Outreach Administrator

Sharon C. Fisher

Alaska Science and Technology Foundation

History of Alaska and Science Technology Foundation

Contact me for more information about the Alaska Science and Technology Foundation or about my career as its outreach administrator: sfisher@astf.org

What do you do in a typical day?

I design programs to fix problems! For example, we need bright young people to join computer-related careers, so I designed a grant program to encourage kids to train in the computer field. I also administer some of the programs I design.

In a typical day I talk on the phone, answer questions and requests by e-mail, and plan programs on paper or computer.

I spend a lot of time talking to people with more knowledge than myself about a subject I'm working on to be sure my plans will work.

What led you to your present career?

I worked as a grant writer and a community development specialist. I had also worked with teachers helping them to apply for grants from ASTF. I liked the programs ASTF offered, so when an opening to work for them appeared in the newspaper, I applied, interviewed and ended up getting the job!

What do you think is important for kids to learn in elementary school that will help them with this job?

It's important to be able to get along with and communicate well with wide variety of people (including difficult and cranky ones!) It helps to be a good problem solver, and to have a creative mind from which to pull ideas for designing programs. You have to be good at math, since you work a lot with finances, and you have to be organized and be able to speak effectively in front of large and small groups.

What skills are needed on your job?

You would need good reading, writing and math skills.

What do you like the best about your job?

I love the flexibility of my job. I also love having a job that has the potential to really change not only peoples' lives for the better, but to improve our quality of life in Alaska.

What is the hardest thing about your job?

The hardest thing about my job is occasionally having to complete a lot of work accurately in a very short period of time. I don't have a secretary, so I have to plan carefully and be sure to start early enough to do a good job.

What could young people do to prepare themselves for this career?

Take all the math and writing classes you can! Learn how to communicate with others and it's especially important to learn what's called "conflict resolution," which is essentially problem solving with people.

Outreach Administrator

Sharon C. Fisher

Alaska Science and Technology Foundation

I design programs to fix problems! For example, we need bright young people to join computer-related careers, so I designed a grant program to encourage kids to train in the computer field. I also administer some of the programs I design.

In a typical day I talk on the phone, answer questions and requests by e-mail, and plan programs on paper or computer.

I spend a lot of time talking to people with more knowledge than myself about a subject I'm working on to be sure my plans will work.

What led you to your present career?

I worked as a grant writer and a community development specialist. I had also worked with teachers helping them to apply for grants from ASTF. I liked the programs ASTF offered, so when an opening to work for them appeared in the newspaper, I applied, interviewed and ended up getting the job!

I worked as a grant writer and a community development specialist. I had also worked with teachers helping them to apply for grants from ASTF. I liked the programs ASTF offered, so when an opening to work for them appeared in the newspaper, I applied, interviewed and ended up getting the job!

What do you think is important for kids to learn in elementary school that will help them with this job?

What skills are needed on your job?

You would need good reading, writing and math skills.

What do you like the best about your job?

I love the flexibility of my job. I also love having a job that has the potential to really change not only peoples' lives for the better, but to improve our quality of life in Alaska.

What is the hardest thing about your job?

The hardest thing about my job is occasionally having to complete a lot of work accurately in a very short period of time. I don't have a secretary, so I have to plan carefully and be sure to start early enough to do a good job.

What could young people do to prepare themselves for this career?

Take all the math and writing classes you can! Learn how to communicate with others and it's especially important to learn what's called "conflict resolution," which is essentially problem solving with people.

Back to more career profiles!

CLEAR Home