Texas Water Resources Institute Assistant Director Danielle Kalisek is a constant presence at TWRI. Leading all operational teams at the institute – communications, business and grant administration, she provides the institute with indispensable daily guidance and support. For TWRI’s daily work, she is a go-to person for solving problems and helping staff, but that hardly scratches the surface of the many roles she’s taken on over the years.
Celebrating 20 years of service at TWRI this year, Kalisek reminisces on how she got her start and how her work has evolved over the last two decades.
“I remember that when I came for my interview, pretty much everybody who worked at TWRI at the time was in that room, about seven or eight people, which was a little overwhelming at first,” she said. “Right away, we all got along, and it felt like a good home from the start.”
Kalisek started as Danielle Supercinski, an Extension assistant in February 2005, working on communications for the Rio Grande Basin Initiative, which was a large, multi-institution effort led by TWRI. Her role included writing articles and developing newsletters, compiling annual accomplishment reports, coordinating annual project meetings and collaborating with various researchers, AgriLife Extension specialists and agents and external project team members.
Since then, she’s served in many different roles within the Institute: communications coordinator, project manager, program manager, grant administrator and most recently, assistant director of operations.
“I did not think that this role is where I would be 20 years later,” Kalisek said. “But it’s been neat because I’ve gotten to see most every step of the work that goes on here and I’ve been able to be in those roles, to know how they operate. That’s been helpful for both getting to where I am and helping others that are coming along, either new or moving into different roles here at TWRI.”
As she’s grown in her role, Kalisek has watched the Institute grow as well.
“It's been really interesting to see the growth. When I started, there were only 10 employees. And now we're up to 30 full-time staff, plus numerous students,” she said. “That's been exciting. Now, as we talk about the future of TWRI, I look forward to continuing to watch it grow and being a part of it.”
Part of that growth has also been the relationships built with coworkers, current and former.
“I think the best thing has been the friends I've made along the way,” she said. “Several of whom moved on to other roles in other places, but from that initial, smaller, tight-knit group, there were some lifetime friendships made. We're like a big work family, and I feel like that still has continued.”
Her coworkers feel the same way. TWRI Associate Director Allen Berthold, Ph.D., has worked with Kalisek for almost 17 years.
“Working with her has been great. She is such a good team member. She adds value to every discussion,” he said.
“She's always been fantastic to work with. Just a good person, and gets her job done and done really stinking well. I can't say enough good things about her, to be honest,” said TWRI Associate Director, Lucas Gregory, Ph.D., who has worked with Kalisek for 19 years. “If you have a question and don't know who to go to, she probably has an answer. She's fantastic. She's like a Swiss army knife, can do anything and everything, and does it well.”
Reminiscing on the past 20 years of memories and accomplishments, Kalisek feels grateful for the community at TWRI and others she’s met through projects and connections outside of TWRI.
“I'm just thankful for both the folks who were here when I got started for selecting me, and all the folks who have been here along the way who have supported me and helped, and I mean, without the team that we have here, I wouldn't be where I'm at,” she said. “I appreciate everybody on our team for all they do as well as connections that I have made with others outside TWRI, and I enjoy working with them.”
1 of 10
2 of 10
3 of 10
4 of 10
5 of 10
6 of 10
7 of 10
8 of 10
9 of 10
10 of 10
