programs.
In 2020 during the first year of the pandemic, U.S. WIN members still managed to commit over 3,500 hours in outreach work, 8,000 hours of networking, and 19,000 hours of professional development.
U.S. WIN’s marquee professional program is the U.S. WIN NEXT Leadership Program. NEXT (Nuclear Executives for Tomorrow) is a year-long leadership program focusing on executive leadership, professional and personal development, and substantive business modules.
“Since the nuclear industry is like no other, I have found the network of women within the industry to be even more unique,” said Christine Csizmadia, NEI’s Senior Director of State Governmental Affairs and Advocacy, who is a current NEXT cohort member. “U.S. WIN fosters our unique network of women professionals by providing them with opportunities, skill building and network development.”
Executives in the industry find the NEXT program as a valuable tool to provide development opportunities for women in their company, and alumni of the program have a 65% promotion rate. Graduates have been promoted to positions that include chief commercial officer, senior site project manager, vice president of regulatory affairs, and more.
Because U.S. WIN’s professional development programs have been so successful, a new program is poised to launch in July—a year-long, industry-wide mentoring program.
Women in Nuclear Today
In the past decade, the industry has made significant strides in elevating women to leadership roles and recognizing their accomplishments. NEI’s President and Chief Executive Officer, Maria Korsnick, was the first female chief nuclear officer in the United States, and now we have four women CNO’s.
But that number also indicates that we still have a long way to go.
At the U.S. WIN webinar Women Making History, Maria Korsnick, who was also instrumental in the formation of the organization, put it best: “Each of us serves as an ambassador – not only for the important role nuclear energy will play in creating the energy system of the future, but also for the important role women will play in creating that future.”
To learn more about U.S. WIN, the resources it provides, and its other initiatives such as its Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Working Group, register to be a member and attend the national conference in Richmond, Virginia this July.
