The Higher Ed Workplace Blog

The Wildfire Program Welcomes a New Cohort for 2022-23

For the higher ed HR community to thrive there must be a pipeline of early-career professionals waiting in the wings, and one way CUPA-HR equips early-career pros to grow in their role and take steps toward their career goals is through the Wildfire program.

The program, sponsored in part by HigherEdJobs, is a 12-month immersive experience that connects a small, select group of early-career higher ed HR professionals with some of the top leaders in the profession, giving them a variety of learning opportunities.

Rob Keel, a member of the 2019-20 Wildfire cohort and past president of the CUPA-HR Tennessee Chapter, had this to say about the program: “Wildfire helped open my eyes to the possibilities within higher education HR. The network I gained through my involvement with Wildfire has provided so much support as I navigate my career. If you want to develop relationships that have the power to transform, Wildfire has the power to do just that.”

As a new year gets underway, we want to congratulate and welcome the Wildfire program participants for 2022-23:

  • TJ Bowie, Equal Opportunity and HR Compliance Manager, Elon University
  • Joy Brownridge, Training and Development Specialist, University of Illinois System
  • Amanda Burshtynsky, Employee Payroll and Insurance Clerk, Genesee Community College
  • Kelleebeth Cantu, HR and Employment Coordinator, Trinity University
  • Audrey Ettesvold, Human Resource Specialist, Idaho State Board of Education
  • Alexis Hanscel, Benefits Manager, Denison University
  • Kathleen Hermacinski, Human Resource Coordinator, Eureka College
  • Anshuma Jain, HR Administrator, Hudson County Community College
  • Jessica Ludwick, Human Resources Consultant, University of North Carolina Wilmington
  • Tracey Pritchard, HR Coordinator, University of Iowa
  • Trevon Smith, HR Generalist, Drake University
  • Christopher Williams, HR Partner, University of Maine System Office

Interested in joining our 2023-24 cohort? Learn more about the Wildfire program.