PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 25, 2018
CUPA-HR Announces 2018-19 Wildfire Program Cohort
Program Offers Unique Leadership Development Opportunity for Early-Career Human Resources Professionals in Higher Education
Twelve members of the College and University Professional Association for Human Resources (CUPA-HR) have been selected to participate in the 2018-19 CUPA-HR Wildfire program, a 12-month leadership development experience for early-career higher education human resources professionals. The 12 selected participants will have the opportunity to develop their professional skills through tailored learning experiences including mentorship, a shadow visit on the campus of a higher ed HR leader, attending the CUPA-HR Annual Conference and Expo, and completing a year-end project highlighting the insights they gain throughout the year.
This year’s program received more than 150 applications. Participants were selected based on their HR strengths and areas for development identified on the program application as well as their interest in and commitment to the program.
The program formally kicks off on July 12 at CUPA-HR’s annual Association Leadership Program, which brings together association leaders from across the country to connect with one another, share ideas and be immersed in all that is CUPA-HR.
The selected participants are:
Abby King, HR Office Manager, University of Kansas Main Campus
Ashley Dugger, Senior HR Generalist & Title IX Coordinator, Sweet Briar College
Chi Herrington, Human Resources Associate, Harvey Mudd College
Christopher Dominiak, Manager, Benefits Systems & Administration, The University of Arizona
Deborah Lee, Senior HRIS Analyst, The Catholic University of America
William Budding, Human Resources Coordinator, Harvard University School of Dental Medicine
Latasha Gause, Employment Coordinator, Office of HR and Equal Opportunity, Coastal Carolina University
Maria Wingenbach, Assistant Director of HR – Total Rewards, Concordia College
Mollie Blanchard, Talent Management Specialist, Cochise College
Rachel Williams, Director of Talent Development, Ivy Tech Community College of Indiana – System Office
Tammi Stuebe, Assistant Director of Human Resources, Mercer County Community College
Tyler Mayo, Employee Relations Coordinator, Palm Beach Atlantic University
“We are very pleased to celebrate the beginning of our fifth Wildfire class,” says CUPA-HR President and Chief Executive Officer Andy Brantley. “Every organization must be committed to the development of early-career professionals. The full-year experience these professionals receive through the Wildfire program is not only an outstanding leadership development opportunity for them, but also a great opportunity for our higher ed HR leaders to give back and help prepare the next generation of higher ed leaders.”
Wildfire program facilitators include Mark Coldren, associate vice president for HR at the University at Buffalo, State University of New York; David Blake, vice president for human resources at California Western School of Law; and Julie Boggs, director of member marketing and engagement at CUPA-HR.
“Working closely with these early-career professionals is one of the association’s most important initiatives,” says Coldren. “The Wildfire experience represents our commitment to assist with the development of talented higher education HR professionals. The folks who have completed the program and the new cohort are nothing short of awesome, and I am privileged to get to work with them.”
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 25,000 HR professionals and other campus leaders at more than 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.
Contact Information:
Missy Kline
Content Manager – Communications and Marketing
[email protected]
877-287-2474