Carol Eberhard Kessler
Carol Kessler is a retired professional who spent 35 years building three distinct careers centered on service, policy, and human dignity. For more than 20 years, I worked in federal government roles in Washington, D.C., including service with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and the U.S. Department of State, where I focused on nuclear export controls and reactor safety policy. Following the Chernobyl accident, I served on an international team that engaged with Soviet officials on nuclear safety issues, and I became a lead American representative in many of the collaborative efforts between the United States, Ukraine, and Russia surrounding the Chernobyl disaster response. In 1992, when President George H. W. Bush elevated nuclear safety and diplomatic coordination with Ukraine and Russia to a G7-level priority, my work expanded globally. I later pursued graduate education at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Technology and Policy with a focus on Nuclear Engineering, strengthening my technical and policy expertise.
In 2014, I transitioned into human services and aging care after returning to school to earn a graduate degree in Human Services and Gerontology from Capella University. I spent five years working as a home aide, primarily caring for indigent women navigating the challenges of aging and declining independence. This experience profoundly shaped my understanding of compassion and human resilience, as I learned that meaningful and fulfilling lives can continue even during periods of physical limitation. As my physical work capacity changed, I became a Washington State Long Term Care Ombudsman, advocating for elders and families facing challenges in hospitals, assisted living facilities, and long-term care settings. I also served as a dementia coach with the University of Washington and as Board Chair of Keiro Northwest, supporting community-based aging initiatives.
In retirement, I continue to live a life centered on service, family, and creative expression. I retired in 2023 to care for my husband while remaining involved in supporting elders within my local community through informal caregiving and advocacy. I enjoy painting, drawing, and gardening, which provide opportunities for reflection, creativity, and connection to nature. Throughout my life and career, I have been guided by honesty, integrity, and kindness, and I remain committed to learning, helping others, and contributing positively to the people and communities around me.
• Home Health Aide certification
• Capella University - MS in Human Services
• Institute for Nuclear Materials Management (past member)
• Board member of assisted living facility for Japanese Americans interned during World War II
What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to having some of the best mentors anybody could ask for. Those mentors gave me an amazing gift, and I spent the rest of my career mentoring others so that I could pass on what I had received. Having people who believed in me and guided me made all the difference in my ability to navigate three different careers and take on challenges like becoming the lead American on Chernobyl issues. The mentorship I received was so valuable that paying it forward became one of the most important parts of my professional life.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I ever received was from my dad: don't stay in the job too long. My dad was an ambitious, very motivated man who was an architect, and he made it sort of his personal rule that he stayed in a job for five years and then found something else. He didn't really go far from his field, but he did a lot with it, and he was very entrepreneurial. He was an amazing role model for me. While I don't think I had quite his entrepreneurial spirit, his advice about moving on after five years helped me stay fresh and open to new opportunities throughout my career.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
My advice to young women entering government is to keep your eyes open. The field is so broad, running from foreign policy to healthcare to environmental concerns, and each area is bureaucratically slightly different - some have a strong domestic component and some don't. One of the things that happened to me is I volunteered a couple of times to do something, and it led to a whole new piece of my career. What made me happiest was being able to move ahead and move into these different parts of the world that I was a part of. It was really fun. So stay alert to opportunities, be willing to volunteer for new challenges, and don't be afraid to explore different areas within your field.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values most important to me in both my professional and personal life are honesty, integrity, and kindness. Throughout my career spanning government service, healthcare advocacy, and community caregiving, I have consistently prioritized ethical decision-making and transparency because I believe trust is the foundation of meaningful service. Whether working on international nuclear safety collaboration, advocating for vulnerable elders, or supporting families navigating complex care systems, I strive to approach every situation with fairness, professionalism, and a commitment to doing what is right. I also place strong importance on compassion and respect for others, as I believe kindness strengthens communities and improves outcomes for people facing difficult challenges. In my personal life, I continue to live out these values through my family relationships, community involvement, caregiving for my husband, and everyday activities such as gardening and drawing, all of which allow me to maintain a life centered on integrity, service, and human connection.