Initiators: Two NMSU students, Olivia Belian and Benedek Szalai, worked together with Joseph Holles, chemical and materials engineering professor and department head, who agreed to be the faculty advisor for the new section. Belian, now the president of the section, is a mechanical and aerospace engineering student, and Szalai is a student in the chemical and materials engineering department.
Despite pursuing different majors, both share an interest in nuclear and have worked to build a new community around it at the university. The section, like all ANS student sections, is open to any student interested in nuclear, whether they are following paths in business, engineering, science, or anything else.
Speaking to the value of the new section, Holles said, “This group meshes well with the broad goals of the Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering and supports numerous employers across the state of New Mexico.” Noting the opportunity nuclear provides for a broad array of students, Holles also noted that “the Department of Energy sees a continuing need for students in a wide variety of majors to support the country’s needs.”
Activities: Following in the footsteps of the University of New Mexico, which has had a student section since 1967 that is currently chaired by associate professor of nuclear engineering Christopher Perfetti, NMSU is the second student section to be founded in the state.
NMSU has already taken strides to bolster the nuclear community on campus in its first few months as an organization. The group has hosted speakers from Savannah River National Laboratory, attended the 2025 ANS Student Conference at the University of New Mexico, and has held a number of meetings.
Explaining the opportunities getting involved with the section represents, Belian said, “We’re always looking for fresh ideas and energy. Anyone can get involved by attending meetings, listening to speakers, or joining our design competition.”
Speaking to her hopes for the section’s ability to influence the campus and public at large, Belian added, “I want people to understand that nuclear science isn’t as scary as it’s often made out to be. If they’re willing to keep an open mind, they’ll see the incredible potential it has, from clean energy to space propulsion.”
