Form vs' Function NSFERC Administrative Director

1
Form vs. Function NSF-ERC Administrative Director

• Ann Craig
• Center for Power Electronics Systems (CPES)
• NSF Annual Meeting 2006

2
Personal Impact What does this mean?

• Honor, 49/21/22
• Challenge
• Opportunity
• Accomplishment/Achievement
• Growth
• Recognition

3
Reference Point - About CPES

• CPES is one of 5 centers launched in 1998
• Multi-University (19 Overall) - VT Lead for CPES
  Partners
• North Carolina A T University
• Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
• University of Puerto Rico-Mayaguez
• University of Wisconsin at Madison
• Current Status
• 8 Year Total for NSF Reporting, All Sources
  65.9M
• Approaching Graduation, 10 Year Projection
  76.4M

4
What does an AD need to know?

• Know the Director
• Know the rules
• Know the participants
• Know your own institution
• Know the audiences
• Know what is invested
• Know what this commitment means
• Know the meaning of unique, novel
• Know how to leverage
• Know the risk
• Know the reward
• Know when to cut bait

5
How Do You Spell It?

• A alert to changing needs. D driven.
• D dedicated to success. I - independent
  thinker.
• M magical. R responsive.
• I inspired and inspiring. E -
  entrepreneurial.
• N network oriented. C creative.
• I informed. T - tolerant.
• S service-oriented. O optimistic.
• T talented team player. R retentive.
• R resourceful.
• A accessible.
• T trustworthy.
• I invested.
• V vibrant.
• E engineering friendly.

6
10 Rs of Success

• Ready
• Relish
• Resolve
• Resilient
• Rapport
• Relationships
• Risk
• Respect
• Reward
• Rejoice

7
What are the essentials?

• Attitude
• Devotion
• Energy
• Enthusiasm
• Flexibility
• Leadership
• Loyalty
• Patience
• TIME

8
What is the value added by an AD?

• Gatekeeper
• Organizer
• Historian
• Sounding Board
• Pioneer
• Investigator
• Facilitator
• Communicator
• Peacemaker
• Cheerleader
• Glue

9
What is the down side?

• Uniqueness
• Resistance
• Recognition
• How small can a pie be divided and still convey
  pleasure to the palate?
• Reciprocal Relationships-Pay Back
• The raising of the bar - back to routine?
• There is an end - clear and certain or is
  there?

10
The Finish Line

• You participate in the creation, the passing of
  life phases to maturity, the development of a
  plan for transition to independence . . . and in
  the end . . . the care you take in raising it is
  returned to you through the success of it . . .
• A lot like raising a child, it is never
  completely separate from you nor will you ever be
  completely separate from the change in technology
  achieved or the NSF-ERC family you have joined.