Pam Beck
What first brought you to Northwestern Chemistry, and what made you stay?
I was newly widowed and looking for teaching jobs when I ran into Teri Collins, who was director of operations in the department at the time. She persuaded me to interview with “a very nice professor”, even though it was clear how low I was on the scale of technical skills. The interview went along the lines of Rick asking me if I could do specific administrative tasks, and my replies were along the lines of “No, but I can probably learn it”. I grew up in rural Iowa and am pretty comfortable with autonomy and teaching myself. To my surprise, I was offered the position, and thanks to Rick being so organized, I was able to manage the learning curve, get out on time most days, and raise two incredible kids. What kept me here (in addition to my continued respect for Rick) turned out to be one of the unexpected joys of the job - working with the grad students and postdocs. It’s been a privilege to work with such talented young people during an exciting, difficult and emergent time of their lives.
As you look back, what part of your work do you think people may not have seen, but that you know made a difference?
I try to emphasize the importance of succinct communication among busy people. When new staff start, some of my mantras are: get what you need in the first sentence of an email; if you have two questions, send two emails (or you will never get the second one answered); if you don’t have an answer, acknowledge the email so the sender knows it’s out of their head and into yours; and spend the time to craft an email that’s not only short but also makes it easy for the recipient to respond quickly and simply, giving you the answer you need to proceed with your work.
Bonus tip: Never assume a PI is familiar with the details of administrative processes, even if they sound as though they are.
What do you think people sometimes underestimate about staff contributions in a research department?
Staff can start in a research department with a basic set of administrative skills, but there is a learning curve to working with sponsored funds with compliance rules and regulations, labyrinthine policies, and quirky websites. It takes time to build knowledge and expertise, and of course these things are constantly changing. It takes time to become a Radar O’Reilly, although no one under 60 probably knows who that is anymore...
From your perspective, are there moments from Rick Silverman’s career or leadership that stand out because they show who he is or how he works?
Among the many things I admire about Rick, it’s that no matter how busy he is, he always makes time for a student to ask questions. It’s a quieter thing than his myriad accomplishments, but it has an impact of its own.
Is there a small memory, routine, or interaction that captures what Northwestern Chemistry has meant to you?
My colleagues are a smart bunch of folks. The small daily interactions of a chat or laugh - getting to know their talents and hearing their stories - has been another reward of the job. I will miss that very much.