The president of the University's Board of Trustees, Brenda Brown Dillard, recently hosted ASU President Quinton T. Ross, Jr., Dr. Sabrina Crowder, assistant vice president and director of ASU Career Services, and two ASU students at the Nevada National Security Sites near Las Vegas for meetings and in-depth tours of where the federal government tested atomic weapons and hydrogen bombs. The National Nuclear Security Administration within the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) oversees the sites. Dillard is an expert on many things related to the nuclear industry including weapons of mass destruction and test site safety. 

Dillard explained that the Nevada National Security Sites that the ASU group toured, along with students from other Historic Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), was used from 1951 to 1992 to conduct a total of 100

The ASU group in front of an underground atomic test site (contributed).

atmospheric and 828 underground nuclear weapons tests. As a result of the testing, some groundwater, surface soils, and industrial facilities were contaminated on the site that the group visited and on the surrounding Nevada Test and Training Range. The DOE’s Nevada program is (among other things) responsible for conducting cleanup actions at these historic nuclear testing locations.

"We put together this rare tour to one of the nation's most restricted governmental sites because it presented a unique opportunity for our Hornet Nation students to gain access to them and to interface with the career professionals who oversee them," Dillard said. "Having ASU students meet the high-ranking professionals and the general staff officers who run them is a feather in the cap of our students because of the possible internships they may provide for them, as well as for them to have a better chance of being hired after graduation for the interesting and high-paying career opportunities, which they provide." 

CAREER SERVICES AND STUDENTS ATTENDING

ASU's Dr. Crowder said the experience was very interesting and productive for her and the two undergraduate students selected to join the group in Nevada.

The ASU students who were part of the tour with President Ross and BOT President Dillard were Caleb Walker and Minah Palmer.

"Being allowed to tour these atomic test sites with our students was a once-in-a-lifetime experience that was all due to the deep-rooted connections held by Mrs. Dillard due to her employment in the nuclear industry for well over a decade and for President Ross's continuous goal of advancing our students to new heights of success," Crowder stated. "Our two students were chosen for their exceptionally high grade point averages; because they have exhibited an interest in working in this industry, and for their ability to think outside of the box."

DR. ROSS - UPLIFTING ASU STUDENTS

ASU's President Ross shared that the visit and tour was informative, but more importantly, brought student-scholars from Hornet Nation to the attention of those who hire university scholars in the atomic and nuclear industry.

"Our main goal at the University is to graduate our students and help propel them into important and well-paying internships and careers," said ASU's 15th president. "This visit helped us establish a pipeline between the Nevada National Security Sites, the U.S. Department of Energy and others; with the Hornet Nation students that we brought with us and other students in the future from various disciplines, including those studying Mechanical Engineering at the University. It will be great to have more Hornets become nuclear and atomic energy industry professionals, like our esteemed Board of Trustees President Dillard, who has done so well working within the nuclear and atomic industry during her career and is well respected."

News media contact: Kenneth Mullinax, 334-229-4104.

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