My professional career began in a scientific laboratory; our mission was to target the genes responsible for atherosclerosis, diabetes, and obesity. The work was cutting edge and amazing, just like my experience at MIT while working on my honors thesis. After a couple of years, I transitioned into education as an administrator and worked to provide adult education services at various multi-site learning centers throughout a 15-county geographical area. It was highly interactive work, and I was able to couple a business marketing plan within an education setting to maximize results, all the while following federal grant management guidelines.

I excelled at the state level in Adult Education and became integral to curriculum standards development, training, and grants management. I was then promoted to lead the Office of School Health and Safety and served as a liaison between school institutions and national/state agencies – targeting the safe environments by offering consulting services from professional development to executives and/or administering federal grant technical assistance.

After a near 10-year commitment within the K-12 industry, I acquired my doctoral degree from Seton Hall University (Go Pirates!) and fused my educational leadership with my administrative experience in higher education. I began investigating institutional performance and conducting research of the institution, for the institution. I served as the Director of Institutional Research and Analysis at Schreiner University and informed the President and Cabinet in ways that promoted effective decision-making and successful outcomes. In turn, I enhanced my abilities to develop institutional strategy, structure, and process for proactively anticipating and addressing university needs around compliance, accreditation, and certification. My mindset for quantitative statistical analysis coupled with my strong academic background has allowed me to truly excel within this environment and promote institutional excellence and effectiveness in realizing the university’s mission and strategic goals.

Over time, I expanded by expertise with budgetary operations, financial planning, and human resources, and strategic planning for Schreiner University and was promoted to Assistant Vice President. I began the management and oversight for an annual operating budget and worked closely with the CFO on all components of his portfolio in anticipation of his retirement. My proven abilities and acquired financial expertise have granted me the opportunity to presently serve as the Chief Financial Officer and Vice President for Planning and Finance. In 2024, I expanded my portfolio to assist with the core mission of the university: academics. I also lead the academic profile of the university and serve as its Provost until a candidate is selected.  

Summary: This session will provide attendees the opportunity to learn about what it takes to have a seat at the table (in the c-suite) of an organization. HR professionals must be strategic in their approach, demeanor, credentials, and background as they advance in their careers and build the sold framework to be invited to sit at an organization's executive table. The presenter will engage attendees to reflect on their career paths, ask tough questions regarding leadership traits, and provide strategic recommendations for attendees to consider. Do you have what it takes? Are you ready to know some inside information about the realities of those who lead organizations? What value-added proposition do you bring to your organization?

Powerpoint: Coming Soon!