Month: April 2024

NORDP 2024: What to Know Before You Go

Greetings NORDP 2024 Attendees:

We are looking forward to welcoming you to the 2024 NORDP Conference in Bellevue, WA! Get ready for inspiring keynotes, fantastic presentations, and plentiful opportunities to grow connections with your RD colleagues. We have put together the following guide that we hope will be helpful as you prepare for your arrival in Bellevue.

🙂  NORDP Conference Concierge 

The NORDP Conference Concierge (not to be confused with the Hyatt Concierge desk!) is located in the 2nd level of the Conference Space, outside the Grand Ballroom. It’s more than just a location! It will be staffed by event management professionals and our wonderful NORDP member volunteers. It’s a place to go when you have a question or problem to be solved, are unsure, or just need a break. For those of you who are new(er) to NORDP, the NORDP Concierge Desk is a great place to learn about NORDP as an organization (e.g., what committees are available to join? Who is on the Board? How can I get involved?). 

Stop by the NORDP Conference Concierge Desk anytime during these hours: 

  • Sunday, 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
  • Monday, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
  • Tuesday, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
  • Wednesday, 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

In addition to the NORDP Concierge Desk, you can use the Whova App to directly message Conference Organizers. Find this feature under Community → Ask Organizers Anything.

🚙  Shuttle & Parking

NORDP Shuttle

  • We are offering a shuttle bus to and from the conference venue and the Seattle/Tacoma International Airport on Sunday and Wednesday for any interested attendees. 
  • You can learn more about this option and register for a seat on the shuttle here. The cost per person for a one way trip is $25. Please note that there are limited public transportation options to the conference venue.
  • To take the shuttle: The shuttle will be departing from the charter bus pickup lot at Seattle/Tacoma International Airport. To catch the shuttle: (1) Head to baggage claim 15&16. (2) Take the elevator one level up (parking garage level) and cross bridge 5 or 6 to reach the parking garage. (3) Once you arrive at the parking garage, follow the signs for charter buses to reach the charter bus pickup lot.

Parking at the Hyatt Regency Bellevue on Seattle’s Eastside

  • Self-parking is available at the hotel for $35/day with in and out privileges. Guests who are staying at the hotel on Friday and Saturday nights receive complimentary self-parking for those days. Upon check-in, please let the front desk know you have a vehicle to ensure you receive in and out privileges.
  • Valet parking is available for $45/day with in and out privileges.
  • For more information on how to access the parking lot, please visit the hotel webpage here.

Rideshare

  • For rideshares such as Uber or Lyft from Seattle Tacoma International Airport to the hotel, the price is expected to range from $60-75 one way. 
  • There is a ‘Airport Ride Sharing’ thread in the Whova app under the Community section that you may use to coordinate with other attendees. 

Rental Cars

  • The Seattle Tacoma International Airport has a number of rental car services. For detailed information on how to get to the rental car facility, please visit this webpage here.

Light Rail

  • For those looking to explore locally, Seattle’s East Link Light Rail, between South Bellevue to Redmond Technology Station, is opening April 27, 2024. The Hyatt Regency in Bellevue, (900 Bellevue Way NE, Bellevue WA) is conveniently situated near the Bellevue Downtown Station, (searchable in Maps) of this Line. This station is approximately a 15-minute walk from the hotel.
  • Make sure to stop at the ticket kiosks upon arrival to purchase a round ticket pass for wherever you are going, (prices range from $3.00 to $6.50), and keep your ticket on your person. 

For more driving and parking information, visit the conference website. 

✅  Conference Check-In 

Conference Check-in is 2:00–5:30 p.m. on Sunday, April 28 at the NORDP Concierge and Registration table, which is located outside the Grand Ballroom on the hotel’s Second Floor. If you are not arriving within that time frame, no worries. Simply come to the Concierge and Registration table on Monday or Tuesday (between 7 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.) or Wednesday (between 7 – 10 a.m.) to check in. 

To check-in:

  • Approach the NORDP Concierge and Registration table to find large QR codes printed for check-in.
  • Open the camera on your phone to scan the QR code. It will automatically direct you to the Whova app for check-in.  
  • Approach the staff and volunteers to collect your name badge.
  • Registrants will have the opportunity to choose between a NORDP water bottle or a NORDP tote bag. Choices available while supplies last.
  • NORDP lapel pins were given at last year’s conference. If you have one, bring it! Those new to NORDP or didn’t get a lapel pin last year, you can get one at the NORDP concierge desk (while supplies last). 
  • That’s it!

Note: if you are NOT using the Whova app, you can still access information about the conference via the Whova app website (https://whova.com/portal/webapp/nordu_202405/).

*On-site Registration: We will allow onsite registration for individuals to purchase tickets onsite through the Whova app which only accepts credit card payments.

Wi-fi Availability at Conference

To connect to wi-fi when in the conference spaces, look for wifi information cards visible in the conference spaces. If you cannot find an information card, visit the NORDP Concierge desk!

If you are staying in the hotel, your room wi-fi network will be different than the conference spaces. Follow the guest services instructions to connect to wi-fi in your guest rooms.

📱  Need help with the Whova App?

We are so excited to offer the Whova App for our entire conference community! The platform is a resource for attendees, speakers, sponsors, and the planning committee. Activity on the app has been ramping up over the last couple of weeks, and it’s been so fun watching all of you engage! 

If you are not on the app yet, let us know and we can help. Just stop by the NORDP Concierge and Registration table, which is located outside the Grand Ballroom on the hotel’s Second Floor.

Presenters should have received an email from Sabree Lateef asking to upload bios and session information. Here’s a link to the Whova guide on how to upload your information.

Note: if you are NOT using the Whova app, you can still access information about the conference via the Whova app website (https://whova.com/portal/webapp/nordu_202405/).

👋   Welcome Reception 

Join us on Sunday, from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. for a Welcome Reception in the Grand Foyer. The Welcome Reception is sponsored by our Juniper sponsor, Thorn Run Partners. We are so excited to welcome you to NORDP 2024 with brief welcome remarks from the NORDP President! There will be small bites and drink tickets available.

🌟  NORDP Sponsors

Please make time to stop by our sponsor exhibits outside the Grand Ballroom on the hotel’s Second Floor to chat with them and find out what’s new in their businesses. Our sponsors make the conference happen! We will also be holding a Sponsor Expo on Tuesday, April 30 from 2:45 – 4:00 p.m. Please take this opportunity to check out the sponsor booths! As you visit the sponsors, remember to collect a ‘stamp’ from each sponsor you visit for the Passport Contest (in Whova). Attendees who collect 10 or more stamps will be entered into a raffle.

🔘 ​​ Code of Conduct 

We have posted a NORDP 2024 Conference Code of Conduct in the Whova App and on the conference website. In both platforms, it can be found under Logistics → Inclusivity and Accessibility → Conference Code of Conduct. Please review it when you have time. If you witness any violations of the Code of Conduct during the conference, please report it using the reporting form linked in the Code of Conduct.

👕  Attire ​​

Attire for the conference is business casual, and casual after hours. The room temperature in conference meeting spaces may differ from your personal preferences, so consider wearing layers that allow you to be comfortable. 

Be sure to bring workout clothes/shoes if you’re planning on taking part in morning exercise activities. 
The forecast for the local area is for warmer-than-average temperatures, warm during the day (65-75℉) and cooler at night (45-55℉), with humidity running between 55-89%. Historically, Bellevue has maximum temperatures around in the 60s and 70s, and minimum temperatures in the 40s and 50s. The Seattle area is rainy in the spring. You may consider bringing a rain jacket, rain boots, and/or an umbrella.

🍽️  Meals 

Your registration fee covers the cost of breakfast and lunch on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday of the conference. We have made every effort to accommodate dietary restrictions and requests. Please find one of the service staff if you have any questions. 
Dinners will be on your own—please check out the Whova App under Community → Meet-ups & Virtual Meets to find a Networking Dinner to sign up for, or grab dinner with a colleague or a friend. We have put together this map that provides multiple restaurants within walking distance of the hotel.

🚰  Water bottles

In the interest of practicing sustainability, we ask that conference attendees bring their own water bottles to the conference. Attendees will also have the option of choosing a NORDP water bottle at registration (while supplies last). There will be water stations available at breakfast, breaks, lunch, and receptions to stay hydrated!

🎒 Bring a backpack or tote

Conference attendees will have the opportunity to choose between a NORDP water bottle or a NORDP tote bag (choices available while supplies last). Regardless, we encourage you to bring your own backpack or bag to use throughout the conference.

🏙️ ​​ Optional Social and Fitness Activities

In true NORDP fashion, you all have stepped up to lead amazing social and fitness activities. From walking to local coffee roasters, to enjoying an evening meal around a discussion topic, to swimming laps — there are many options to add some fun to your agenda. Find current options in the Whova App under Community → Meet-ups & Virtual Meets. Don’t see something that you’d like to do? Feel free to post something for others to join!

❤️  NORDP’s Got Heart 

This year’s conference committee wanted to make an impact in the community where we are convening. To do this, we are partnering with The Sophia Way, a local organization that provides shelter, supportive services, and resources for women experiencing homelessness on Seattle’s Eastside. We will be collecting items and monetary donations during the conference until 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday. Requested items, as a link for monetary donations, can be found on the Whova App and on the website under Logistics → NORDP’s Got Heart. 

Check out the Whova App under Community → Meet-ups & Virtual Meets, as members will be organizing morning walks to CVS or other stores to purchase items for donation. 

We will total both items and monetary donations and present all donations to a representative from The Sophia Way on Wednesday after our closing keynote.

​​🖼️  Presenting a poster

If you are presenting a poster, please try to find a time between 9:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. on Monday, April 29 to hang your posters up on the display boards (located in room Evergreen F G H I on the lobby level). Posters will be up for the majority of the conference. Please take down your poster by 12:00 p.m. on Wednesday, May 1. Any posters left after noon will be thrown away.

😷  COVID-19 awareness at the conference

We encourage all conference attendees to practice good hygiene. Best practices for conferences include frequent handwashing, mask-wearing if you are at risk or concerned about exposure for any reason, and communication through the event if someone at the conference tests positive for COVID. We refer to the latest CDC Guidance for Travel. 

  • In King County, Washington, the community level is Low (as of 4/22/2024) Feel free to keep an eye on this website for the latest information.
  • Follow any prevention advice given to you by your healthcare provider. 
  • If wearing a mask is necessary and/or important to you, please bring the best mask for you. 
  • If you are interested in acquiring a mask or a COVID test while you are at the conference, there are several nearby places to purchase (CVS Pharmacy, Rite Aid, and Safeway)

NORDP Consultants Program Expands with Two New Cohorts in 2024

The NORDP Consultants Program, dedicated to diversifying the national research ecosystem by building capacity through research development, has launched its new website and two new cohorts with support from the National Science Foundation (OIA-2331578) in 2024.

Cohort II launched in January 2024 and is made up of MSIs aspiring to reach the R2 or R1 classification. The cohort includes:
  • The City College of New York, a public Hispanic-serving Institution in New York
  • Clark Atlanta University, among the private Historically Black Colleges and Universities in Georgia
  • Kean University, a public Hispanic-serving Institution in New Jersey;
  • Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, a public Hispanic-serving Institution in Texas.
Launching in October 2024, Cohort III includes predominantly undergraduate and masters MSIs:
  • Hawai’i Pacific University, a private Native Hawaiian and Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving institution in Hawai’i
  • Kentucky State University, a public institution among the Historically Black Colleges and Universities
  • McMurry University, a private Hispanic-Serving Institution in Texas
  • The University of West Alabama, a private Predominantly Black Institution in Alabama.

The unique identity of each cohort allows the NORDP Consultants and Peer Mentors to collaborate and share resources, ideas, and strategies that help facilitate transformation. A request for applications for Cohort IV will be launched in early 2025. 

Cohort I, which included four Historically Black Colleges and Universities: Florida Memorial University, Morehouse School of Medicine, North Carolina A&T State University, and Spelman College, completed its intensive two-year engagement in December 2023. Cohort 1 representatives are invited to participate in ongoing quarterly networking and semi-annual professional development opportunities.

A huge thank you to the passionate group of people who make the NORDP Consultants Program possible, including:

NORDP Consultants

  • Susan Carter
  • Camille Coley
  • Marta Collier-Youngblood
  • Michelle Collins
  • Dean Gerstein
  • Karen Fletcher
  • Holly Hapke
  • Julie Hawk
  • Shauncey Hill
  • Dorota Huizinga
  • Jill Jividen
  • Jacob Levin
  • Mike Marcinkowski
  • Debra Reinhart
  • LeKita Scott Dawkins
  • Michael Spires
  • Peggy Sundermeyer
  • Don Takehara
  • Carol Thornber
  • Barbara Walker
  • Jana Watson-Capps
  • J Quyen Wickham

Peer Mentors

  • Melissa Hodge-Penn
  • Rupa Iyer
  • Carolynn Julien
  • Bori Mazzag

Budget Doctors

  • Erin Butler
  • Blake Cowing

Program Leadership

  • Kimberly Eck
  • Japera Hemming
  • Erica Pitre

NORDP 2023 Fellow: Jennifer Lyon Gardner

The NORDP Fellow Award recognizes the long-term accomplishments of members who have made sustained contributions to NORDP and worked tirelessly to advance research development as a profession and/or as a field. Status as a NORDP Fellow is the highest professional distinction the organization may bestow on a member. 

Who: Jennifer Lyon Gardner, Deputy Vice President for Research

Where: The University of Texas at Austin

Number of years in research development: 16

Length of NORDP membership: 11 years

What does leadership mean to you? 

I think leadership means different things in different contexts. The way I operate as a leader in my role at UT Austin is really different from the way I’ve operated as a leader within NORDP. Within UT, I started out as an office of one and had to do all the things myself. This meant I had to be very strategic about my time management and prove that RD services could be of value to faculty in order to move toward my goal of establishing RD at an institutional level. Once we had a VPR in place who believed in this goal, I was able to build up a large team. But I never set out to be a supervisor of a large group of people. I don’t consider myself to be the greatest mentor, actually – it requires a degree of patience that I find challenging when I have a bunch of things I want to accomplish. But I’m extremely fortunate to have managers within my team who are incredible at providing that mentoring. This allows me to focus on leveraging my strengths to lead the team. I excel at setting a vision for my team. I’m good at advocating for what we need and working with top level administration to get things done and bridging the faculty-staff divide. 

Within NORDP on the other hand, when I was on the Board I sensed there was a need for something else. Within the Board, everybody is a leader. Everybody can set a good vision. What I saw was a need for someone who could put their head down and get stuff done. I spent so much of my time at UT being the person who makes all the decisions and justifies the existence of RD, it was honestly refreshing to have a group of peers to work with on the NORDP Board who already understood the value of RD so we could just get down to business. I took on the operational role of Board Secretary, which meant I spent a lot of time checking things off lists, keeping things organized, and doing a lot of behind-the-scenes work that I don’t think the average NORDP member will ever tangibly be able to see. But I’m proud that this behind-the-scenes work made the Board’s job easier and freed up their time to be able to focus on the important stuff, the same way that RD officers support faculty so the faculty can really focus on the scholarly content of a proposal and do their best work. And by contributing to the efficiency of how the Board and our organization runs, that ultimately benefits NORDP members.

What has your journey within NORDP looked like so far?

I came into NORDP not knowing anyone or anything about the organization. When I first joined (in 2013), I followed the listserv passively for a while and then I put a question out there. The question was about starting a seed funding program to incentivize cross-department collaboration (one of those perennial questions that still comes up on the listserv to this day). When I asked the question, Susan Gomes wrote me back and offered to chat and she had so much great RD-specific advice that I still share with others today. That first early interaction showed me how amazingly helpful and collaborative the RD community is and how important it is to have colleagues at other institutions who you can be frank with and compare notes. 

In 2015, Rachel Dresbeck encouraged me to run for the Board. And I did, but I wasn’t elected. But after putting myself out there, I was asked to co-chair the Conference Committee and I said yes. It was the first time I had ever chaired a conference; I’d never done something like that before. I had my first child in the middle of planning the conference, and going to that conference was the longest I had been away from my then-5-month-old daughter. But I felt like it was an important new kind of leadership experience for me to take on. In 2017, I was encouraged to run for the Board again, which I was really nervous about because I had done it once before and wasn’t chosen. But I decided to go for it, and this time I was elected. I had never served on a Board before, so it was a massive learning experience. It was Karen Fletcher (who was Board Secretary at the time) who took me under her wing and helped me find my voice and recognize what I could contribute. And so it means a lot to me to be named a NORDP Fellow in the same year as Karen because she has been one of my biggest supporters and aspirational peers within the field.  I had my second child while I was serving on the NORDP Board. And that’s something I’ve really liked about NORDP – how accommodating it is. I’ve always been able to find ways to remain engaged even as I was growing my family. That’s something that I think is particularly cool about our organization.

After I completed my time on the Board, I focused on revamping NORDP’s Leadership Forum. I was particularly interested in the Leadership Forum because I’ve been on a really rapid leadership trajectory within my own career. I became an AVP when I was 34, and I wanted to find a way to show more people in the organization that taking on that kind of position is not just a matter of waiting it out for someone to retire; you don’t have to be in your late 40s or 50s to be in a leadership role. I was also interested in finding a way to keep people engaged with NORDP and providing resources across all career stages. We opened up the leadership forum from an invitation-only to an application-based process to make it more inclusive and allow people to nominate themselves rather than depending on someone else in the organization to name them, which I’m really proud of. I’ve also continued to be involved in other NORDP events like the 3-part RD talent acquisition, retention, and development panel held in 2022-2023.

Throughout your time in NORDP, which relationships stand out to you? What led you to take on leadership roles within the organization?

My pursuit of leadership roles within NORDP would only have happened with the encouragement of Rachel Dresbeck and Gretchen Kiser. Initially, I didn’t see myself as “Board material.” They saw it in me before I saw it in myself. Once I was on the Board, Karen Fletcher, Karen Eck, and Jeff Agnoli played a big role in supporting me as a new Board member and helping me feel reassured that I do belong on the Board and that I do have something unique to contribute. 

Since being on the Board, I continue to get a lot of value out of the close relationships I’ve built with peers within the organization, people like Jill Jividen, Kim Patten, Faye Farmer, and Nathan Meier. These relationships are incredibly important; we compare notes about things that are going on in our institutions and support each other. Knowing that my peers in RD share some of the same frustrations that I do sometimes lets me know that I’m not just failing as an RD professional. 

What initiatives are you most proud of from your time as a NORDP volunteer?

Revamping NORDP’s Leadership Forum is certainly an initiative I’m proud to have led. There are also a few other things I’ve been involved in since being on the Board that stand out to me. One is serving as a recurring panelist for the three-part series hosted by Susan Carter and Nathan Meier focused on ‘Exploring the Research Development Talent System’, in which we employed a systems-thinking approach to jumpstart a larger conversation among NORDP members around recruiting, developing, and retaining RD talent. We got a lot of positive feedback from members after that series that they found the conversation helpful. 

Finally, as I was nearing the end of my term on the Board, I rebooted a then-dormant executive (internal/Board members only) committee, the Governance Committee. This was one of those behind-the-scenes things that you might only become aware of if the Bylaws get updated, or something procedural like that. But my committee members (including Karen Fletcher, Rachel, Faye, and Nathan mentioned above, as well as Etta Ward, Joanna Downer, and Paul Tuttle) and I had a deep collective trust in each other and were able to have some really frank conversations about organizational culture and things we knew we wanted to improve about the culture. Back then, we’d sometimes really struggle to get a full slate of candidates for Board elections each year. In more recent years, through both the GC’s early work and also the Nominating Committee’s sustained efforts, NORDP has benefitted from a huge wave of incredible Board members who bring such a wide and impressive set of competencies to the role. If representation on your Board matters to you, I highly encourage you to consider serving on the Nominating Committee! 

How has your involvement in NORDP impacted your career in research development?

My involvement in NORDP has undoubtedly had a positive impact on my career in research development as I’ve worked my way up from being a staff member providing RD support for a research center at UT Austin to where I am now. And one thing that has dawned on me more recently is that as I’m in the organization longer and longer, my role within NORDP is changing: it’s not so much anymore about what new knowledge NORDP can provide to me, or how NORDP is developing me as a person, but it’s more about how I can use my position and visibility within the organization and my position as a leader to bring others up. One personal goal I’ve set for myself going forward is that, at every conference, I want to do a presentation with a person I’ve not interacted with previously as a means to get to know them and give them greater visibility. So if you’re a NORDP member reading this and you want to hop on a collab for the 2025 conference, write to me! 

What are you most excited about when you think about the future of research development as a field?

What excites me most about the future of RD is its growing visibility and recognition as a legitimate profession and field. The field of Research Development is explicitly referenced in federal agency documents now! On a more personal note, whenever we hire a new dean or leader at UT and I introduce myself as “leading Research Development for the institution,” they now typically respond with, “That’s great! At my previous institution we had someone like you and they were so valuable!” More and more organizations are choosing to invest in RD as a strategic asset, and that means more career opportunities for all of us in the field. To be clear, all of us in NORDP should feel proud of this and take credit for elevating the legitimacy and profile of our field and profession. 

New at #NORDP2024 — the opening keynote will be a keynote panel!

Written by the Conference Committee Branding and Communications Working Group

NORDP has invited Dr. Marie Bernard, Rhonda Davis, and Dr. Travis York to deliver a keynote panel to kick-off the NORDP 2024 Conference on Monday, April 29, 2024. The structure of the panel will include opening remarks from each guest speaker outlining important diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Science Foundation (NSF), and the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). 

Travis York, AAAS

“When I think about how to make meaningful change to increase access and opportunities for all people, research development professionals are well-positioned to build the capacity of institutions and organizations through thoughtful design.” — Travis York (AAAS)

Marie Bernard, NIH

“My role as the NIH Chief Officer for Scientific Workforce Diversity is to work across NIH, visioning at the 50,000-foot-level, to foster a diversity of perspectives in science.” — Marie Bernard (NIH)

 

Rhonda Davis, NSF

“I am excited to share how NSF thinks both about the research integrity space and about supporting researchers as they currently exist.” — Rhonda Davis (NSF)

All the speakers are looking forward to engaging with the NORDP audience. The keynote panel will feature a moderated discussion and include time for audience questions. 

The invited panelists and the conference planning committee are so excited to share this conversation with #NORDP2024 attendees.

The March 2024 Career Stories featured Dr. Chetna Chianese, Senior Director of Research Development at Syracuse University

Written by: Roshni Singh, LEAD Kindling Crew

Chetna Chianese, PhD • Senior Director of Research Development • Syracuse University

Dr. Chetna Chianese is the Senior Director of Research Development at Syracuse University, serving as the lead for the central RD office since 2023. In this role, Dr. Chianese assists faculty across Syracuse University with the development of new research priorities and proposals. She provides research development leadership for the university-identified research priorities, facilitates multi-million-dollar and inter-school/college proposal submissions, and leads internal funding programs provided by the Office of Research. Chetna has a Ph.D. in inorganic chemistry from the University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill and a B.S. in chemistry from Vanderbilt University.

Prior to her appointment as the Senior Director of Research Development, Chetna had served as the office’s Associate Director since 2019. She has also served as the Associate Director of Research at SyracuseCoE, a Syracuse University research center, aiding faculty on research proposals and projects related to energy and the environment. 

Before arriving at Syracuse University, Chetna spent three years as an AAAS Science and Technology Policy Fellow in the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. She discovered the AAAS fellowship program during grad school, which sounded better than being a bench scientist. This led her first to serve as a program manager for the DOD contractor SAIC at the Naval Research Labs in Washington DC. There, Chetna learned the basics of proposal development and project management. She took those skills to DOE where she became an expert in critical minerals and eventually designed a grant funding program with a portfolio of $120 million.

However, she quickly realized the government bureaucracy was not for her and found her niche in Research Development. RD allows her to leverage her prior experiences which translates into successful proposals for the faculty members. Chetna gets a “rush when things work out” and she feels she has made a difference.

In her current role, Chetna has spearheaded the expansion of the central RD office from 2.5 FTE to ~7, and plans to keep building opportunities to allow her team’s roles to evolve. She is focused on creating opportunities for her team to grow and develop their niche and she works to effectively communicate strategic priorities while removing barriers. Her desired impact and legacy are to lead the office effectively during a period of change and come up with a framework for her office, given its larger budget and institutional leadership support.

In her current role, Chetna leverages strategic intelligence to understand funding programs and their priorities. She often hears herself saying to the faculty members “read the review criteria” and, “it depends on the funder”. From her experiences, she has learned to be cautious and applies the same strategy when working with the faculty members as she thinks “we only know what we’ve been exposed to and otherwise we’re making an educated guess.”

Chetna is a member of the NORDP Nominating Committee and the Fireside Chat/Career Stories Kindling Crew. She has previously served as the Region II Co-Chair and a member of the Member Services Committee. She highly recommends NORDP and thinks it’s great place to network and learn from everyone.

Fun Fact: While working at the DOE, Chetna had the opportunity to participate on two White House interagency working group.

Chetna would love to answer any questions you have for her, so please feel free to email her at cchianes@syr.edu

To listen to her full interview by the career/kindle team, please click on this link (you must log in as a NORDP member to access): MC LMS – NORDP LEAD presents: “Career Stories” – Chetna Chianese – March 5, 2024