Influential Woman · Research Administration

CASSANDRA HUTCHINSON

Grant & Contract Administrator III, University of Maine University of Maine

Orono, ME

Certifications · Degrees · Memberships

Degree Vermont College

Her Story

About CASSANDRA

I've been in my current role for about 8 years, and typical is atypical in our world. My day-to-day involves handling things like reaching out to sponsors to request additional time on grants, making changes to the scope of work, and working with principal investigators to change that scope of work to be something that's acceptable to both the university and the sponsor. It's that kind of in-between negotiation. What I love about this job is that it's not front and center, not an attention grabber. You don't have the headlines that you're associated with - you're there supporting the people who make those headlines. There are a thousand small wins that occur in the course of a year, and no one recent win steals the spotlight. My educational background really fueled my desire to constantly go looking for creative solutions and ways to make things work for different people, as well as the love of just digging up bits and pieces of where regulations come from, what's the true spirit of this law.

Her Interview

Ten minutes with CASSANDRA

01What do you attribute your success to?

I would say my sense of diligence, or I guess you'd call it my stubbornness, that really comes through in finding that answer. As well as the integrity that comes with knowing that if we make an obligation, we need to honor that to the best of our abilities. My educational background at Vermont College really fueled my desire to constantly go looking for creative solutions and ways to make things work for different people, as well as the love of just digging up bits and pieces of where regulations come from, what's the true spirit of this law.

02What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?

I would say the biggest key to this profession is to always keep an open mind, because every situation is different, and it always depends on the details. Don't make the assumption that whatever task you're looking at is going to be the same as the last one, or the next one.

03What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?

There definitely are challenges. There's a lot of things changing with very little notice within the grant field. It certainly keeps one sure that they will have a job tomorrow.

04What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?

I would say my sense of diligence, or what I'd really call my stubbornness, that really comes through in finding that answer. As well as integrity - if we make an obligation, we need to honor that to the best of our abilities. I love spending time with my family, especially with anything that's musical, and I love to cook.

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