CUPA-HR Podcasts

Listen in as David Blake and Donna Popovich discuss how higher ed HR can emphasize the importance of diversity and inclusion by starting off every activity with the question, “Who isn’t here that needs to be a part of this conversation?” They also talk about building relationships with CUPA-HR peers and how they can teach you things that you can’t learn from a book.

In this episode, Barbara Carroll shares some of her favorite CUPA-HR experiences — experiences she never thought she would have had as an HR leader — including serving on CUPA-HR’sPublic Policy Committee and providing a higher ed perspective to a room full of senators congressional representatives. Linda Lulli shares the importance of being a lifelong learner in the HR profession, and how to be adaptable and resilient.

The path to HR was an unexpected one for Jane Federowicz. She began as her institution’s accountant and ended up being asked to create an HR department. Jane shares how making connections with her higher ed HR peers at conferences helped her develop in her role and move up the ranks, and how her background in accounting gave her a leg up when working with the institution on finances and budgeting.

Mark Coldren shares his experiences serving on the CUPA-HR national board and being in the room where key conversations about what matters in higher ed HR took place. Mark also talks about HR specialties and the impossibility of knowing everything. He suggests that you “know just enough to be dangerous,” and then draw on the expertise of your peers around you.

In this episode, Lynn Bynum and Lauren Turner dive into how HR can have a broader impact on students and future campus leaders when modeling inclusive behavior and prioritizing DEI work. Lynn also shares how CUPA-HR helped her make the transition from the corporate world to higher ed HR, and Lauren offers insights into how HR can become a recognized leader within the institution and help others become better leaders. 

Listen in as Jack Giarusso and Stewart Mixon describe efforts to make CUPA-HR a more inclusive organization and the board’s transition to a more strategic, less operational role. You’ll enjoy this conversation between Jack and Stewart as they talk about organizational growth, the birth of the Knowledge Center, building on the successes of their predecessors, and some humorous conference planning stories.

In this episode, Allison Vaillancourt shares some professional advice she received from a CUPA-HR peer that changed her entire approach to HR and helped her advance her career and secure several leadership positions. Kirk Beyer talks about the power of influential listening and persuading others to rethink their approach to an issue and how that came into play when making the decision to move the CUPA-HR national office from Washington, D.C., to Knoxville in 2003.

Andy Brantley joins Patti Couger to discuss the future of HR and how to pull the lessons of the pandemic forward — focusing more on work quality than hours worked and acknowledging the needs of the whole person. Listen in as Andy and Patti share how HR professionals can help support and enrich the new world of work by leading from where they are.

Lakyn Whaley talks with Barbara Abercrombie at the University of Tulsa about the challenges of meeting and working remotely, and the ways she stays connected with her family and HR team. Barbara also discusses the disproportionate impact the pandemic has had on people of color, and how her campus is working to understand these challenges and support employees.

CUPA-HR’s Lakyn Whaley talks with Jennifer Addleman at Rollins College about her college’s efforts to support mental well-being on campus — from virtual activities intended to ease stress and isolation for remote employees, to webinars created to help faculty and staff develop healthy habits and cope with loss. Even before the pandemic, mental health for students and employees was being intentionally baked into the campus culture through a number of initiatives.