Mackenzie L. Gorham is a Senior Clinical Instructor in Nuclear Operations Technology at Idaho State University’s Energy System Technology Education Center, where she has served since 2020, developing ABET-compliant curriculum and coordinating instruction across the nuclear operations degree program. She also serves as Senior Reactor Operator and Training Coordinator for the ISU AGN-201 Reactor, preparing students for NRC Reactor Operator licensing exams.
Mackenzie holds a Bachelor of Science in Nuclear Engineering from Missouri University of Science and Technology, a Master of Science in Nuclear Engineering from Idaho State University, and a Master of Science in Environmental Science from the University of Idaho.
Prior to her academic career, Mackenzie spent nearly a decade at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Idaho Operations Office, where she held progressively senior roles including Criticality Safety Subject Matter Expert, Safety System Oversight Officer, Radiological Assistance Program Federal Team Leader, and Nonproliferation Program Manager — providing safety oversight, emergency response leadership, and nuclear nonproliferation program management at Idaho National Laboratory.
She holds an NRC Senior Reactor Operator License and an Idaho CTE Postsecondary Advanced Occupational Specialist certification. Her contributions to the field have been recognized with the Secretary of Energy Achievement Award (2020), the DOE Idaho Safety System Oversight Officer of the Year (2015), and multiple Idaho CTE Awards. She is an active member of the American Nuclear Society and the Society of Women Engineers, and has published on criticality safety benchmarks in the International Criticality Safety Benchmark Evaluation Project (ICSBEP) Handbook, alongside numerous conference papers and presentations. Mackenzie is also deeply engaged in community and outreach efforts, including mentoring students, coordinating STEM summer camps for middle schoolers, and volunteering with the Chubbuck Food Pantry.