Annual Conference Agenda

November 10-12, 2025
Washington, D.C.

HR in Higher Education: Driving Partnership, Innovation and Resilience

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Monday, November 10

9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. | Board of Directors Meeting and Lunch (board members only)

12:30-8:00 p.m.| Registration

1:00-1:30 p.m. | New Member/First-Time Attendees Orientation

Facilitator: Michelle Piekutowski, Vice President and Chief HR Officer, New York University, and ARU-HRI Past Board Chair

1:45-2:15 p.m. | Welcome and Opening of the 15th Annual Conference

Facilitator: Cheryl Reardon, Associate Vice President for Human Resources, University of Iowa, ARU-HRI Board Chair

2:15-3:15 p.m. | Session 1: Leading Through Crisis: People-Centered, Principle-Driven Leadership in Higher Education

As the higher education sector continues to confront a period of profound disruption marked by social, political, financial, and institutional upheaval, the role of senior HR leaders is increasingly pivotal. Leadership must not only be responsive to immediate challenges, but also principled, people-centered, and forward-looking. This interactive session introduces a research-informed framework for leading through disruption and navigating its aftermath. Through a blend of structured dialogue and small-group conversations, we’ll:

    • Examine the unique leadership challenges that arise during and following crises within higher education institutions, including organizational fatigue, shifting priorities, and community trust.
    • Explore practices associated with effective crisis leadership in higher education that prioritize principled decision-making and the well-being of individuals.
    • Apply the framework to their unique campus context by aligning it with specific leadership goals, institutional priorities, and the evolving needs of their communities.

Speaker: Ralph Gigliotti, Ph.D., Assistant Vice President for Organizational Leadership in University Academic Affairs, Rutgers University

3:15-3:30 p.m. | Break

3:30-4:30 p.m. | Session 2: From Disruption to Durability: Building Resilient Leadership Teams

Speaker: Laura Hunt Newman, Managing Director, Upstart Logic

4:30-4:45 p.m. | Break

4:45-5:45 p.m. | Session 3: Keynote Address

Speaker: Barbara R. Snyder, President, Association of American Universities (AAU)

5:45-6:45 p.m. | Introduction of Members, Sponsors and Participants

Facilitator: Cheryl Reardon, Associate Vice President for Human Resources, University of Iowa, ARU-HRI Board Chair

6:45-7:00 p.m. | Break

7:00-7:45 p.m. | Dinner

7:45-8:30 p.m. | Dessert and Reception With Remarks by Segal

8:30 p.m. | Closing and Logistics for Day Two

Facilitator: Laurita Thomas, ARU-HRI President

    Tuesday, November 11

    8:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. | Registration

    8:00-8:30 a.m. | Breakfast

    8:30-8:45 a.m. | Remarks by Caldwell

    8:45-10:00 a.m. | Session 4: Embedding AI in our Campuses

    Join a dynamic panel discussion featuring a Vice President for Information Technology and Chief Information Officer, Chief Human Resources Officer and Associate Vice President, and Senior Director of Employee Systems Management as they explore how to embed HR into the core of organizational strategy. Discover the critical role of HR and IT collaboration in driving transformation and enabling agile, people-centered solutions. Leave with a better understanding of how you may be able to build a tailored roadmap for your organization that aligns HR innovation with enterprise goals.

    Facilitator: Lorraine Goffe, Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer, Northwestern University 

    10:00-10:30 a.m. | Networking Break

    10:30-11:30 a.m.| Session 5: Legislative Review

    Speaker: Josh Ulman, Chief Government Relations Officer, CUPA-HR

    11:30 a.m.-12:15 p.m. | Lunch

    12:15-1:00 p.m. | Business Meeting (ARU-HRI Members Only)

    Facilitator: Cheryl Reardon, Associate Vice President for Human Resources, University of Iowa, ARU-HRI Board Chair

    1:00-1:15 p.m. | Break

    1:15-2:45 p.m. | Session 6: Lightning Round Sessions

      • Session A: Operational Efficiencies – Lessons Learned
        Facilitators:         Ramona Agrela, Vice Chancellor and Chief Human Resources Officer, University of California, Irvine, and Skye Duckett, Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer, Georgia Institute of Technology
      • Session B: Silver Linings
        Facilitators:         Mark Schmelz, Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer, University of Oregon, and Tony Hunt, Associate Vice President of Human Resources, The University of Texas at Austin
      • Session C: Who Supports the CHRO?
        Facilitators:         Melissa Curry, Vice President, Human Resources, University of Florida, and Shari Mickey-Boggs, Senior Associate Vice Chancellor for Human Resources, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
      • Session D: Hot Topic – Stay tuned!
        Facilitators:         Sabrina Minor, Vice President and Chief People Officer, George Washington University, and Kevin Moody, Senior Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer, Emory University

    2:45-3:00 p.m. | Remarks by TIAA

    3:00-6:00 p.m. | Free Time

    6:00-8:45 p.m. | Conference Dinner – DC Flight Club

    Transportation:
    Departure from the hotel to the restaurant: Buses begin loading at 6:00 p.m. and depart at 6:15 p.m.
    Return from the restaurant to the hotel:
    Buses begin loading at 8:15 p.m. and depart at 8:30 p.m.

      Wednesday, November 12

      8:00-9:00 a.m.| Registration

      8:00-9:00 a.m. | Breakfast

      8:45-9:00 a.m. | Celebrating 15 Years of ARU-HRI

      Remarks from Ken Hutchinson, ARU-HRI Founder

      9:00-10:15 a.m. | Session 7: AAU Perspectives

      This session will provide an overview of the latest issues shaping the landscape for America’s leading research universities. Staff will share updates on AAU’s key priorities, including research funding, facilities and administration costs, immigration, science and security, and the broader federal budget environment. The session will also highlight AAU’s advocacy strategy, national campaigns and messaging efforts to defend research universities and demonstrate the value of our members. In addition, we will explore how federal actions are impacting institutions’ decisions related to academic hiring; access, enrollment and retention of undergraduate and graduate students; review, promotion and tenure processes; and more.

      Speakers: Emily R. Miller, Ph.D., Vice President of Research and Institutional Policy; Win Boerckel, Senior Vice President for Communications; and Tobin (Toby) Smith, Senior Vice President for Government Relations and Public Policy, all of AAU

      10:15-10:25 a.m. | Leadership Transition

      Laurita Thomas, ARU-HRI President
      Betsy Rodriguez, ARU-HRI President-Elect

      10:25-10:45 a.m. | Close of 2025 Annual Conference

      Facilitator: Cheryl Reardon, Associate Vice President for Human Resources, University of Iowa, ARU-HRI Board Chair 2025

      Afternoon:
      You may wish to take advantage of any free time to organize a meeting with your institution’s Washington-based government relations team.