Concurrent Sessions 1

Concurrent Sessions 1 | Monday, October 6 – 9:00-10:00 a.m.

CULTIVATING A LEADERSHIP MINDSET IN HIGHER ED HR

Leadership doesn’t require a title — it starts with a mindset. This interactive session offers higher ed HR professionals a space to explore how leadership shows up in themselves and in their day-to-day work. Reflect, connect and take away actionable insights for stronger, values-based leadership. This session is sponsored by The Chronicle of Higher Education. 

Brian Roe, Director of Leadership Development, and Rebecca Larson, Associate Director of Leadership Development, both of CUPA-HR

EMPLOYEE ENGAGEMENT AND SUCCESS: A SCALABLE, WRAPAROUND MODEL

Employee engagement and success prioritizes proactive collaboration with and between employees, managers and teams. Learn about Texas Christian University’s wraparound approach that equips, supports, connects and develops employees from point of hire to point of departure, and how to replicate the model on your campus.

Mariam MacGregor, Assistant Vice Chancellor, Employee Engagement and Success, and Meagan Voorhies, Director, Employee Success, both of Texas Christian University

FROM DRIFT TO DRIVE: NC STATE’S FUTURE-FOCUSED ROADMAP FOR CAREER MOMENTUM

North Carolina State University is recalibrating the GPS on career growth and retention. In this session, presenters will share NC State’s bold, three-pronged model blending career counseling, skill mapping and development planning to align people with purpose. You’ll leave with a roadmap, tools and a fresh approach to fueling momentum across your workforce. This session is sponsored by Cornerstone OnDemand. 

Ursula Hairston, Assistant Vice Chancellor for HR Strategy, and Christopher Vestal, Career Development Coordinator, both of North Carolina State University

LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT FOR SKILLED TRADES AND TECHNICIANS 

Learn how one university adapted traditional leadership development to meet the needs of non-exempt skilled trades and technical employees. This session is sponsored by Huron. 

Kristen Young, Assistant Director, Leadership and Professional Development, and Christopher Neitzel, Assistant Vice President, Business Services, both of Arizona State University

REIMAGINING EMPLOYEE RELATIONS IN HIGHER ED: WHERE STRATEGY MEETS IMPACT

Employee relations in higher education is often viewed as a reactive, compliance-driven function. But what if it could be a strategic powerhouse? This session will detail how to evolve an employee relations function from a reactive model to a proactive, strategic asset aligned with a university’s objectives.

Michelle Piekutowski, Vice President and Chief HR Officer, New York University; Deb Muller, CEO and President, HR Acuity

RETIREMENT ON YOUR OWN TERMS

When it comes to retirement, timing isn’t always in our control. Health issues, financial hardship, or job loss can accelerate plans, ready or not. This session will explore the gap between when people want to retire and when they have to retire and how HR leaders can support employees in preparing for both. Join us for a practical discussion on building financial resilience as well as empowering personal choice in the retirement journey.

Naomi Proshan, Senior Director, Advice Adoption and Advocacy, and Dana Marlowe, Market Leader, both of  TIAA; Cameron Martin, Director of Total Rewards, Colorado College; Charlene Brown, Associate Director, Employee Benefits and HR Support, University of Arkansas System

STRATEGIC WORKFORCE PLANNING FOR FINANCIAL STABILITY IN HIGHER ED

As colleges and universities face financial pressures, declining enrollment, budget cuts and rising costs, strategic workforce planning continues to be vital. This session will explore how HR and finance alignment can boost resilience, optimize labor costs and support sustainability through real-world strategies and data-driven decision-making. This session is sponsored by PageUp. 

Ramona Agrela, Chief HR Officer/Vice Chancellor; Michelle Reyes Quint, Executive Director, UCI Health Human Resources; Ashley Shear, Workforce Planning Organizational Consultant, all of University of California-Irvine

TRANSFORMING WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT WITH AI: AUBURN’S SCALABLE FRAMEWORK

Explore how Auburn University is empowering its workforce through practical AI integration. Learn how to design continuous learning models, build tech-enabled communities, and implement collaborative frameworks that drive adoption. Leave with strategies to scale innovation and boost productivity across campus functions. This session is sponsored by TIAA.

Moriah Kent, HR Instructional Designer, and Kimberly Graham, HR Instructional Designer, both of Auburn University

UNCHARTED AND IN CHARGE: LEADING THROUGH CHAOS AND UNCERTAINTY

Periods of disruption and ambiguity test not just organizational systems but leadership capacity. In this session, we’ll examine the psychological dynamics of uncertainty, identify common leadership pitfalls, and share practical strategies to maintain focus, inspire trust and build organizational adaptability.

Allison Vaillancourt, Vice President, Organizational Effectiveness, Segal; William Brady, Vice President of Human Resources, New Jersey Institute of Technology

WASHINGTON UPDATE: RECENT CHANGES ON H-1B VISAS

Join CUPA-HR’s government relations team as they discuss the significant changes to H-1B visa fees, as announced by the Trump administration on September 19. Learn more about recent developments and how they may affect higher education’s ability to attract and retain international talent. This session is sponsored by TIAA. 

Josh Ulman, Chief Government Relations Officer; Bailey Graves, Government Relations Associate; Katie Branson, Government Relations Associate, all of CUPA-HR