“Listening to Phonocentrism with Deaf Eyes: Derrida’s Mute Philosophy of (Sign) Language”

H-Dirksen Bauman

Gallaudet University

Language, in sign language

Sign Language Poetry: “The Light”

and a performance art piece, “Unleashed from Phonocentrism”

The second phase in exploring and understanding careers in grant writing led me to Ann Ussery-Hall with the Center for Disease Control.  Once a grant writer, Ms. Ussery-Hall now reviews grant applications submitted to the CDC.  Below is the transcript from the interview:

What is the title of your position?

Public Health Analyst

What are the day-to-day responsibilities involved with grant writing?

In my current position I do not write grants, but I review grant applications that others have written and submitted. This often involves reviewing and grading dozens of applications for a single grant, and making funding decisions based on that review. In previous positions I searched funding opportunities and wrote grant applications.

What are the required or preferred qualifications for a grant writer, in terms of education, experience, and aptitude?

While studying grant writing isn’t a requirement for being a successful writer, it is helpful. Beyond being good writers, grant writers must also be well-organized, persistent, and resilient.

What are the pros (salary, travel, quality of life, etc.) and cons (salary, travel, quality of life, etc.) of being a grant writer?

Pros: Grant writers often work for themselves, so they can set their own hours and work as needed. They also become subject matter experts at whatever topic required for the application (healthcare, education, etc.).

Cons: It can be discouraging to write excellent applications that, for whatever reason, are not funded. It is also extremely busy and time consuming when applications are due.

What are the long-term opportunities available to someone pursuing a career in grant writing?

Being an experienced, successful grant writer is an excellent reputation to have. Someone with knowledge of the grant process will have numerous opportunities to work in a part- or full-time capacity for a wide range of organizations.

How might someone go about entering getting a position as a grant writer?

Become very familiar with the grant writing process, participate in grant writing teams to experience it firsthand, and make connections within organizations that often submit grant applications.

Where are jobs advertised?

In any job boards (monster, etc.), as well as organization websites.

How does one network within the profession?

Attending professional organization meetings and communicating with possible clients (nonprofit, healthcare, or educational organizations, etc.).

How might one best craft a resume to catch the attention of recruiters or hiring committees?

Highlight the amount of funds garnered, any experience related to the focus area (healthcare, education, etc.), and experience with grant applications either as funder or recipient.

What special considerations should be taken into account when pursuing or occupying a position as a grant writer?

Not all grant applications are written by professional grant writers. Often people in other positions (administrative, managerial, etc.) are responsible for compiling grant applications.

Is this a career historically dominated by men?

No

Is this a career that is rapidly changing, in ways that will present challenges to new workers entering the field in the next five-ten years?

Not really. While it is a constantly changing field (different organizations and types of organizations are always getting involved in the grant process), the purpose and end result (funding) remain the same.

Is this an emerging career where applicants often have to define the role for recruiters and supervisors, in addition to explaining why they’re qualified and doing good work, in order to be successful?

I don’t think so. It is a relatively straight forward career that most people (recruiters and supervisors) understand.

Gustavaus Stadler, “On Whiteness and Sound Studies,” on Sound Studies Blog, http://soundstudiesblog.com/2015/07/06/on-whiteness-and-sound-studies/

_____________________________________________________________

“Teeth Chatter” by dobroride via SoundBible and Creative Commons.

_____________________________________________________________

UGA Professor Brings Hip-Hop Lessons To Elementary Curricula
By GABBIE WATTS via WABE Atlanta

_____________________________________________________________

I’ll Take You There:  “Someday We’ll All Be Free: 100 Hours Of Soulful Protest Music,”  npr.org/NPRandB

_____________________________________________________________

“we must understand the interconnected nature of systems of oppression”

by Elizabeth Veldon via Creative Commons and the Free Music Archive

While countless books line the shelves claiming to teach you how to write a grant, only one discusses how to create a career as a grant writer.  Careers in Grant Writing by Caroline S. Reeder attempts to do what the others don’t—explain how you can write grants for others, for a living.  Other books want to walk you through the steps of finding funding and composing a grant, but Reeder tries to tell you how to get your foot in the door in order to bring home the bacon.

As an aspiring proposal writer, I looked forward to a book by a seasoned, professional grant writer.  With the growing need for funding in organizations and the volume of grants available, this career choice seems like a viable option.  While I enjoyed Reeder’s candid prose, there was no striking information that hadn’t been thought of before, assumed, or found elsewhere.  The short text seems written for someone with no idea of what grant writing is or what grant writers do.  While this may be valuable for someone, somewhere out there, for a person with an inkling of an idea about grant writing it is a summary, amassing information found in other places together in one small notebook, easily carried but also easily overlooked.

After quickly scanning through what a grant is and what characteristics go with a grant writer position, the 35-page text touches upon the daily responsibilities of a grant writer and how to get a job in the field.  Apparently, education is not as vital to the position as experience.  Reeder suggests volunteering or working an internship to get the experience necessary to secure a position.  While an entry level position is available through education and training courses, the author doesn’t give the reader the feeling that this is actually a viable option.  I wonder if this is true, or if perhaps this is because the author didn’t enter the field that way?  How much of this text is based upon Reeder’s experience and how much is based upon research into grant writing careers?

Perhaps the most valuable aspect of the book is Reeder’s discussion on the merits of working for an organization versus freelance grant writing.  She discusses the pros and cons of benefits and scheduling, and the best way to get paid.  Moving on, Reeder touches upon the daily duties involved in grant writing, which are not just composing, but also researching, working with others, maintaining schedules, and building relationships.

While it appears Reeder didn’t intend on becoming a grant writer, she has done well in the field and her self-published book is the only one discussing a career in the field versus the how-tos of writing a grant.  Since the need of funding is increasing, the demand for skilled grant writers is growing.  While this short book is a summary of information, it is nice to have that information organized and tucked away in a book that is easy to carry around.

______________________________________________________________________

Photos from Amazon.

Georgia State University offers CII training courses in varying computer programs and programming techniques.  Last Thursday, February 4th, I attended the HTML & CSS 1: Getting Started class.  Having no prior html experience, the class was incredibly informative and encouraging.  It was so incredible to type information and see it appear as a website.  It is the most basic of websites and html texts, but it was a huge step for me and I look forward to making more!

Note: The media selected for the lesson was chosen by the instructor and is not a reflection of me.

Below is the html document I made, a link to the site from that document and a screenshot of the class particulars.

HTML Document