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Meet Richard "Rich" Knepper
Rich is the Director for Advanced Computing
Cornell University
Background
Rich came to Thriving Ibis amid organizational changes at Cornell University and increasing community pressures. As a result, he found himself engaging more frequently with senior leadership, including presenting to the Board of Trustees. The Board has shown strong interest in how the institution is currently supporting research computing—and where there may be opportunities to improve. Rich believed that Dr. AJ could offer valuable perspective, bringing a leadership-focused lens along with a deep understanding of the complexities of cyberinfrastructure.
Outcome: Adaptive Leadership During Organizational Uncertainty
Working with Dr. AJ helped sharpen Rich’s ability to lead through uncertainty by consistently refocusing on what mattered most: his people and their priorities. Dr. AJ’s timely, perspective-shifting questions—such as how to best support teams during disruption and how to advocate effectively in high-stakes conversations—enabled Rich to step back, regain clarity, and act with intention.
The engagement balanced continuity and flexibility. Core leadership goals established early on—improving delegation, managing up, and navigating across organizational levels—remained active touchpoints throughout the work. At the same time, Dr. AJ created space to adapt as new challenges emerged, allowing the work to evolve alongside rapidly changing circumstances.
When significant pivots became necessary in spring 2025, Dr. AJ’s guidance supported Rich in letting go of lower-priority efforts and reorienting leadership focus toward urgent community needs. This included rethinking engagement strategies, redefining support structures, and aligning actions with what the community required most during a period of uncertainty—strengthening both leadership effectiveness and organizational responsiveness.
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