"I opted for TESU because I wanted to maintain my work schedule while completing my degree. TESU’s semesters begin every month and the structure of curriculum is more conducive to the lives of working adults. That was a game changer for me..." ~Daniel Carleton, BS in Nuclear Energy Engineering Technology student.

Scholarship News:
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has once again awarded scholarship funding to the University to benefit students who are enrolled in its nuclear energy, nuclear engineering, radiation safety and associated cybersecurity and technology programs. During the upcoming NRC Scholarship cycle, the University will award scholarship amounts averaging $2,500 each to qualified students based on need and academic performance. The maximum scholarship award is $10,000. Learn more about the NRC Scholarship.

TESU is expanding its partnership with JetBlue Airways. The School of Applied Science and Technology recently began offering graduate-level courses to crewmembers in the JetBlue Scholars program so that they can earn master’s degrees at discounted rates. The University's aviation program and Corporate Choice® staff members have been collaborating with the airline since 2016 to provide access to online courses and personalized coaching for the company's crewmembers, with JetBlue covering a large portion of the cost.

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Student Profile:
Fueling Success

Entrepreneur and engineer-in-training Daniel Carleton represents the next generation of leaders who will usher in safe, clean technologies that respond to the world’s energy needs.

Carleton's duel degrees in economics and engineering technology will likely provide the necessary framework for that goal.

The Bachelor of Science degree in Nuclear Energy Engineering Technology that he is pursuing with TESU's School of Applied Science and Technology will be his second undergraduate degree. His first was a bachelor's degree in economics from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

"After earning my first bachelor's degree, I developed a passion for addressing the global need for clean energy," said Carleton. "Independent research quickly pointed to the variety of advantages that come with a clean energy economy. Finding a replacement for fossil fuels is the only way to realize those advantages. The more I investigated the topic, the clearer it became: some form of nuclear energy would have to be a part of the solution."

Soon after joining Terrestrial Energy USA as a project manager in September of 2014, he became a firm believer in the company's focus on Generation IV reactor technology as a promising new dispatchable baseload source of energy. The NY-based company is focused on the U.S. development of the Generation IV reactor design called the Integral Molten Salt Reactor (IMSR®). As a project manager, he oversees the company's project portfolio and partnerships with the U.S. government, universities and industry, while evaluating new funding opportunities.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has supported IMSR® development by awarding Terrestrial Energy USA with two funding vouchers as part of the Gateway for Accelerated Innovation in Nuclear (GAIN) initiative, and a regulatory assistance grant as part of a funding opportunity for advanced nuclear technology development.

"This breadth of funding support is a serious commitment and vote of confidence by the DOE in this form of energy for a zero-carbon future," said Dr. Richard Coe, assistant dean in the School of Applied Science and Technology. "Daniel's role as a project manager in this endeavor underscores his business acumen and deep understanding of energy technology options. These attributes, paired with his academic credentials, will likely position him among the next generation of industry thought leaders."

In order to advance his career and refine his technical expertise at the same time, Carleton said that he had to formalize his education in nuclear engineering. "Many of my industry colleagues have degrees in nuclear engineering," he noted. "I would not be able to advance to graduate-level study in the field without first completing a qualifying undergraduate degree."

He contacted staff at the American Nuclear Society (ANS) and asked them to recommend the best academic pathway. ANS' Education, Training and Workforce Development Division personnel recommended Thomas Edison State University, among a short list of other institutions, as providing the best workforce-related degree tracks based on his objectives.

"I opted for TESU because I wanted to maintain my work schedule while completing my degree," said Carleton. "TESU's semesters begin every month and the structure of curriculum is more conducive to the lives of working adults. That was a game changer for me, and I would've never been able to earn my second degree otherwise." TESU also accepted 50 of his previously earned credits toward his degree program. "I'm approximately halfway through the program with the goal of advancing to graduate-level study," he noted.

Carleton wants to continue to shift to the technical side of the field in a technical-supervisory capacity. "The company's mission is to build the first IMSR® plant in the 2020's. Having a degree in nuclear engineering will put me in a better position to help the company achieve this goal." he said.

"Access to affordable energy is the best predictor of standard of living in societies today," he said. "Knowing that we can potentially provide an alternative form of clean, safe and efficient energy to the U.S., and to developing countries as well, is very satisfying."

Learn more about the programs available in the School of Applied Science and Technology.

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