Our board includes industry executives and professional alumni from across the nation who meet annually to discuss and develop NSE goals.
Members
Teresa Bailey, Computational Physicist, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
Dr. Scott Franz graduated from Oregon State University in 1997 studying LOCA transients as part of the Westinghouse AP600 testing program. He then moved to Washington State where he began working for Siemens as a LOCA methodology developer for both the PWR and BWR designs.
In 2005, Dr. Franz moved to Virginia and managed the LOCA analysis group in the Installed Base sector of AREVA (formerly Siemens and Framatome). Four years later, Dr. Franz moved to Japan where he was subcontracted to Mitsubishi Nuclear Fuels (MNF) helping both AREVA and MNF license new BWR fuel designs for Japanese applications. This project was closed due to the Earthquake in 2011.
For the next four years, Dr. Franz worked for Zachry Nuclear Engineering where he trained engineers on the use of the GOTHIC package as well as performed Thermal Hydraulic analysis for a wide range of nuclear safety applications.
In 2018, Dr. Franz returned to Framatome (formerly AREVA) as an advisory engineer where he has been involved in the latest LOCA methodology development efforts (for both BWR’s and PWR’s) as well as performing research associated with new phenomena related to Highly Enriched Fuels during accident conditions. This research has been utilized for the licensing of Framatome’s upcoming Highly Enriched Fuel product lines.
Stephanie Harsche (nee Antoine) is manager of nuclear design and spent fuel pool criticality for the fuels engineering group at Westinghouse Electric Co. in Cranberry Township, Pennsylvania. The group is tasked with supporting domestic and international customers with their reload and spent fuel pool needs.
John Jackson is national technical director for the DOE Office of Nuclear Energy’s Microreactor Program, which is focused on supporting development and deployment of rapidly evolving microreactor technology. He most recently served as the Gateway for Accelerated Innovation in Nuclear technical interface, where he ensured that the nuclear industry had facilitated and appropriate access to DOE national laboratory capability. Prior to this, Jackson was industry program lead for the office’s Nuclear Science User Facilities, with a focus on characterization of irradiated fuels and materials.
In these capacities, Jackson has worked closely with the DOE Office of Nuclear Energy and the nuclear industry to ensure that DOE facilities are used effectively to maintain the current reactor fleet and to enable innovation. Jackson has over 20 years of experience in the areas of mechanical testing and fracture mechanics. He also has over three years of experience in extreme environment materials characterization and drilling mechanics at the ExxonMobil Upstream Research Co. in Houston, Texas.
Jackson holds Ph.D. and M.S. degrees in mechanical engineering from the University of Washington, and a B.S. in mechanical engineering technology from Central Washington University.
Charles Keller, Nuclear Engineering '07, is a senior industry consultant, with diverse nuclear experience, providing project management, advice, and services in the evaluation and development of nuclear technology, decommissioning, and major projects. He has worked with clients in Asia, United States, Canada, Mexico, United Kingdom, Europe, and the Middle East. Keller currently works with multiple large and small businesses in technical and business management in the nuclear decommissioning field.
Keller began his nuclear career working for Entergy Operations as a Reactor Engineer and Project Manager, managing used nuclear fuel, in vessel maintenance during refueling outages, and supported power operations. Following his time with the utility, he joined CH2M HILL supporting nuclear licensing compliance, technology assessments, and strategic consulting, including independent due diligence for mergers and major projects. After leaving CH2M HILL, Keller began providing his services as an independent consultant to multiple businesses, large and small.
As Portland General Electric’s senior vice president, Bill Nicholson, nuclear engineering ’80, oversees customer service operations, strategy and business customer development, and transmission and distribution operations services.
Nicholson previously served as vice president of distribution operations and two years as vice president of customers and economic development. Nicholson joined PGE in 1980 as an engineer at the Trojan Nuclear Power Plant and has served in a variety of capacities in distribution operations and generation engineering.
Nicholson has served on the boards of a number of community organizations, including current service on the boards of Associated Oregon Industries, Oregon BEST, and the board of regents for the Museum at Warm Springs.
A registered professional engineer, Nicholson belongs to the American Society of Mechanical Engineers and the National Society of Professional Engineers.
Nicholson completed the Harvard University Program on Negotiation, the Utility Executive program from the University of Idaho and the American Leadership Forum, where he serves as a senior fellow.
Nicholson and his wife, Kathy, live in Northwest Portland.