Category: Conferences

NORDP 2025: What to Know Before You Go

Greetings NORDP 2025 attendees:

We are thrilled to have you join us for this year’s conference, where you’ll have the opportunity to connect with and learn from research development colleagues from the comfort of your own space. We on the NORDP 2025 Conference Planning Committee have put together the following guide to help you make the most of your conference experience, from navigating the virtual conference platform to engaging in professional development, networking, and volunteering activities. We look forward to coming together to build community at NORDP 2025!

🙂  Find Your Way Around

We encourage you to spend time between now and the start of the conference familiarizing yourself with our virtual conference platform: Whova. There will be a pre-conference Tools & Tips (TnT) webinar focused on using Whova on Wednesday, April 15, at noon ET/9am PT. Register today.

If you’re just getting familiar with Whova, here’s a link to the Whova guide on how to upload your information.

Fun Fact: You can use the Whova App to directly message Conference Organizers. Find this feature under Community → Ask Organizers Anything.

Note: if you are NOT using the Whova app, you can still navigate the conference via the Whova web platform. 

🔘 ​​ Conference Code of Conduct 

We have posted a NORDP Conference Code of Conduct on the conference website. It can be found under More → Inclusivity and Accessibility → Conference Code of Conduct. Please take a chance to review it prior to the start of the conference. 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.

💻 Virtual Conference Best Practices

Maximize your experience at this year’s conference by staying engaged and comfortable. Mute your mic when not speaking, participate in chats or Q&As, and take regular breaks to avoid screen fatigue. Find a cozy spot, grab snacks, and settle in with what you need to stay focused during each conference day.

We also encourage you to make the most of networking opportunities—introduce yourself in the chat, join breakout rooms, and explore attendee profiles. The Whova app is your best friend: use it to build your agenda, connect with others, and join discussion boards. Whether you’re attending live sessions or engaging through the app, staying present and proactive will help you get the most out of NORDP 2025!

🏙️ ​​ Social and Networking Activities

Looking to connect and socialize with fellow conference attendees? Join us for a variety of engaging social activities at the beginning and end of each conference day. From virtual coffee hours and committee- or region-hosted events to art classes and yoga sessions, there’s something for everyone!

Find the current list of social activities in the Whova App under Community → Meet-ups & Virtual Meets. Don’t see something that you’d like to do? Feel free to create your own meet-up for others to join!

🤝  Volunteer Sign Up

NORDP is fueled by volunteers, and this conference is no exception! Contribute to enhancing your own conference experience, as well as that of others, by volunteering in one of the following capacities:

  • Become a Session Host to help moderate a colleague’s presentation!
  • Serve as a Tech Host to ensure a colleague’s presentation goes off without any technical hitches
  • Host a social activity (e.g., coffee hour, happy hour, bingo, trivia, networking dinner, etc.) and create your own virtual adventure!
  • Help the Resume Coaching Corner run smoothly

To find out more about volunteer roles, visit the Volunteering webpage.

Ready to volunteer? Sign up here!

📄  Resume Coaching Corner

Whether you’re looking to refine your resume, highlight your achievements, or tailor your CV for your next big opportunity, consider checking out the Resume Coaching Corner to receive tailored support from one of our resume coaches. The Resume Coaching Corner will be open on each conference day, immediately before and after program content. Participants will have the ability to sign up in advance for a 20-minute 1:1 appointment with a coach.

If you’re interested in receiving support, sign up for a time slot here and learn about how to prepare for your appointment using our Resume Coaching Corner Guide for Participants.

Eager to lend your experience to support others? Consider volunteering to be a Resume Corner Coach! Learn more about coaching expectations in our Resume Coaching Corner Guide for Coaches, and sign up for a time slot here.

🖼️  Virtual Poster Session

In addition to exciting and informative presentations, this year’s conference will also include a virtual poster session. You can view posters at any time in the Whova App under Agenda → Posters and interact with poster presenters using the Chat feature (access this by clicking on any individual poster) or by attending the live poster session from 1:15-2:15 PM ET/10:15-11:15 AM PT on Wednesday, April 30.

📋  Give us Your Feedback

Our goal for each NORDP Conference is to provide timely, relevant, and valuable information for conference attendees and your input is an important part of that process. Throughout the conference, you’ll have the opportunity to provide feedback on specific sessions by completing a brief evaluation form at the end of each session, and you can provide feedback on the overall conference experience by completing a final evaluation at the conclusion of the conference. Your feedback is important and will inform the planning of future conferences!

🌟  NORDP Sponsor Shout-Out

Our sponsors make the conference happen! A huge thank you to this year’s conference sponsors: InfoReady, Bouvier Grant Group, AtKisson Training Group, McAllister & Quinn, and Overton. You can learn more about this year’s conference sponsors in the Whova app.

❤️  NORDP’s Got Heart 

Launched in 2023, NORDP’s Got Heart is our annual social good campaign, held during the conference to support a community organization that aligns with NORDP’s commitment to diversity, inclusion, equity, and accessibility. Past efforts have supported The Sophia Way in Bellevue, WA (2024) and Carpenter’s Shelter in Alexandria, VA (2023). 

For our 2025 campaign, we’re turning inward to support our own community by raising funds for Conference Attendance Awards for NORDP 2026 – our next in-person annual meeting. With this year’s conference theme of “Building Community” we wanted to respond to the uncertainties many of us are facing and rethink what “local” means in a virtual world.  We hope for all of us that the NORDP community is a safe space to connect and that the annual meeting is a prime opportunity to do just that.

We recognize that the ability to attend an in-person gathering is often dependent on department/university funding, which can be uncertain. These attendance awards will cover the cost of member registration and are intended for those who need financial support beyond what their institutions or organizations can provide. An application process, similar to previous years, will open in early 2026. 

The donation portal for this year’s campaign will open in late April. We hope you’ll consider giving back to help more of our members come together next year. 

Building Human Infrastructure in STEM: A Preview of Lou Woodley’s NORDP 2025 Keynote

Written by Kelly A. Moore, Conference Planning Committee
NORDP 2025 Keynote Speaker, Dr. Lou Woodley

NORDP 2025 conference attendees are in for an inspiring and thought-provoking keynote by Lou Woodley, a scientist-turned-community-builder who has dedicated her career to supporting human infrastructure in science. Lou is the Founder and Director of the Center for Scientific Collaboration and Community Engagement (CSCCE), an organization that offers evidence-based professional development training, online resources, and consultancy for scientific community managers.

So, what exactly is a scientific community manager? According to Lou, if you’re the person in a collaborative project who is thinking about the human side of how work gets done—how meetings are run, how decisions are made, how knowledge is shared and documented—chances are, you’re doing community management. And, much like research development professionals, you might not even realize you’re doing it.

In a recent conversation with the NORDP conference team, Lou shared her journey from the lab bench to advocating for the professionalization of community management in STEM around the world. Her path included founding a student-run popular science magazine during her graduate studies in the UK and establishing online and in-person community engagement spaces in her role at Nature Publishing Group, early signs of her passion for connecting people and building collaborative ecosystems.

That passion eventually led her to securing a grant from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation while at AAAS, which supported the creation of the first professional development curriculum for STEM community managers via the Community Engagement Fellows Program. From there, CSCCE was born, offering online trainings, a multi-component certification program, consultancy for a range of different organizations in the STEM ecosystem, and an online community of practice that includes nearly 900 professionals worldwide.

Lou emphasizes that community management is often a less visible but critical function in scientific enterprises—much like physical infrastructure, you might only notice its absence when things fall apart. This lack of visibility poses challenges, including a dearth of professional development opportunities and a lack of institutional recognition of the value of professional community managers.

To address these challenges, CSCCE focuses on three key areas: professional development, consultancy, and research. Their flagship course, Scientific Community Engagement Fundamentals, has trained over 15 cohorts since it launched in 2020 and is backed by longitudinal evaluation data showing measurable impacts at three levels of scale – on individuals, organizations, and the broader STEM ecosystem.

Importantly, the parallels between community management and research development are striking. Both are emerging fields filled with professionals who often have advanced degrees, especially PhDs, and who act as change agents and systems thinkers within their organizations. Both fields are also heavily gendered and require ongoing advocacy to ensure the value of their contributions is recognized.

Lou also notes the importance of developing shared language and frameworks that help community managers articulate their impact. Whether it’s creating collaboration playbooks or developing new norms for inclusive engagement, the work of community managers is about more than just logistics—it’s about building culture.

NORDP members working in training, proposal development, research communication, or community engagement will find much to relate to in Lou’s keynote. Her message of strategic collaboration, systems thinking, and empowering human infrastructure will resonate deeply across our diverse professional roles.

We can’t wait to welcome Lou Woodley to NORDP 2025 and to learn from her insights about how we can strengthen our communities, our collaborations, and ourselves.

2024 NORDP Conference Experience as First-Time Attendees

Written by Andrea Navas and Roshni Singh

Conferences are a great way to connect to people, network, and learn about new processes, practices, and guidelines. Roshni Singh, an aspiring RD professional, and a first-time NORDP attendee, and Andrea Navas-Calixto, PhD, Vice President of the Colombian Association for Research Management and Administration (COREMA), also a first-time NORDP attendee, found the 16th NORDP conference important, well-balanced, and well-organized. We were impressed by how well the conference was organized with an attractive agenda, well-set goals, and objectives.

Andrea: At the School of Engineering Universidad del Valle, Colombia, we faced multiple challenges during and after the pandemic and had to change our practices and the activities for conducting research and obtaining funding, hence, the next conference needed to be in person to understand the changes. Upon registering for the 16th NORDP conference, I was pleasantly surprised by the conference organization and its details. The Whova app was a fantastic tool that allowed me to organize my schedule, exchange valuable information, and connect with wonderful people. At the conference, everyone greeted me with open arms, and the location was very convenient in a city that had a lot to offer. The conference agenda was very enriching; however, my biggest fear was that the information in the talks would only be useful for professionals in the United States, but that was not the case. Talks were relevant to anyone in RD roles, no matter the geographical location, which I can learn from, adopt, and adapt to Colombian institutions. Moreover, I was inspired by the focus on healthy eating, zero waste orientation, and support for beautiful causes like The Sophia Way. These details are something we can also learn to implement in Colombia. From the conference, I’m taking away some great ideas regarding initiatives related to diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) where we still have a lot to learn and have f a lack of clear tools and processes. Additionally, I believe I’ll propose programs like the doctoral intern’s program in the research office and ideas for multidisciplinary work, among others.

Roshni: I was one of the registration award recipients which made this conference achievable for me. As a first-time NORDP attendee and an aspiring RD professional, the NORDP conference was an immensely rewarding and fulfilling experience. During my career in industry, I have been to many conferences, but this conference had the audience in mind as the sessions were for every level, whether new to the conference, new to the RD field, or working on a new initiative. I loved the idea that the conference was organized by RD professionals, which is not often the case, as the majority of the time, sponsors run the show. The sponsors, however, played an important role in the conference giving insights on their services which was helpful for me in understanding the different services academic situations require. I contribute to NORDP by volunteering for the International Working Group and Career Stories, where I write blog posts recapping the latest featured professional. The conference allowed me to meet all the RD professionals I wrote blogs on and members of the committees whom I only see online. Everyone was warm and I made many new connections who gave me advice about the field.

Some talks Andrea and Roshni enjoyed:

  • “What We Talk About When We Talk About Critique” by Susan Ferrari, Grinnell College, Kevin Boettcher, Binghamton University, Tisha Turk, Grinnell College: These types of talks motivate RDPs as they remind us of our limits. The temptation to edit proposals and rewrite is very high, especially when we work against the clock with deadlines on us.
  • “Building Pathways to Careers in Research Development: Leveraging the Graduate Student Career Exploration Program at Illinois Office of Proposal Development (OPD)”by Richard Sallee, Limited Submissions Manager, Suzanne Berry-Miller, Assistant Director, Research Strategy Center for Social & Behavioral Science (CSBS), Sneha Das, Research Development Manager Brenda Koester, Associate Director: This is a program that seems quite easy to replicate in any institution, with clear rules and mutual benefits for both the graduate student and the research development office.
  • “Lessons Learned from Seeding Interdisciplinary Teams: Outcomes, Challenges & Missteps”: this talk was valuable as it shows that programs can continue improving version after version and learning without forgetting the initial purpose, which, in this case, was to encourage teachers to engage in interdisciplinary work.
  • “Beyond RD101” by Joanna Downer, Jill Jividen, Katie Shoaf, Sharon Pound, and Amy Carroll; this interactive workshop allowed the attendees to share their opinions on future topics for effective RD training.

We both would like to thank the NORDP conference committee for a wonderful and very informative conference.

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)

Celebrating the 2023 Winners of the NORDP President’s Commendation Award

Celebrating at the annual conference (L to R): Becca Latimer, Jessica Moon, Anne Maglia, and Jessica Brassard.

As NORDP members gear up for the Annual Conference in Bellevue, WA, we take time to celebrate a set of three volunteers who led the effort to make NORDP’s first post-pandemic, in-person conference in 2023 a reality. Anne Maglia, past president of NORDP, says she was thrilled to recognize the leadership of Becca Latimer, Jessica Brassard, and Jessica Moon, co-chairs of the that conference with the 2023 President’s Commendation Award.

Latimer is the research program director in the University of Virginia’s Comprehensive Cancer Center. Brassard is director for research development and communication at Michigan Technological University. Moon is executive director for the Stanford Longevity, Equity, and Aging Research Consortium. Together, they spent hundreds of hours and worked with dozens of volunteers to make the 2023 Annual Conference a rousing success.

Maglia says that she is extremely grateful for the drive and commitment of these three NORDP leaders. They epitomize the volunteer spirit of the organization and were the obvious choice for this very special award, she says.

“Returning to our in-person conference in 2023 presented unique challenges, and these three were undaunted and went way, way above and beyond expectations. They set up sustainable systems and devoted hundreds of hours of their precious time to bring NORDP back together in person,” Maglia says.

The three awardees agree that the systems created before them and the NORDP volunteers who support this massive undertaking are keys to their “success.” For example, conference committees historically have co-chairs. Each year, at least one co-chair continues from the year prior, and two other co-chairs are added to the team. The conference committee includes nine sub-committees, and each of the co-chairs oversees three of them.

The structure allows for strong relationships to build. Latimer, who was a co-chair of the NORDP virtual conference in 2022, laughingly says that the “two Jesses were the first I talked to when I woke up and the last before I went to bed.” 

The updated conference committee structure allows them to have a tie-breaker for difficult decisions and to bring a diverse set of skills to the task. The structure also allows for a solid succession plan from year to year and for synergy to build between committee volunteers.

“So many of us in NORDP are here because we want to be engaged in research development,” Latimer says. “We want to help, mentor, learn, share, and advance RD. I like to live like that, and I enjoy being surrounded by people with those same values,” Latimer says about her colleagues.

Moon and Brassard had worked on the subcommittees on the 2022 virtual conference, and they both stepped up when Latimer asked them to help lead the 2023 conference. (The 2024 conference leadership includes Brassard, Moon, and Katherine Duggan. Latimer is the new lead of the Executive Conference Committee, a position usually taken by the exiting co-chair).

Moon describes the committee structure “small but mighty” and “nimble,” and she says that the three co-chairs “took care of each other,” stepping in and respecting boundaries when needed.

Brassard adds that the group of three led from their strengths based upon the unique skills each brought to the team. She encourages NORDP members to engage in this year’s conference activities, as schedules allow. She says she intentionally “gave myself permission to share my skills, to grow into the organization.” She calls the award for this work “icing on the cake” – the cake being the sense of community and pride that pulling off the 2023 conference afforded.

Watch for a call for volunteers to assist with conference activities and for other exciting announcements from this year’s conference committee.

Congratulations to Dr. Christine Pfund as the recipient of the 2023 NORDP Research Development Champion

Written by: Jan Abramson and the Mentoring Committee Leadership (Elizabeth Lathrop, Hilda McMackin, Angela Jordan, Kathy Partlow)

Congratulations to Dr. Christine Pfund—the honored recipient of the 2023 NORDP Research Development Champion! The award was established in 2020 to recognize RD Champions who are distinguished by their advocacy for the critical support of research development (RD) and/or wider efforts to advance the research enterprise. Dr. Pfund, of the Center for the Improvement of Mentored Experiences in Research (CIMER), has long been a champion for research development and the work of RD professionals.

Christine Pfund

Dr. Pfund is a distinguished senior scientist with the Wisconsin Center for Education Research and the Institute for Clinical and Translational Research at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Her work centers on advancing the science and practice of mentorship with a particular focus on culturally responsive mentorship education interventions. Through her work, she has developed, implemented, documented, and studied the training of research mentors across science, technology, engineering, mathematics and medicine (STEMM). Dr. Pfund holds multiple roles as the Director, the Center for the Improvement of Mentored Experiences in Research (CIMER), the Principal Investigator for the Coordination Center, National Research Mentoring Network (NRMN), and Director of Mentorship Initiatives, Institute for Clinical & Translational Research. She was a member of the National Academies committee that published the consensus report and online guide The Science of Effective Mentorship in STEMM.

In 2018, members of the NORDP Mentoring Committee had the opportunity to participate in CIMER’s mentor training. Inspired by their experience, they determined that CIMER resources and best practices would positively benefit NORDP and its membership. This led to the development of the first CIMER curriculum for RD professionals, Mentoring for Research Development Professionals, published by CIMER as part of the Entering Mentoring curriculum series. The process of adapting the evidence-based curriculum took over three years, and hundreds of NORDP Mentoring Committee volunteer hours. Dr. Pfund and CIMER were strong advocates for RD throughout the process, recognizing the impact of the work and the mentorship RD professionals engage in. Encouraged by her unwavering support, NORDP members are engaging in the national conversation around mentorship and can participate in creating a shared language of mentorship.

NORDP members are invited to participate in mentor training offered by the Mentoring Committee. The 5-week webinar series begins 1/30/2024. Registration will open in early January 2024, and is limited to 30 NORDP members.

ReCON brings the Program Officers to you

Registration is now open for the inaugural NORDP ReCON fall virtual conference, to be held November 1-3, 2023, on the Whova platform.

The afternoon of Wednesday, November 1 (“PreCON”), will be dedicated to representatives of funding agencies and organizations–offering attendees the opportunity to hear about new programs and funding priorities, and ask questions about how best to support your researchers. Two presentations will run concurrently, and most will be recorded for viewing post-event. 

Speakers include:

2-3 pm ET/11 am-noon PT

Erwin Gianchandani, PhD, Assistant Director, NSF Directorate for Technology, Innovation & Partnerships (TIP)

Melissa Menzer, PhD, Senior Program Analyst, Office of Research & Analysis, National Endowment for the Arts

3-4 pm ET/noon-1 pm PT • NIH Panel

Deborah Hodge, PhD,  Program Officer, NIAID

Mercy Prabhudas, PhD, Program Officer, NIAID

Brittany Haynes, PhD, Program Director of Workforce Diversity & Equity, NIMH

Keren Witkin, PhD, Program Director, NCI

3-4 pm ET/noon-1 pm PT • Social Sciences & Humanities Panel

Aixa Cintrón-Vélez, PhD, Program Director, Russell Sage Foundation

John Paul Christy, PhD, Senior Director of U.S. Programs, American Council of Learned Societies (ACLS)

4-5 pm ET/1-2 pm PT • NSF GRANTED

Kimberly Littlefield, PhD, Program Director

Dina Stroud, PhD, Program Director

NORDP 2023 Mentoring Award: Hilda McMackin

First awarded in 2022, the NORDP Mentoring Award recognizes an individual NORDP member’s unique ability to provide an engaging, supportive, and inclusive environment for professional and/or personal growth through mentorship in the research development community. This award is bestowed with the acknowledgement that effective mentoring occurs through formal and informal channels and may vary in style and substance.

Anne Maglia (R) presents the Mentoring Award to Hilda McMackin, at the 2023 conference.

Who: Hilda McMackin, Director of Research Administration Systems and Reporting

Where: Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN

Number of years in research development: 14

Length of NORDP membership: 6

What has your mentoring journey within NORDP looked like?

After joining NORDP in 2017, I attended the annual conference in Denver and went to the mentoring committee open house. I was sold! I was especially interested in the Mentorship, Expertise, Support, Helping Hands (MESHH) subcommittee and the resources they developed. I’ve enjoyed working on the MESHH tools available in the NORDP Mentoring Toolkit and presenting webinars and workshops on how to use them. 

My involvement has combined committee work with serving as both a mentee and mentor. In the committee, for the past several years, I led the group of Facilitators that serve as points of contact for mentoring program participants throughout the year. I have also collaborated on and presented in three rounds of Mentoring Lightning Storms where we coordinated an hour of 5-minutue lighting talks all focused on aspects of mentoring. Then, in March of 2022, I became a committee co-chair, helping lead the work of the committee. The work has been fun-filled and rewarding. This committee is made up of a great group of collaborative and welcoming people; our meetings have become high points of my week.

I’m currently mentoring a cohort of three NORDP members this year in an expansion of our mentoring cohort pilot that was successful last year. This format bolsters the mentoring relationships by fostering peer mentoring at the same time and expanding the network of all four members involved in the cohort. I am looking forward to exploring mentoring in this exciting group setting.

What initially drew you to mentoring?

I’ve always been grateful for the mentoring I received throughout my career, and I thought mentoring was a great way to both get involved with NORDP and pay that support forward to bolster the growth of others. I also have a deep commitment to the research enterprise and recognize the importance of mentoring in advancing research. Regardless of the role – faculty, staff, or student – receiving and providing mentorship is essential in moving research and innovation forward, as people can’t contribute their whole selves in their work if their needs and aspirations aren’t nurtured.

What does being a good mentor mean to you?

A good mentor is someone who can be present and listen; someone who can focus on the needs of the mentee. Developing trust is essential. Dedicating time is important. And add in vulnerability to truly succeed. To really build a safe space for people to grow, you need to build trust by sharing your emotions as well as your stories. A good mentor is not afraid to share and doesn’t need to be perfect. In conversations with my mentees, I strive to listen, provide perspective, and offer insights where I can.

I wish I’d tried mentoring sooner. I think we’re sometimes hesitant to mentor due to a twinge of insecurity. We wonder if we can really be a good mentor. Do we have enough to offer? Yes, you need to be comfortable, but I think nearly anyone can be a mentor with support from the resources available through NORDP.

I want to stress that you do have to follow through on the commitment. If your mentee hasn’t reached out, check in with them. I suggest carving out time and protecting it. If you’re worried about time, rest assured that you can meet less frequently and still get a big bang for your buck.

What have you found most rewarding, and most challenging, about being a mentor?

The greatest reward is that mentoring energizes me. I’m a curious person, and it’s rewarding to connect with others and feel the impact that I have had on others’ lives. On a personal level, sometimes that means simply helping them get through difficult times. We all know how reassuring that can be.

The greatest challenge is making the time for it. Our jobs keep us very busy. The more you do, the more connections you have, including both unofficial networks and proactive mentoring. I always try to reduce the barriers as much as possible. The greatest reward, for me, is getting to know other people, their perspectives, their experiences.

What advice do you have for others within NORDP who wish to follow in your footsteps?

I want to encourage anyone who hasn’t yet served as a mentor to sign up as one. Realize that you always have something to offer as a mentor and something to gain as a mentee. It’s such a rewarding experience.  If you are not ready to mentor, I encourage you to get involved with the NORDP Mentoring Committee. Working with the committee is a great way to learn mentoring best practices as well as help sustain the incredible benefits that our mentoring activities provide for all NORDP members.

NORDP 2023: What to Know Before You Go

Greetings NORDP 2023 Attendees:

We are looking forward to welcoming you to Crystal City, VA for our first in-person conference since 2019! Get ready for inspiring keynotes, fantastic presentations, and plentiful opportunities to grow connections. We have put together the following guide that we hope will be helpful as you prepare for your arrival in Crystal City.

🙂  NORDP Conference Concierge 

The NORDP Conference Concierge (not to be confused with the Hyatt Concierge desk!) is located in the Regency Foyer of the Hyatt (2 floors below street level). It’s more than 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 Conference Concierge Desk anytime during these hours: 

  • Sunday, 12:00 p.m. – 6:00 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. – 5:00 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 & Metro 

The Hyatt Regency Crystal City provides a courtesy airport shuttle to and from Reagan National Airport

  • The shuttle departs from the hotel front drive every 20 minutes on the hour from 4:20 a.m.–12:40 a.m. seven days a week.
  • Terminal 1 pickup location is outside the main doors. Follow signs for Hotel Shuttle Pickup. 
  • Terminal 2 pickup locations are outside of Doors 4 and 7 on the baggage claim level. Follow signs for Hotel Shuttle Pickup. 

If you are driving to the conference and need to park at the hotel, parking fees can be found on the hotel website. 

The Crystal City metro station is 4 blocks from the Hyatt Regency Crystal City—about a 14-minute walk. 

✅  Conference Check-In 

Conference Check-in is 12:00–6:00 p.m. on Sunday, May 7 at the NORDP Concierge Desk. If you are not arriving in that time frame, no worries. Simply come to the NORDP Conference Concierge on Monday morning (opens at 9 a.m.) to check in. 

To check-in:

  • Approach the NORDP Conference Concierge 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 and lapel pin. 
  • That’s it!

Note: if you are NOT using the Whova app, you can still access information about the conferencevia the Whova app website (https://nordp2023.events.whova.com/).

Please remember: There is no on-site registration this year! No exceptions.

📱  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 Conference Concierge in the Regency Foyer of the Hyatt. 

Note: if you are NOT using the Whova app, you can still access information about the conference via the Whova app website (https://nordp2023.events.whova.com/).

👋   Welcome Reception 

Join us on Sunday from 5:00 p.m.–7:00 p.m. for a Welcome Reception in the Regency Foyer. The Welcome Reception is sponsored by our platinum sponsor, Thorn Run Partners. We are so excited to welcome you to NORDP2023! Brief welcome remarks from NORDP leadership and Thorn Run Partners will be followed by a chance for us to meet each other in person for the first time since 2019!

🌟  NORDP Sponsors

Please make time to stop by our sponsor exhibits in the Regency Foyer 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 Monday May 8 from 1-2:30 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. Attendees who collect 20 or more stamps will be entered into a raffle for prizes. 

🔘 ​​ Code of Conduct 

We have posted a NORDP2023 Conference Code of Conduct in the Whova App and on the conference website. In both platforms, it can be found under Logistics → 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. Be sure to bring workout clothes/shoes if you’re planning on taking part in morning exercise. The forecast is for seasonal temperatures, warm during the day (75-80℉) and cooler at night (50-60℉), with humidity running between 55-89%. 

The meeting spaces at the Hyatt Regency Crystal City can get a little chilly. Consider bringing a layer that makes you comfortable and feel good. 

🍽️  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 bottle

In the interest of practicing sustainability, we ask that conference attendees bring their own water bottles to the conference. There will be water stations available at breakfast, breaks, lunch, and receptions to stay hydrated! 

🎒 Bring a backpack or tote

No swag bags will be given at check-in this year. If you like to carry things around the conference with you, consider bringing your own packable tote or backpack. 

🏙️ ​​ 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!

🧰  Workshops

RSVP registration for the three workshops is now open in the conference app. 

  1. Strategies for incorporating diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) during proposal development. (2 hours)
  2. Framework and tools for planning several kinds of workshops (4 hours)
  3. Building communicative and collaborative capacity for cross-disciplinary teams using the toolbox dialogue method. (2 hours)

You can find the workshops by navigating to the agenda section in the app and then searching for them on Tuesday morning or using the ‘workshop’ tag under the tracks function. Click on the session and then you should see a button that says “+RSVP”. We will not be accepting RSVPs via email—sign-up is only through the app (either the mobile app or web browser app). 

If you previously added a workshop to your personal agenda, you will still need to go into the app to RSVP (i.e., adding to your personal agenda did not save you a seat). As the workshops have limited capacity, please only sign up for a workshop if you plan to go. Whova will automatically create a waitlist and notify you if/when spots open. For these sessions, we will be scanning name badges at the room door. Please arrive on time for the workshop; we are providing a 5-minute grace period, after which we will notify individuals on the waitlist that a spot has opened. 

❤️  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 Carpenter’s Shelter, a local organization that supports individuals and families experiencing and at risk of homelessness to achieve sustainable independence through shelter and housing placement, guidance, education, and advocacy. 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 ‘Meet-Ups’ section of the conference app, Whova. 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 Carpenter’s Shelter on Wednesday during our awards ceremony. 

​​🖼️  Presenting a poster

If you are presenting a poster, try to find a time between 9:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. on Monday, May 8 to hang your posters up on the display boards (located in room Independence B). Posters will be up for the majority of the conference in Independence B. Please take down your poster by 12:00 p.m. on Wednesday. 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 Arlington County, Virginia, the community level is Low (as of 5/3/2023) 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, Target, 7-eleven, grocery stores)

NORDP 2023 Keynote: Mentors-of-the-Moment with Dr. Brad Johnson

NORDP 2023 Keynote Speaker, Dr. Brad Johnson

For Dr. Brad Johnson, it was a crucial conversation with a valued mentor early in his career that offered him the affirmation that he needed to pursue his professional goals. Johnson, at the time, was a brand new clinical psychologist serving as a lieutenant in the U.S. Navy Medical Corps. And despite the extensive training he had undertaken to become a practicing clinical psychologist, he was having some misgivings about his chosen profession. Johnson remembers working up the courage to share his thoughts with the senior psychologist who was serving as his supervisor and telling her, “You know, my happiest moment in the week is when a client cancels an appointment and I actually have time to do some writing. I love working on research articles and I love teaching, and I’m kind of thinking I don’t want to be a clinical psychologist in the traditional sense. I’d love to teach and be an academician.” His mentor’s response? As Johnson recalls, “She just looked at me and said, ‘Of course.’ like she’d known that all the time.” That pivotal conversation was a lightbulb moment for Johnson about the power of mentorship.

Dr. Johnson, now a Professor of Psychology in the Department of Leadership, Ethics and Law at the United States Naval Academy and a Faculty Associate in the Graduate School of Education at Johns Hopkins University, will be delivering the closing keynote at the 2023 NORDP conference. His address, entitled  Mentors-of-the-Moment: Creating Mentoring-Rich Organizational Cultures, will focus on how to leverage developmental relationships and existing mentoring infrastructure to create cultures of mentoring within organizations.

When he began teaching and supervising students  in a clinical psychology doctoral program, Johnson’s initial research focused on the treatment of depression. But that started to shift when one of the doctoral students he was supervising became interested in researching mentoring. “He came to me and he said, ‘You know, I found this article on mentoring in graduate training, and I find it really interesting and I think I might want to do this for my dissertation.’” His decision to join his mentee in pursuing this new line of research was another pivotal moment for Johnson. “It absolutely shaped the whole arc of my career, focusing a bit less on clinical treatment and a lot more on developmental relationships.”

Johnson’s next career move brought him to the U.S. Naval Academy, where he has been a faculty member ever since. As far as his research was concerned, this move was, in Johnson’s view, “such a natural, seamless transition because mentoring is so important in the military.” One of Johnson’s initial projects at the Naval Academy was a large study focused on retired Navy Admirals and their experience with mentoring in the fleet. One of the most powerful findings from the study, in his view, concerned the longevity of these mentoring relationships. “One of the things we asked was, ‘Why did the relationship end?’ and by far the most common response was that the mentor had died. It turns out that these relationships were lifelong. And they continued, even up to the point where the mentor was no longer living.” This finding was reminiscent of Johnson’s own relationship with his mentor from his days in graduate school. “We don’t see each other as often, but if I ever have a major career decision to make, I always reach out to him, even now. The effect of really great mentoring often lingers, and in the best case, these relationships become lifelong friendships.”

Johnson is particularly excited to speak to NORDP conference attendees about actionable strategies for moving beyond mentoring programs to creating cultures of mentoring, both within NORDP itself and within attendees’ organizations. “We know that a lot of talented junior folks fall through the cracks because they don’t think it’s for them or that they’re entitled to mentoring. And senior people feel like mentoring programs can be a burden and don’t engage.” For Johnson, building a mentoring culture means becoming a mentor-of-the-moment, someone who shows interest in junior colleagues in the day-to-day interactions we have at work. “Being a mentor-of-the-moment might mean being the kind of person who will initiate a conversation with a colleague about something you admired about their work, offering affirmation, or just saying, ‘Hey, if you ever want to drop by and just chat about where you’d like to go in the organization, I’ve got an open door,” he says. “If you have that kind of culture, we find that retention goes way up, satisfaction and belonging go way up. And I think we need to spend a lot more time thinking about our culture, not just our formalized programs.”