Who: Carolynn Julien, Associate Director of Research Administration
Where: Hunter College, City University of New York
Number of Years in RD: 33
Length of NORDP Membership: 8
When and how did you enter the field? What kind of RD work do you do?
I stumbled into the RD field to be honest. Early in my career, I saw a posting for a position that sounded interesting. I thought it would be a good fit as I enjoyed writing and I worked well on teams. I figured it was worth a shot and I have been working in the same office here at Hunter College CUNY for the same boss ever since.
We are a PUI and our services run the gamut. We are truly a soup to nuts operation. We work with Junior Faculty to find the funding as well as to develop and submit proposals. We also work with senior faculty and everyone in between. Our office is a central one that supports faculty in all of the schools encompassing Arts & Sciences, Social Work, Nursing and Education.
What’s your history with NORDP? How have you engaged with the organization?
I have been to two in person conferences (DC and Austin) as well as the most recent virtual one, but the majority of my involvement in the past was via the mentoring component of NORDP. I received a mentor in 2013 and we have continued our connection all these years later.
I began to increase my engagement during the early part of the pandemic. I decided that I wanted to give back more, and I became a mentor to four individuals during the 2020-21 year. It was through this that I became involved with the Mentoring Committee. I recently gave a presentation during the Mentoring Lightning Storm entitled, From Silos to Success, during the 2021 conference. I discussed the mentoring system we have here that brings RD professionals together from all of the 25 CUNY system schools that has proven to be very effective. You can check it out here: https://nordp2021.gtr.pathable.com/meetings/virtual/BKmzcCgEwZcMQiH9T
I also served as a co-moderator on the Mentoring Across Differences presentation at this summer’s Mentoring Conference for NORDP. We expanded the definition of difference to speak about mentoring relationships and the beauty that these differences can add to these relationships.
What relationships have you built as a result of NORDP?
There have been so many honestly and I have built many friendships. I really did not feel that connected to NORDP prior to the 2020-21 year. Engaging with fellow members allowed me to develop relationships, many of which have turned into true friendships. I am also part of an informal group that meets once a month, which formed from Conversation Roadblocks event with NORDP’s Committee on Inclusive Excellence (CIE). This group provides a combination of personal and professional development and serves a great opportunity to talk about differences.
What are you most excited about as a board member?
I am really looking forward to the opportunity make a difference by having a seat at the table. I am also very interested in figuring out some of the tools, tips and knowledge that can be leveraged for PUI organizations like mine. I am excited to continue my involvement in mentoring and learn how to be able to mentor others who want a seat at the table as a board member. I am looking forward to having individuals who look like me understand that they too are welcome and their ideas & opinions matter.
Compiled by Daniel Campbell, Member Services Committee
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