Agenda 2021

2021 Agenda

All times are Eastern Standard Time.

Monday, November 8

  • 1:00–1:30 p.m. | New Member/First-Time Attendees Orientation
    Facilitator:     Legail Chandler, Past Chair of the ARU-HRI Board and Vice Chancellor for Human Resources, Washington University in St. Louis
  • 1:45–2:00 p.m. | Welcome
    Speaker: Felicia Washington, ARU-HRI Board Chair and Senior  Vice President for Human Resources, University of Southern California
  • 2:00-2:30 p.m. | Session 1: The Role of Heart in Human Performance: Helping CHRO Leaders Thrive During Challenging Times
    Speakers:     Felicia Washington, ARU-HRI Board Chair and Senior Vice President for Human Resources, University of Southern California; Jeff Benton, Founder and CEO, and Brett Weinroth, Partner and Managing Director, both of Paragon Performance Evolution
  • 2:30-4:00 p.m. | Session 2: Sustaining a World-Class CHRO in Higher Education
    Speaker:     John Whelan, Vice President for Human Resources, Yale University
    Description: Following up on last year’s report about “Becoming a World Class CHRO in Higher Education, we will explore more deeply some of the key takeaways and new priorities for higher ed HR leaders. This session will provide deeper context from presidents, provosts and chief business officers at AAU universities based on conversations after last year’s survey. This session will be interactive in order to share experiences and collectively identify new opportunities.
  • 4:15 p.m. | Session 3: Keynote – What’s Next in Higher Education
    Facilitator:     Vivian Fernandez, Senior Vice President for Human Resources and Organizational Effectiveness, Rutgers University
    Keynote Speaker: Jonathan Holloway, President, Rutgers University

Tuesday, November 9

  • 10:30-11:45 a.m. | Session 4: Founder’s Session: Keeping Up With Communications
    Facilitator:     Amanda Bailey, ARU-HRI Conference Planning Committee Co-Chair and Vice President for Human Resources, Boston University
    Speaker: Jennifer Benz, Senior Vice President and Communications Leader, Segal-Benz Consulting
    Description: The global pandemic and accompanying uncertainty have changed expectations for how, when and where people receive information from their employer. And those communications have a direct impact on the confidence individuals have in their employer and their perceptions about the company’s priorities and values. That has tremendous long-term implications for all functions within HR, which are navigating change at the same time. In this session, you’ll learn what higher education institutions as well as other organizations are doing to help their people through these challenging times. 
  • 11:45 a.m.-12:45 p.m. | Session 5: Lunch Break
  • 12:45-1:30 p.m. | Business Meeting (Members Only)
  • 1:30 p.m.-3:00 p.m. | Session 6: Impact of Changes to the Worker, Workplace and Work Environment
    Moderator:     Mary George Opperman, Vice President and Chief HR Officer, Cornell University
    Panelists: Michael Ireland, Executive Director, Columbia Leadership, Master Coach, Columbia Coaching Institute, Faculty, Columbia University; Eugene Whitlock, Assistant Vice Chancellor for Human Resources and Chief HR Officer, University of California, Berkeley; Kelley Stuck, Total Rewards Advisor and Former Vice President of Human Resources, University of Virginia
  • 3:00-3:15 p.m. | Break
  • 3:15-4:45 p.m. | Session 7: Reimagining the Higher Education Workplace
    Moderator:     Lorraine Goffe, Vice President for Human Resources and Chief HR Officer, The Pennsylvania State University
    Panelists: Mike Rounds, Vice Provost for Operations and Chief HR Officer, University of Kansas; Cheryl Reardon, Chief HR Officer and Associate Vice President, University of Iowa; Kyle Cavanaugh, Vice President for Administration, Duke University
    Description: In recent years, a general increase in remote work opportunities has been gradually taking place across business sectors, including higher education institutions. The COVID-19 pandemic brought on a rapid acceleration of planning to meet the new expectations of a workforce that has the shared experience of working remotely. The panel will discuss the implications beyond HR and some of the biggest challenges and opportunities of remote or hybrid work in the world of higher education.
  • 4:45 p.m. | Special Speakers
    Introduction: Michelle Piekutowski, ARU-HRI Conference Planning Committee Co-Chair and Chief HR Officer, Carnegie Mellon University
    Speakers: Christina Cutlip, Senior Managing Director, Client Engagement and National Advocacy, and Thasunda Brown Duckett, President and CEO, both of TIAA

Wednesday, November 10

  • 10:30-11:45 a.m. | Session 8: Lightning Sessions 
    Introduction: Elizabeth Zacharias, Vice President of Human Resources, Stanford University

    1. How Is Artificial Intelligence Driving Your Recruitment and Selection Process? 
      Facilitator: Jami Painter, Associate Vice President and Chief HR Officer, University of Illinois System
    2. What Is Coming Out of Biden’s Administration That Is Driving Change in HR?
      Facilitator:       Manuel Cuevas-Trisán, Vice President and Chief HR Officer, Harvard University
    3. How Is Increased Mobility Impacting HR?
      Facilitator: Cheryl Reardon, Chief HR Officer and Associate Vice President, The University of Iowa
    4. How Are You Managing Accommodations and/or Work Adjustments for Mental Health and Well-Being?
      Facilitator: Mindy Kornberg, Vice President for Human Resources, University of Washington
    5. How Are You Ensuring Inclusivity, Belonging and Equity in Decisions for Hybrid (Flexible Work Arrangements/Remote/On-Campus) Work Environments and How Are You Communicating These Decisions?
      Facilitator: Elizabeth Zacharias, Vice President of Human Resources, Stanford University
    6. What is an Effective Relationship With Public Safety During Turbulent Times?
      Facilitator: Mike Rounds, Vice Provost of Operations, University of Kansas
  • 11:45-12:00 p.m. | Break
  • 12:00-1:30 p.m. | Session 9: Workforce Planning: A Deeper Dive
    Facilitator:     Carolyn Gregory, Vice President for Human Resources, Case Western Reserve University
    Panelists: Mark Coldren, Associate Vice President for Human Resources, University at Buffalo, State University of New York; Jeff Herring, Chief HR Officer, University of Utah
  • 1:30 p.m. | Session 10: Closing Session: Sustaining the World-Class CHRO
    Facilitator:     Laurita Thomas, President, ARU-HRI
    Speaker:     Andy Brantley, President and CEO, CUPA-HR
  • 2:15 p.m. | Close of 2021 Conference
    Felicia Washington, 2021 ARU-HRI Board Chair and Senior Vice President for Human Resources, University of Southern California