I am a transformational leader, dedicated to creating collaborative spaces that drive innovation, eliminating barriers to success, and establishing practices that enhance inclusive excellence in the academy. My passion is team cohesion and individual development through positive coaching techniques. I have over 20 years of experience in higher education and have been supervising professionals since 2010.
At the University Design Institute (https://udi.asu.edu/), I lead the enterprise design initiatives practice. This work focuses on supporting educational transformation across Arizona State University (ASU). We work in partnership with ASU executive leaders to build inclusive, equitable, co-design spaces that unlock everyone's potential for change.
Prior to this position, I founded and led two offices dedicated to advancing research excellence in academia. Under my leadership, Research Development became a boutique consultancy available for free to all university staff and faculty at ASU. The office has been noted as a model for Research Development nationally. As executive director, I managed a team of 10 individuals, across four functional units. I designed and led multiple presentations and programs over the years. One of these is the Proposal Development Workshop series, which started in 2014. A hallmark of my work is the ability to leverage a vast network to identify and invite expert presenters. I established the position of proposal manager and proposal manager senior at ASU, along with the formal introduction of industry best practices for proposal development such as formal reviews.
I served on the Board of Directors of the National Organization for Research Development Professionals (NORDP) from 2019 until 2023 during unprecedented growth in membership and through a transition to hybrid work environments post-COVID. I am a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer (Lesotho '97 - '99) and am a former Editor in Chief of the magazine of the Association for Women in Science (AWIS). I am a member of the Association of Proposal Management Professionals (APMP) and certified at the second of three levels. I am a founding member of the Knowledge Enterprise Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging Task Force (2021 – 2023).
Please connect with me on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/fayefarmer1/en
Executive Ph.D., Management, University of Denver 2024
M.S. Plant Biology, Arizona State University December 2003
B.S. Plant Science, University of Arizona December 1996
Presenter, Persuasive Writing, Proposal Development Workshop (PDW), ASU 2014 - 2023
Panelist, Research Integrity, School of Life Sciences Undergraduate Research Symposium 2023
Keynote, Research Enterprise Development, Faculty Symposium hosted by MasterCard Foundation (Ghana) 2023
Presenter, ASU’s Research Enterprise, Faculty Women’s Association Mentoring Circle 2023
Co-Presenter, We need a Newsletter! NORDP Annual Conference 2022
Presenter, Pandemic Networking: Lessons from an Extrovert at Home, NORDP Annual Conference 2022
Co-Presenter, RD in Support of the Space Portfolio, Space Strategy Committee, ASU 2021
Co-Presenter, RD Office Annual Reports, NORDP Annual Conference 2021
Co-Presenter, RD in the time of COVID, NORDP Annual Conference 2021
Guest Lecturer, Project Management for Sustainability Scientists, School of Sustainability 2016 - 2020
Panelist, So, You Want to be a Director, Commission on the Status of Women, ASU 2020
Presenter, RD at ASU, Associate Deans of Research Meeting, Northern Arizona University (NAU) 2017 & 2019
Co-Facilitator, Herding Lions, NORDP Annual Conference 2017
- Six hour workshop on developing interdisciplinary management proposal plans
Guest Lecturer, HIV/AIDS in Southern Africa, School of Life Sciences 2001 – 2010
Presenter, RD at ASU, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) 2018
Facilitator, Faculty Teaming for Large Proposals, FUSION Biodesign Institute-wide retreat 2018
- Organized four-hour presentation on interdisciplinary research collaborations
Presenter, Academic Proposal Writing, California Chapter Training Day, APMP 2017
- Defined commonalities and differences between industry and academia
Presenter, Strategic Roadmapping for Projects, Team Leadership Academy, ASU 2017
- Four-hour workshop on developing project tasks and alignment with budget requirements
Co-Presenter, Proposal Development Best Practice for New Faculty, New College Faculty Cohort - Commit to Submit Program, ASU 2017 - 2022
Presenter, NSF Engineering Research Center (ERC) Planning, American Society for Engineering Education Conference, Washington, D.C. (ASEE) 2016
- Presented on ASU’s management of three full proposals to this program
- Informed NSF’s ERC Planning Grant program
Facilitator, Teaming for the NSF Engineering Research Center, University of Utah 2016
Presenter and Designer, Proposal Development Workshops, ASU 2015 - 2023
- Constant recruitment and presentation development for between six and twelve workshops annually for a general audience
Facilitator and Designer, Faculty Success Series, ASU 2015 - 2018
- Created intimate panel discussions on interdisciplinary collaboration
Co-Presenter, Interdisciplinary & STEAM Proposal Process, Faculty Women’s Association, ASU 2015
Co-Presenter, Navigating Proposals at ASU, Commission on the Status of Women Professional Conference 2013