Entergy Empowers STEM Professors for Students’ Future Success

Entergy recently welcomed six new faculty members from partner universities to its Entergy Faculty Extern Program across our service area in Arkansas, Louisiana and Mississippi. The program offers STEM educators – in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics – collaborative opportunities, facility tours, job shadowing and hands-on experiences to enhance their understanding of energy careers and better prepare their students.

Originally established in 2019, our extern program was put on hold due to the pandemic and reintroduced in 2023 with expanded offerings, including non-nuclear business functions such as reliability and the reliability control center, providing faculty with insights into various industry aspects.

"The program serves as a transformational agent to how we should see education. It is just not about loading them [students] with theory and knowledge but also emphasizing how important soft skills and communication skills are," said Dr. Erol Sarigul, associate professor, department of advanced technology, Alcorn State University.

The 2024 program began with an orientation in Jackson, Mississippi, followed by on-site job shadowing in participants' service areas. Faculty externs gained valuable industry knowledge, enabling them to inspire students and serve as Entergy brand ambassadors in their communities. Since the program’s re-launch, participants have lauded the program for enhancing their ability to connect theory with practice and improving student employability through relevant, practical learning experiences.

"Faculty externs were given an in-depth, inside look at the important work we do each day at Entergy. Entergy subject matter experts and leaders shared their time, talents and knowledge with the faculty externs. As a result, those externs will take new examples to their classrooms, highlight the energy industry as a viable career option and serve as Entergy brand ambassadors in their local communities," said Krystal Thurman, Entergy’s diverse workforce strategy program manager and Entergy Faculty Extern program lead. "Programs like this do not happen without an immense amount of teamwork, collaboration and desire to make others more successful."

Entergy’s 2024 faculty externs

• Erol Sarigul, associate professor, department of advanced technology, Alcorn State University
• Lin Gong, assistant professor, department of electrical and computer engineering and computer science, Jackson State University
• Fred Lacy, professor and chair, electrical engineering, Southern University and A&M College
• Jiecai Luo, professor, electrical engineer, Southern University and A&M College
• Yasser Ismail, associate professor, electrical engineering, Southern University and A&M College
• Charles Colen, professor and chairperson, engineering management and technology, University of Arkansas Pine Bluff

The program continues to enrich the talent pipeline by equipping educators with the skills needed to prepare students for success in the evolving energy sector. Learn more about our initiatives to provide training and support for students who are pursuing careers in STEM or energy.