Speakers
Amanda Bailey
Boston University
Bio: Amanda Bailey joined Boston University as vice president for human resources in August 2021. Prior to her role at BU, she served as vice president of HR at Brown University and as associate vice president and acting chief of staff at Morehouse College. She brings nearly 30 years of professional experience in human resources and has held senior HR leadership positions over the past two decades at secondary and post-secondary educational institutions. She is a board member of the College and University Professional Association for Human Resources, the Anne Frank Center for Mutual Respect, the American Research Universities Human Resource Institute, New England HR Association, and Skills for Rhode Island’s Future. She frequently participates in panel discussions addressing HR trends and key considerations for the future of work and redefining the workplace environment and culture.
She has been featured in several publications and recognized as an influencer in HR in 2023 by Who’s Who in America for Top Executives, INC Magazine for Top HR Business Leaders in 2023, Making Boston University Resemble Boston by Vision Magazine, and Top 10 Influential Business Leaders in 2022 by CIOViews. She remains an active SHRM member, a member of Boston HR Council, and a member of many other HR organizations. She previously served on the board of the SHRM-Brevard County chapter. Prior to joining the education industry, she held HR positions at private and public organizations, including American Express and the National Labor Relations Board. She enjoys volunteering at local food banks and mentoring first-generation students in high school.
She holds a bachelor’s degree from Florida Atlantic University and a master’s degree in HR management and labor relations from the University of Rhode Island. She also has a certification in labor relations in education.
Fun Fact: I am a huge country music fan!
Manuel Cuevas-Trisán
Harvard University
Bio: Manuel Cuevas-Trisán joined Harvard University as vice president for HR in August 2021. In this capacity, he sets the overall strategic vision for HR aimed at elevating the university’s profile as a progressive and dynamic employer, recruiting and retaining diverse talent, providing development opportunities for all members of the university workforce of 20,000, and serving as a thought leader on how Harvard can thrive in the workplace of the future. He has oversight of and responsibility for staff employment policies, talent development, labor relations, benefits and compensation programs for the entire university, and serves as the coordinating partner to the HR leaders at each of Harvard’s 12 individual schools. He is also responsible for all aspects of HR for central administration and has oversight of Harvard’s contingent workforce suppliers. Prior to joining Harvard, he served as vice presdient and chief HR officer at Northwestern University. Previously, he had a successful career as a labor and employment lawyer at Motorola Solutions, Inc. in Chicago, which culminated in his service as CHRO and vice president of employment law and data protection.
He holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Notre Dame and a juris doctorate from the University of Puerto Rico School of Law. He holds Information Privacy Professional (CIPP) and Information Privacy Manager (CIPM) certifications from the International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP) and a master’s in executive coaching and leadership from Universitat de Barcelona/OBS.
Fun Fact: I collect modern and vintage fountain pens and practice calligraphy.
Michelle Piekutowski
Carnegie Mellon University
Bio: As the associate vice president for HR and chief HR officer for Carnegie Mellon University, Michelle Piekutowski provides leadership, direction and strategy on HR issues involving recruitment and retention; onboarding and professional development; employee and labor relations; benefits and compensation; and performance standards and assessments. With experience as an HR executive and more than 23 years of leadership experience in higher education, she provides strong values, a proven ability to realign resources to ensure success, and the passion for transformational change. Prior to joining Carnegie Mellon, she served as associate vice president for HR and chief HR officer at Clemson University.
She sits on the National Chief HR Council for The Conference Board and serves as a SHRM Executive Network member; a governing body member for Philadelphia-area CHROs; on the Workday CHRO Advisory Council; and on the board for the American Research University Chief HR Officers. She has served as an HR legislative advocate for the Society for Human Resource Management; on the Higher Education Recruitment Consortium advisory board; and as past president and vice president on the South Carolina Chapter College and University Professional Association for Human Resources board. She currently leads Carnegie Mellon University’s United Way Campaign, serves on Vibrant Pittsburgh’s Diversity Council, and serves on the board of the Pittsburgh Scholar House.
She lives in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, with her husband and has four children.
Fun Fact: I enjoy cleaning out closets.
Cheryl Reardon
University of Iowa
Bio: Cheryl Reardon is the chief HR officer and associate vice president at the University of Iowa, where she has cultivated a rich, diverse and progressive portfolio of experiences in her 30-year career on campus. She has served in leadership roles in student life, academic administration, research and the economic development enterprise. In her current role, she provides leadership for HR on campus, a campus employing nearly 30,000 individuals.
A native of Iowa City, she holds a master’s degree from Minnesota State University-Mankato and a bachelor’s degree from St. Ambrose University. She has demonstrated her leadership skills and her commitment to the UI community by serving on numerous university, community, state and national committees.
Fun Fact: I’m an avid bicyclist.
Laurita Thomas
American Research Universities Human Resources Institute
Bio: Laurita Thomas is the president of the American Research Universities Human Resources Institute. She is responsible for executive development and leadership programming for the CHROs of 71 major research universities in the United States and Canada. She is a certified master coach and provides leadership development and organizational development consulting as a partner with the LTL Consulting Group. She retired from serving more than 15 years as the associate vice president for HR at the University of Michigan. There, she was responsible for HR policy for all UM campuses and a full range of comprehensive integrated HR services, products and operations. She was responsible for 330 staff, a budget of $36 million, and a benefit plan of approximately $1 billion. She is best known for her work to create environments where people thrive, partnerships prevail, and performance excels. Her professional HR career spans roles in the financial industry, higher education and healthcare.
She is a graduate of the University of Michigan in political science and economics. Her graduate work was in guidance and counseling and business administration. She has published many articles and book chapters and has received many leadership and service awards, most recently HR Executive of the Year for the State of Michigan from the American Society of Employers and the CUPA-HR Distinguished Service Award.
She has served as a leader in several professional organizations, including the ARU Human Resource Institute, where she served as charter member and treasurer; the Higher Education Advisory Council; TIAA Advisory Council; Fellow, TIAA-CREF Research Institute; CUPA-HR national board member; the Big Ten Academic Alliance Human Resources Officers; University Health System Consortium Human Resources Officers Council chair; and Medical Center Employee Relations Association president. In the community, she has contributed through service organizations, including service on the Mayor’s Commission on Increasing Safety for Women; the executive committee of the Washtenaw County Workforce Development Board; board director emeritus for SOS Community Services; board member for Dance for PD, New York, NY; Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Ann Arbor Alumnae Chapter president; board vice president for the Dispute Resolution Center; board member for Girls Group; board president for SafeHouse Center; member of the Ann Arbor Branch of NAACP; Church School superintendent and steward, Bethel A.M.E. Church; advisory board member for Our House; member of Big Brothers, Big Sisters Advisory Council; and president of the Ann Arbor Chapter of The Links, Inc.
Fun Fact: I have a portfolio of wedding dresses I designed and/or created.
View Laurita’s LinkedIn Profile
Felicia A. Washington
University of Southern California
Bio: Felicia A. Washington is USC’s first senior vice president for human resources, responsible for designing and implementing a coordinated and professionalized world-class HR function. She joined USC in June 2019 and is a member of the president’s senior leadership team. In December 2019, her responsibilities expanded to include additional people-focused central offices: Culture, Ethics and Compliance; Equity, Equal Opportunity and Title IX; and Professionalism and Ethics. Thus, USC’s HR, Equity and Compliance Division was formed, and her mission of “Making More Impact Than Ever Before” was adopted. Previously, she was chief people officer and vice chancellor for workforce strategy, equity and engagement at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill for five years. Prior to that, she was in private practice for over two decades at the Charlotte office of K&L Gates, a multinational law firm where she was a partner and focused on employment law and business immigration. She is currently serving a three-year leadership role (immediate past chair this year) of the American Research Universities HR Institute and has served on numerous other boards and organizations, including as a member of the UNC-Chapel Hill board of trustees and a member of the North Carolina Medical Board. She earned a bachelor’s degree in economics from UNC-Chapel Hill and a juris doctorate from the University of Virginia School of Law.
A resident of Los Angeles, she enjoys walks in the sun with her husband, Ron, and traveling with their five children and families, especially grandchildren Averie and Miles.
Fun Fact: I like to dance.
John Whelan
Yale University
Bio: John Whelan was appointed as the vice president for human resources at Yale University in August 2021, where he leads a team of 180 HR professionals who are focused on attracting and retaining a talented and diverse workforce as well as enhancing the HR user experience across the university. Before this role, he was the vice president for HR at Indiana University, serving as IU’s chief HR officer since June 2014. During his seven years at IU, he built a stronger and more strategically focused HR function, improved HR’s process efficiency and customer service, and increased the engagement of IU’s 23,000 employees across the school’s seven campuses. Prior to IU, he was the vice president and chief HR officer at Baylor University. He has also held HR leadership positions at the University of Notre Dame, Bristol-Myers Squibb, The Gillette Company, and Brown Brothers Harriman & Co.
He earned a bachelor’s degree and a juris doctorate from the University of Notre Dame. He is a past member of the national board of directors for CUPA-HR (College and University Professional Association for Human Resources) and also served as the board’s chair. He currently serves as board chair of the American Research Universities HR Institute. He is admitted to the Massachusetts bar.
Fun Fact: My kids call me Lucky Larry, for no apparent reason.