Dr. April Gillens will forever be the first African American to receive a Ph.D. in Environmental Engineering and Earth Sciences from Clemson University. She is employed with the Department of Energy (DOE) Isotope Program Headquarters staff as the Federal Program Manager for Stable Isotope. April has a broad background in nuclear forensics, stable isotope signatures, nuclear materials processing, nuclear security and policy, nuclear safeguards, weapons sustainment, and quantum information science. When asked about Gillens, her advisor, Dr. Brian Powell, said “It was a delight to work with April on her Ph.D. studies. She was a bright and self-motivated student and is now off to an outstanding and influential career”! April’s story is an inspiration for this and future generations. Congratulations to April!
