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Sandy Meske
I am an Administrative Operations Specialist working for the Center Director
at the Dryden Flight Research Center. I have a Bachelor of Science Degree
in Business Administration and Management. I like to think my job is unique
and very diverse since every day there are new challenges to overcome. Some
of my tasks include tracking and scheduling for the Center, office management
and budget coordination, protocol and high level visits, and representing
the office on committees and panels. You might ask, "How does this relate
to math and science?" Math and science are vital skills in all segments
of my job from time management to budgeting. To increase efficiency, I have
developed many office procedures that use off-the-shelf computer software
that can be programmed or scripted to automate tasks. I conduct tours of
the Center for special guest and groups, including members of Congress and
their staff. In order to answer questions from visitors I am continually
increasing my knowledge of the technology and research of each experiment
conducted at Dryden.
My average day begins by taking a few minutes to plan the days activities. I am a firm believer in time management. Because every day is different, nothing is ever routine or boring. I attend meetings on various subjects ranging from management to budgeting, from new initiatives to new requirements. I may need to arrange for an all day visit by an international university that will include technical briefings and a walking tour or a Congressman interested in a specific program being conducted. I also mentor secretaries at all levels in an effort to help them understand the "why," not just the "how." In the middle of all the major efforts for the day, I also fill in with routine tasks such as procurement and contract administration, composing letters for signature by the Center Director, following up on action items delegated to other organizations, or organizing audit activities. The most exciting and enjoyable part of my job is the interface I have with all aspects of Dryden. I am not stuck behind my desk eight hours a day. The project managers I deal with are more than happy to discuss their programs with me. I have been able to go out into the field and actually see the research going on. I also enjoy meeting the public and international communities that come to visit Dryden. When times are quiet, I enjoy developing better and quicker ways to automate tasks. I suppose I was always good at math but not necessarily in science. In high school, my counselors always suggested careers such as library science, accounting, or teaching. Engineering, research, or mathematics just wasn't something considered as a career for women although some women at that time did succeed in these fields. NASA has been very good to me in my career. I started at Dryden as a clerk in 1985 and have steadily progressed to my current position in the office of the Center Director. In the position I hold now, I was assigned to a technical assistant whom I interned under for a year before he left to be the Assistant Director of our Research Facilities Directorate. Since that time I have combined his tasks with mine to create a diverse and exciting job that is the envy of many aspiring young administrative assistants at the Center. Some of the obstacles I faced were resistance to spending training money on a secretary. The prevailing philosophy was that any training outside the clerical field was not in the best interest of NASA. There was also resistance to breaking the grade level hierarchy (the proverbial glass ceiling). Luckily, I had a supervisor that believed in me enough to fight the system to at least give me the chance to show what I could accomplish. I hope that in raising my own daughter I was able to teach her the things I wish I had known at an early age. 1. Don't wait for someone like a counselor to suggest careers to you. 2. Get involved in your own future. Volunteer, talk to people, and do research. 3. Study up on what careers are out there. 4. Be creative in gathering information. Web sites are great. 5. If you are good in math and science or any other field, don't hide it. Archived Chats and Forums
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