Press Release

PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 20, 2017

Dr. John M. Beehler, President of Jacksonville State University, Receives CUPA-HR’s Chief Executive HR Champion Award

Dr. John M. Beehler, president of Jacksonville State University (JSU), has received the College and University Professional Association for Human Resources (CUPA-HR) 2017 Chief Executive HR Champion Award. Recognizing that what makes an institution great are its people, this award honors a president or chancellor of a higher education institution or system who has demonstrated significant support for the institution’s human resources function. Thanks to the generous support of Sibson Consulting, CUPA-HR is pleased to offer an $8,000 contribution to Jacksonville State University’s endowment or a scholarship fund of Dr. Beehler’s choice.

When Dr. Beehler took the helm of JSU in July 2015, he launched a strategic initiative to enhance the university’s management of human capital. This initiative encompasses enhancing the total rewards package for JSU employees; enhancing existing and implementing new and effective employee recognition programs; supporting the life cycle of employees through performance management and professional development opportunities; and creating and promoting a university culture of diversity, inclusion and sensitivity.

To enable HR to be a strategic partner, he created the position of chief HR officer and changed the reporting structure of HR so that the CHRO reports directly to the president’s office. He also increased the number of HR staff from four to nine, with each HR staff member working in defined functional areas. Additionally, Dr. Beehler created the university’s first office of diversity and inclusion and hired a dedicated director of diversity and inclusion and Title IX coordinator.

“Dr. Beehler has proven to be an outstanding professional, mentor, educator and colleague,” says JSU chief HR officer Heidy Louisy. “He has been among the most visible proponents at JSU for the acknowledgement, respect, appreciation and enhancement of the university’s human capital and supporting policies, procedures and systems. Under Dr. Beehler’s leadership, JSU’s HR department is now recognized by the university community as a department of integrity, high performance, flexibility and excellence in service delivery.”

About CUPA-HR
CUPA-HR is higher ed HR. We serve higher education by providing the knowledge, resources, advocacy and connections to achieve organizational and workforce excellence. Headquartered in Knoxville, Tennessee, and serving more than 23,000 HR professionals and other campus leaders at nearly 2,000 member organizations around the country and abroad, the association offers learning and professional development programs, higher education salary and benefits data, extensive online resources and just-in-time regulatory and legislative information.

CUPA-HR’s annual Higher Education Human Resource Awards honor excellence in higher education human resources and recognize service and commitment to CUPA-HR and innovation in the profession.

Contact: Sarah Carson, Marketing Manager, CUPA-HR
Phone: (865) 637-7673
E-mail: [email protected]