Concurrent Sessions 2

Concurrent Sessions 2 | Monday, October 6 – 1:15-2:15 p.m.

2025 HIGHER ED EMPLOYMENT AND LABOR LAW UPDATE

Join Ira Shepard, CUPA-HR’s general counsel, and Carolyn Pellegrini of Saul Ewing LLP for an interactive session covering the latest information and updates on key higher education employment and labor law challenges and considerations. This session is sponsored by Cornerstone OnDemand.

Ira Shepard, General Counsel, CUPA-HR; Carolyn Pellegrini, Partner, Saul Ewing, LLP

EMPLOYEE PARTNERS FOR CONFLICT TRANSFORMATION: THE RUTGERS MODEL

This interactive session will showcase Rutgers HR’s unique approach to conflict and toward cultivating a more thriving workplace culture. We’ll cover the why and what of informal and holistic methods for addressing conflict at the individual and group levels. You’ll learn simple tools you can use immediately to help foster collaboration and conflict competence. This session is sponsored by Huron.

Frieda Hoffman, Conflict Navigation Specialist, Rutgers University-New Brunswick

FROM STRATEGY TO IMPACT: A CASE STUDY IN IMPLEMENTING OBJECTIVES AND KEY RESULTS

Hear how University of Central Florida’s HR team used the objectives and key results (OKR) model to shift the common misperception that HR’s work is operational and disconnected from institutional strategy. Learn how UCF leveraged an OKR model to align efforts with strategic goals, break down silos, drive institutional outcomes and go beyond “business as usual.” This session is sponsored by Huron. 

Maureen Binder, Associate Vice President and Chief HR Officer, and Elizabeth Richner, Director, Operations and Strategic Initiatives, both of University of Central Florida; BJ Steen, Director, Huron Consulting Group

INTENTIONAL RECRUITING: BUILDING A MILITARY-TO-CAMPUS PIPELINE

Approximately 200,000 military members transition to civilian roles annually. This session will highlight effective recruitment strategies to attract military talent to your campus and offer tips on how to support your military employees’ transition to civilian roles. This session is sponsored by PageUp. 

Lindsey Fouquette, Director of Talent Acquisition, and Makeedra Hayes, HR Collective Units Program Director, both of University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus

IT TAKES A CAMPUS: ADVANCING EMPLOYEE CONNECTEDNESS COLLEGE-WIDE

Employee engagement is everyone’s job. Explore how Rogue Community College transformed survey insights into a collective commitment to employee connectedness and learn strategies for turning data into dialogue, action and culture change across the institution.

Jamee Harrington, Vice President of People, Culture and Safety/Chief HR Officer, Rogue Community College

LEADERS AT ALL LEVELS: A COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH TO LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT

Leadership development is not one-size-fits-all. Institutions must develop leaders at all career stages. This session will explore components of a robust leadership development program that meets the needs of current and emerging leaders while preparing a talent pipeline for critical positions through succession planning. This session is sponsored by The Chronicle of Higher Education. 

Martina Perry, Interim Executive Director, Organizational Development, Florida State College at Jacksonville

RECRUITMENT TO RETENTION: CONNECTING THE DOTS THROUGH WORKFORCE ANALYTICS

From hiring to retention, workforce data holds the key to better decisions. Learn how Purdue University built dashboards that connect the full talent lifecycle, pairing analytics with storytelling to influence planning, performance and strategy. This session is sponsored by The Chronicle of Higher Education. 

Brenda Coulson, Senior Director, Talent Acquisition, and Lisa Farr, Senior Data Analyst, both of Purdue University

SCALING HIGH-IMPACT LEARNING: A DIY MODEL FOR LIMITED RESOURCES

Tighter budgets don’t have to mean limited learning. Discover how a two-person team launched 30+ development opportunities in one year using existing tools, internal talent and strategy, not dollars. Leave with a DIY toolkit and a practical roadmap to scale professional development at your institution.

Amee Austin, Director, Organizational Development, Des Moines Area Community College

TALENT, TECH AND TRANSFORMATION: A CHRO PANEL ON THE FUTURE OF HIGHER ED HR

The race for talent is heating up. HR leaders in higher ed are under pressure to attract the right people, keep them engaged, and build teams that last. This panel brings together CHROs and executive HR leaders to share how they are driving transformation within their institutions. From fine-tuning sourcing and compensation strategies to fresh takes on talent development, they’ll reveal how they’re tackling employee expectations and staying competitive. We’ll also explore how AI and automation are changing the way HR teams work, enabling them to be more strategic, agile and responsive. You’ll leave with fresh ideas and proven strategies to compete in today’s market.

Andrea McCartney, Account Executive, PageUp; Bryan Garey, Chief HR Officer, Virginia Tech; Ray Kliewer, Chief HR Officer, Gonzaga University; Leah Schonfeld, Associate Vice President/Chief HR Officer, The Citadel, the Military College of South Carolina 

THE BUZZ ABOUT FLEXIBLE WORK: LATEST DATA AND THE CHALLENGES AND WINS BEHIND THE NUMBERS

In this interactive session, CUPA-HR research team members will provide an overview of the latest results on flexible work from CUPA-HR’s Benefits, Employee Experience, and Structure (BEES) Survey and facilitate discussion among attendees about the challenges and successes of implementing and maintaining flexible work initiatives. Topics will include flexible schedules, hybrid and remote work arrangements, and the policies and procedures that underlie flexible work. Come prepared to share your own successes and challenges with implementing or maintaining flexible work initiatives. This session is sponsored by TIAA. 

Melissa Fuesting, Ph.D., Associate Director of Research, and Brielle Johnson, Ph.D., Survey Researcher, both of CUPA-HR