The interactions with SEEC staff during the three year CLiPSE project were professional, supportive, and extremely helpful. Their insights about STEM education as a critical friend to the team helped to inform and guide the project in new directions as they asked questions that likely would not have otherwise been asked, challenging project leadership to thoroughly reflect on the project goals and foci to ensure the project met benchmarks and was competitive for follow-on funding. Additionally, SEEC staff were reliable and responsive to changing project needs and commitments.”