Congratulations graduates! Employee Education Program powers a brighter future

By Matt Meehan, INL Communications

For Jana Richens , a workforce development specialist in National and Homeland Security (N&HS), the path to earning her bachelor’s degree has been a winding one. She was, admittedly, not the best high school student. “I didn’t graduate when I was supposed to,” she said. And though she ultimately earned her high school diploma and an associate degree from what was then Eastern Idaho Technical College (EITC), she never found a good university fit and dropped out without finishing her bachelor's degree. After graduating from EITC, she bartended, waited tables, and worked for her family's business (Etched in Stone) and as an administrative assistant at Curtiss-Wright. She climbed the ladder there as far as she could, which led her to INL.

“I was working as an administrator in N&HS, but I decided I needed to do something different,” Richens said. “I was really enjoying working with interns and on our workforce development programs.” Through her work on those programs, Richens met Sin Ming Loo, a professor at Boise State University and a joint appointment at INL. Loo introduced her to other faculty at Boise State, many of whom work with the lab. “It was a perfect fit, not intimidating at all, and the synergy between my work and my classes was great,” said Richens. “I was able to use examples from my work for class projects, and the things I learned at Boise State furthered my knowledge of what we’re doing here at the lab.” Richens recently completed a bachelor’s degree in cyber operations and resilience from Boise State.

“We used to call our workforce development programs ‘pipelines,’ but we don’t call them that anymore, because pipelines are straight and rigid. Now we call them ‘pathways,’ because they can be winding, and you can stray off the path and come back on,” Richens said. “If I could go back in time, I would do a lot of things differently. Do better in high school, go straight to college. I missed a lot of those experiences. But I’m glad now to have finished my degree and to have done it debt-free.”

That potential to pursue a debt-free degree, or one greatly reduced in cost, is central to the Employee Education Program (EEP), one of many benefits offered to laboratory employees. Through the EEP, the lab invests in employees, providing the opportunity to further their education and professional development. To help laboratory employees succeed and grow in their current roles and qualify for additional opportunities, the lab covers approved tuition and specified fees from accredited institutions. Employees are encouraged to seek degrees, continue their education, or seek certifications for academic credit that support the laboratory’s mission. But the program goes beyond tuition reimbursement, with many employees never having to pay for tuition out of pocket. According to Jill Blanding, EEP coordinator, employees who attend classes at one of the laboratory’s partnering educational institutions – Boise State University, College of Eastern Idaho, Idaho State University and University of Idaho – can take approved classes without paying for tuition out of pocket. INL employees are taking advantage of this benefit, working towards degrees ranging from associate to doctorate.

Billy Williams, a laborer on the Research and Education Campus relocation team, recently completed an associate degree in information assurance and cybersecurity from the College of Eastern Idaho (CEI).

“This is an entry-level job,” Williams said. “It’s usually a six-month temp job, and you might earn a permanent spot if you prove yourself. It’s a good job, but it’s not something I want to be doing forever.”  Williams wanted a degree that would make him more employable, and he identified the program at CEI as a great start. “I started taking classes through the EEP as soon as I was eligible,” he said. And though his associate degree was a first step, he doesn’t plan for it to be his last. Williams is exploring options to transfer his credits to Idaho State or Boise State and pursue a bachelor’s degree.

When asked what advice he would give to others in the same position, Williams said, “It’s risk free. You’ve got nothing to lose and everything to gain. This is a great place to get that experience.”

Jooyoung Park, a human factors analyst in Nuclear Science and Technology, agrees. “I have always dreamed of becoming a top expert in my field, and earning a Ph.D. seemed like a prerequisite to achieving that dream,” he said. “I was hired at INL before earning my Ph.D., but I didn’t want to stop pursuing that goal. Thanks to the EEP, I was able to earn the degree that I’ve been dreaming of since I started my research.”

Park’s manager, Ron Boring, played a key role in helping that dream come true. Boring introduced Park to the EEP and helped him explore programs and professors working in subject areas that interested him. “Without his help, I would not have been successful,” Park said. “With it, I was able to earn my Ph.D. in three years.” Park recently completed a doctorate in nuclear science and engineering from Idaho State University.

And while he acknowledges that he had a lot of help along the way, Park is proud of his achievement. “Earning a degree is definitely not easy,” he said. “But it’s like climbing a mountain. Each is hard, but getting to the top will challenge you, give you a sense of accomplishment and make you more competitive.”

For Kelsey Behm , an inclusion and collaboration consultant in Human Resources and Diversity, the decision to pursue a degree was similarly made possible with the help of others, especially through her interactions with the Employee Development Network (EDN). She first learned about the EEP from Tiffany Leavitt, who was her director at the time and who recommended Behm to serve as the EDN representative for the Materials and Fuels Complex. Leavitt encouraged Behm to finish a degree that she had previously started. Through interactions with Leavitt, then-manager Terri Pence, current manager Toni Carter and others, Behm pursued a bachelor's degree in organizational science with a minor in communications at the University of Idaho.

“The time will pass anyway. You can either be 35 with a degree, or 35 without one,” Behm remembers hearing. “The EEP gives you the flexibility to work slowly towards your goals without overwhelming yourself,” she said. “One class at a time, one semester as time.” For Behm, whose twin girls were six years old when she started classes, that flexibility was key. She balanced work, classes and raising a family – and ultimately finished ahead of her planned schedule, receiving her degree at 33.

“In the EDN, we talk a lot about owning your own development. Having a supportive network is so important, but you have to be motivated to pursue your own goals. This is my milestone that I accomplished myself.” And now, Behm is focused on helping others accomplish their own development goals. She recently took over leadership of the EDN from longtime leader Leslie Christensen.

“Going back to school may not be right for everyone, but the lab is very supportive of professional development in all forms. We help employees identify their development goals and the tools that are available to help them achieve those goals.”

The Employee Education Program is just one part of a competitive benefits package that also includes paid parental leave; 10 paid holidays and an annual work curtailment; medical, dental and life insurance; and a generous 401(k) with a 4.2% upfront contribution and additional matching. For more information about careers at INL, including our generous benefits package, visit inl.gov/careers.

These are just some of the stories of recent INL graduates. Congratulations to all the following employees who recently completed degrees through the EEP:

Aaron Jensen – master’s in business administration – Boise State University

Amber Rowe – master’s in interdisciplinary science and technology – University of Idaho

Ashlee Hawley – master’s in business administration – Boise State University

Ashley Hurd – associate in general studies – College of Eastern Idaho

Billy Williams – associate in cybersecurity – College of Eastern Idaho

Brandon Fowler – master’s in organizational leadership – Columbia Southern University

Brittany E. Hulse – bachelor's in business management – Boise State University

Bryon G. Mowlds – master’s in technology management – University of Idaho

Candice McDaniel – associate in business management – Idaho State University

Cassie Sandoval – associate in business administration – Boise State University

Corbin John – master’s in business administration – Idaho State University

Cory Justin Baker – master’s in cyber operations and resilience – Boise State University

David Oliver – master’s in cybersecurity – University of Idaho

Dusty Lee – bachelor’s in business management – Western Governors University

Dylan Ohrt – master’s in nuclear engineering – University of Idaho

G. Alan Newman – bachelor’s in applied management – Brigham Young University–Idaho

Ismael Arrazola – master’s in management and leadership – Western Governors University

Jana Richens – bachelor’s in cyber operations and resilience – Boise State University

Janelle McPherson – master’s in communication – Idaho State University

Jason T. Shepherd – master’s in business administration – Idaho State University

Jason Toomer – master’s in engineering management – University of Idaho

Jay Hix – master’s in technology management – University of Idaho

Jennifer Lake – master’s in environmental engineering – Missouri University of Science and Technology

Jeremiah Gilbert – master’s in electrical engineering – University of Idaho

Jonah Saunders – bachelor’s in business management – Idaho State University

Jonathon Wheelwright – master’s in nuclear engineering – University of Idaho

Jooyoung Park – Ph.D. in nuclear science and engineering – Idaho State University

Kaeley Stevens – Ph.D. in nuclear engineering – Oregon State University

Katy Fetzer – master’s in cyber operations and resilience – Boise State University

Kelsey Behm – bachelor’s in organizational science – University of Idaho

Kris Egan – bachelor’s in robotics engineering technology – Idaho State University

Leslie Johnson – master’s in technology management – University of Idaho

Lindsey Grandell – bachelor’s in human resources and business – Columbia Southern University

Logan Lewis – bachelor’s in business management – Idaho State University

Malachi Nelson – Ph.D. in nuclear engineering – University of California, Berkeley

Matt Cox – master’s in computer science – University of Idaho

Matthew Tyrrell – graduate certificate in geographic information systems and technology – University of Arizona

Mitch Wheeler – master’s in business administration – University of Arizona Global Campus

Monica Oliva-Sifuentes – bachelor’s in cyber operations and resilience – Boise State University

Mosiah Castro – master’s in technology management – University of Idaho

Rex Pulley – master’s in social work – Idaho State University

Robert P. Mariano – master’s in engineering management – University of Idaho

Sandi Landon – bachelor’s in general studies – University of Idaho

Sarah Khan – master’s in nuclear engineering – University of Idaho

Sasha Boyce – master’s in organizational leadership – Arizona State University

Shantay Ames – master’s in project management, organizational leadership – Arizona State University

Shaunie Bolender – bachelor’s in workplace training leadership – Idaho State University

Shawn St. Germain – master’s in engineering management – University of Idaho

Taylor B. Brown – master’s in cybersecurity and information assurance – Western Governors University

Thomas Todd Thompson – bachelor’s in business administration, marketing – Western Governors University

Trevor Edwards – master’s in cyber operations – Boise State University

Tyrell R. Mauseth – master’s in project management – Columbia Southern University

Vince Greco – master’s in cyber operations and resilience – Boise State University

About Idaho National Laboratory

Battelle Energy Alliance manages INL for the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Nuclear Energy. INL is the nation's center for nuclear energy research and development, celebrating 75 years of scientific innovations in 2024. The laboratory performs research in each of DOE’s strategic goal areas: energy, national security, science and the environment. For more information, visit www.inl.gov. Follow us on social media: Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and X.