Learning | Connecting | Mentoring

2022-23 Wildfire Class

CUPA-HR’s Wildfire program is sponsored in part by:

TJ Bowie, Equal Opportunity and HR Compliance Manager
Elon University
While new to human resources and higher education HR, I am not new to higher education. I recently earned my current role in HR by leveraging my background in higher education from a student life perspective, a business perspective and the perspective of a leader within our Staff Advisory Council. My role is at the crossroads of HR best practices and equity, diversity and inclusion — and making sure that those efforts are efficiently tied together. While this is a specific role at my institution, this is also something incredibly relevant to our current culture within HR and higher education HR. The rules of the game are ever changing; we must be nimble, we must earn the trust of our entire community, and we must be able to call on those relationships to adapt, strategize and overcome.

Joy Brownridge, Training & Development Specialist
University of Illinois System
I spent more than 15 years working in manufacturing, primarily in the automotive industry, as a packaging engineer. During this portion of my career, I saw and experienced many issues that I now recognize as HR‐related. At the time, this was not clear to me. HR was a concept that seemed relegated to onboarding, managing random drug testing and exit paperwork. Now realizing the benefits of having a great HR department, I am fully committed to helping expand the reach of my department. I am proud to work in an office that is expanding and creating new employee engagement programs. I know firsthand that this kind of work is important in helping employees remain focused and feel a deeper connection to their workplace. I am proud of the unconventional avenue I took into the world of HR. I realize that I’ve finally found the occupation I am passionate about.

Amanda Burshtynsky, Employee Payroll & Insurance Clerk
Genesee Community College
When I stop and evaluate where I am currently in my life, it becomes clear to me that I am exactly where I was intended to be, being an HR professional in a higher ed setting. I have been in the workforce for over 20 years amongst various industries. Within every industry, there always seems to be a negative stigma associated with HR. It wasn’t until I accepted my position in human resources and began working in the office that I really came to see and understand HR for what it truly is. HR is the place for support, encouragement, growth and development of personnel! We are not the “principal’s office,” and more people need to know that and see what we can do for them! I have learned an abundance of knowledge, I am building confidence in my skills, and the negative stigma surrounding HR is my new goal to help others overcome.

Kelleebeth Cantu, Human Resources & Employment Coordinator
Trinity University
I am a planner. When starting my college career, I mapped out what courses I should take each semester and followed them through. While I was able to graduate in three years, my career path has not been linear or easy. I have been in human resources for almost five years and feel that this career chose me even if it wasn’t part of the initial plan. I love meeting new people and getting them excited to work at my university. I love maintaining these relationships and helping employees throughout their career process, especially through the hardships of the last two years living in a pandemic. I take pride in being a safe haven for workers who are stressed during these uncertain times.

Audrey Ettesvold, Human Resource Specialist
Idaho State Board of Education
I have always felt that HR should operate on a foundation of trust, quality communication, and the ability to work through (and help peers and leaders work through) complex issues to create a clear path forward that benefits both the individual and the organization as a whole. I feel that I have created an environment where employees and leaders feel comfortable coming to speak with me, whether it is to determine next steps or simply to think out loud. I strive to ask probing questions that help employees and leaders identify the root of an issue and determine solutions and next steps. I have always been an empath and I feel that this quality helps me to build meaningful connections with all employees in order to foster an environment where employees are able to professionally develop and personally thrive.

Alexis Hanscel, HR Generalist
Denison University
Working in higher education, we are constantly in an atmosphere of growth and learning. As a generalist, I get to touch a lot of areas, topics and core competencies within HR. We have seen how drastically the “people landscape” has changed in the last two years. Higher ed has faced its own unique challenges in attracting and retaining students and employees. Human resources professionals must continue to collaborate, innovate and develop creative solutions to our workplace challenges and opportunities. Our culture surrounding work is changing before our eyes. It is really rewarding work, and I am eager for the opportunity to develop and master these skills and make lasting meaningful connections.

Kathleen Hermacinski, Human Resource Coordinator
Eureka College
I am a hard worker and excellent learner. I want to learn everything! As a lifetime learner, I want to always improve on the knowledge others have and are willing to share. My goal is to have sincere and easily understandable messaging from my office to the entire campus community. I want to improve on how to build trust within my organization. Communication is not only key for candidates, but for our internal stakeholders as well. When faculty and staff can all be on the same communication page, retention is so much stronger.

Anshuma Jain, HR Administrator
Hudson County Community College
I got fascinated to study human resources and build my career in HR when I heard a professor saying, “HUMAN resource is the only resource whose value appreciates; all other resources’ value depreciates with time.” To work toward the management, development and advancement of this most creative resource sounded challenging and fascinating. I feel blessed to be an HR professional who has worked in three different countries in five various industries, currently in higher ed. So far, I feel this industry is unique in terms of nature of work of HR and competencies required but is a gratifying experience with an outstanding work‐life balance.

Jessica Ludwick, Human Resources Consultant
University of North Carolina Wilmington
I have always had a passion for HR, starting early in my college career. I come from a family of educators, so following the path to higher education seemed natural. I truly enjoy my career path, and I'm eager to understand more about the higher education field. I believe my experience as a (Seneca) Native American gives me a unique perspective because I am able to incorporate my cultural upbringing when it comes to diversity and inclusion. Collaboration is one of my strong points, as it's important to get perspective from all aspects when initiating change and continuous improvement. Since we are in an everchanging environment, the opportunity to work with other professionals within higher education will help enhance my skills as an HR professional. I am looking forward to learning from others and expanding my network.

Tracey Pritchard, HR Coordinator
University of Iowa
This is my second year in human resources, following a seven‐year career in higher education administration including housing, student life and nonprofit management. I moved into HR unsure of where I was going, what I was interested in, and if this was truly a place for me. After nearly two years, I have found myself thriving in this world. My personal goal in this role is to ensure that the folks that I work with feel supported, know that I am someone they can come to at any time, and understand that HR is a safe and open resource for them. I feel that in my budding HR career, I am slowly starting to make a space for myself here in the higher education human resources world.

Trevon Smith, HR Generalist
Drake University
Continuous improvement and development is why I chose a university to truly begin my HR career. In a university setting, you are given the chance to further yourself in all aspects of life. A university fosters growth and knowledge and gives you all the tools to better your understanding. This aligns with my own thought processes and commitments — I can make myself better, little by little, day by day, and continuously improve myself. My New Year’s resolution for 2022 has been to take every opportunity presented to me and see it all the way through. Whether win or fail, I have to give each opportunity my all. I am eager to learn everything I can about higher education, human resources, and how the two intertwine. I treat every day like a learning experience, soaking up as much information and guidance as I can. I come with enthusiasm and a zeal for developing myself and the university I work for.

Christopher Williams, HR Partner
University of Maine System Office
I started my HR career while I was in the last year of my undergrad. It was happenstance: I was working part‐time through college when a part‐time HR assistant position became available at this same organization. The HR manager and I had a great relationship, and I thought that working for her would be fun and rewarding, so I decided to apply even though I didn't know much about HR. I had no idea this decision would set the course of the rest of my career, and I am so thankful that I was given this opportunity. Later, I decided that I had to move on. I felt that I was stymied from continuous development in my position since I was an HR department of one and did not have an HR mentor to learn from, and I craved development! When I saw an opportunity to work in higher ed HR, I knew it was the best move for me. Since making this career move, I have never once regretted it, and I am so appreciative of the development opportunities that higher ed offers.