N. Dianne Bull Ezell (’07, ’09, ’16)

Category: Alumni Promise | Awards

2022 Alumni Promise Award Winner

An innovative electrical engineer, N. Dianne Bull Ezell is dedicated to bridging women and students with STEM. Ezell graduated from the Tickle College of Engineering three separate times, earning a bachelor’s, master’s, and doctorate. Her career started at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) in 2009. With a focus on the functionality of electronics within advanced nuclear reactors and harsh environments, Ezell is currently the group leader for the Nuclear and Extreme Environment Measurements Group at ORNL.

In 2017, Ezell founded the ORNL Women in Science and Engineering initiative. Formerly, she chaired the ORNL Committee for Women and helped plan a leadership workshop for women in 2019 focused on developing and supporting diversity and inclusion at Oak Ridge. She is also active with Women in Nuclear and Global Security, Women in Engineering, and Women in Nuclear.

She has authored 31 peer-reviewed research publications, several book chapters, and nearly 40 reports. Regionally and nationally, she volunteers as a mentor and STEM advocate.

Ezell emphasizes student success in engineering fields as early as high school. She has mentored FIRST Robotics since 2017, a program that engages students to be leaders and innovators in STEM. Since she was an undergraduate student at UT, Ezell has also been an active leader in the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. From 2006 to 2007, she was Vice Chair for UT’s student IEEE chapter, and she mentored as a master’s student until she graduated in 2009. She joined the executive committee while in graduate school and linked the professionals to students. Ezell actively mentors and collaborates with students on projects. She has advised master’s and doctoral projects and served on graduate committees for students. Her social efforts have been recognized by the Young Women’s Christian Association, ORNL, and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE).

Ezell’s contribution to science has been recognized by the National Academy of Engineers, US Department of Energy, IEEE, and UT. She is an executive committee member of the East Tennessee IEEE Section, serves on the Operations and Power Division Section Committee of the American Nuclear Society, and is a peer reviewer for four engineering journals.