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We recently sat down with Yael Mayer, the Center for Synthetic Biology’s (CSB) Director of Operations and Outreach, to learn more about her path to Northwestern, her passion for staff advocacy, and what fuels her work behind the scenes.

What are your job responsibilities?

Most of my day-to-day responsibilities include managing personnel, space, finances and outreach efforts. I also work closely with our leadership team on development opportunities, strategic planning and growth. A big part of my role is making sure faculty, trainees, and staff have what they need to thrive. People talk about open door policies for staff, I like to think of it more as an open platform policy for staff—you can reach me through any method of communication you prefer.

What does your typical day look like?

Until recently, much of my day-to-day focused on financial operations. But with the addition of Brianna, our business administrator, I’ve been able to shift toward more strategic initiatives—especially outreach and development.

It’s been a journey building up our operations team, and now that we have a strong foundation, I can spend more time on work that will shape the center’s future. I’m especially excited to support Danielle, Julius, and Taylor in thinking about long-term growth and impact.

What originally drew you to work in higher education?

I majored in psychology with a concentration in educational studies. My first job out of college was working in Milan Mrksich’s lab at the University of Chicago. That’s where I got my first glimpse into higher ed administration.

When Milan was recruited to Northwestern, I didn’t hesitate to join him. I grew up in Hyde Park, so it was also a chance to start a new chapter in Evanston. Fourteen years later, I’m still here—and still loving it.

When Milan became Vice President for Research in 2019, I had the opportunity to see what it takes to run an institution like Northwestern. That experience—seeing how high-level decisions are made, how complex problems get solved—was pivotal. It gave me the confidence and perspective I needed for my current role at CSB. I didn’t necessarily plan to be a director of operations, but it feels like the right role for me.

What achievement are you most proud of?

Becoming a Certified Research Administrator in 2017 was a big milestone. I studied hard, passed the exam, and in that same year joined both the Northwestern University Staff Advisory Council (NUSAC) and the Northwestern University Research Administration Professionals group (NURAP). I eventually took on leadership roles in both—Vice Chair of NUSAC and President of NURAP.

Balancing all of that with my full-time job wasn’t easy, but it was deeply fulfilling. I was energized by the work and the opportunity to advocate for staff. That was also a tough time at Northwestern—staff morale was low after layoffs—and I felt compelled to get involved and help amplify the voices of others who weren’t having the same positive experience I was.

What keeps you motivated when things get hard?

I believe in doing hard things—and in being okay with not getting it right the first time. It’s uncomfortable, but necessary. Watching smart, capable people around me make mistakes, learn, and grow has helped me give myself permission to do the same.

Ultimately, I’m motivated by service. I want staff to feel valued and connected to something bigger. Faculty and trainees can’t do what they do without the people who keep the engine running. That’s the point of this whole enterprise—we’re all part of making it work.

What advice would you give others who want a career like yours?

Say yes to opportunities. Get involved in everything you can—committees, working groups, cross-campus collaborations. Hopefully, you have a supervisor who supports that, because it benefits not just your growth, but your entire unit.

When you build relationships across campus, you don’t just get answers—you get allies. You gain insight into how the university functions and who to go to when challenges arise. You develop a kind of institutional fluency that’s invaluable.

And know that you’ll make mistakes. That’s part of it. For people like me who are “helpers,” it’s hard when something goes wrong. But you have to learn how to keep moving forward and ask yourself, “What’s the next best thing I can do?”

To wrap up, tell us a fun fact about yourself.

The fact I like best about me is that I was adopted when I was three months old. It’s the greatest gift of my life. My parents are my best friends—two of the most incredible people.

I don’t know exactly what I believe about spirituality, but there’s something cosmic about our connection. I don’t need to understand why it happened the way it did—I’m just grateful. One of the reasons why I think I love being around education is because both of my parents instilled into me intellectual curiosity and finding something that really grabs you and gets you excited. This thing that we’ve got going on at the Center gets me excited to come to work and I love that.

by Lisa La Vallee