Tag: welcome

From the VP of HR: Welcome to a New Academic Year!

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Christina K. Brogdon, PHR, Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer
Christina K. Brogdon, PHR, Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer

Dear Spartan Colleagues,

I am excited to welcome everyone to a new academic year! As we embrace a fresh start this fall, I’m reflecting on the outstanding growth we’ve experienced here in HR. We have new leaders and staff in Benefits, Compensation, Employee and Labor Relations, and Talent. This growth allows our team to enhance our services and continue providing the Spartan community with extraordinary experiences every day.

In addition to this growth, I’m proud of many accomplishments from MSU HR in the last year including enhancements that benefit the Spartan Community such as the New Leader Development Program, Modified Operations policy, a new out-of-state health care plan, and an enhanced dental plan. We are here for you!

In the upcoming year, HR will continue its transformation to Produce and Perform with new initiatives that include Total Rewards, Talent Management, a renewed focus on Employee Engagement and Experience, and Operational Excellence. I’m also looking forward to starting a new academic year under the leadership of President Guskiewicz, a Tar-Heel-turned-Spartan like me! He is a strategic and service-oriented leader who will continue moving the university upward in its mission of education, research, and outreach. I share in his excitement for what’s in front of us.

Finally, I’d like to reiterate the message from President Guskiewicz regarding civil discourse in our community. As he mentioned, we all have a role to play in building a more inclusive community. While it’s okay that we don’t all agree, we should always demonstrate empathy and intellectual humility while exercising our freedom of speech. To support our employees as they engage in respectful civil discourse, a page is available on the HR website, Civil Discourse for Employees, with answers to frequently asked questions and additional resources. Let’s go into this new academic year supporting one another and demonstrating our Spartan Will to the community and beyond.

Thank you for your continued dedication to the University, our students, and our land-grant mission. On behalf of Human Resources, I wish you a safe, healthy, and successful academic year in which you take advantage of fresh opportunities and new beginnings.

Go Green!

Christina K. Brogdon, PHR
Vice President of Human Resources

Beaumont Tower in the fall with trees in the foreground.

Welcome to a New Academic Year

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Christina Brogdon, Vice President of MSU Human Resources

Dear Spartan Colleagues,

I am pleased to welcome everyone to a new academic year. The fall semester always provides a sense of newness and hope. As we look forward to the new opportunities that lie ahead, we will undoubtedly reflect on the past and what we experienced together—successes and challenges, joys and tragedies. It’s important to remember that healing is not linear, nor is it quick, but I am grateful that we have each other for support through it all.

This fall, I am especially excited about HR’s opportunity to invest further in talent management, a key contributor in making MSU HR a thriving, transformative and engaged business unit implementing strategic people solutions with great care. The first is New Hire Orientation for support staff, with sessions starting this month. The innovative full-day program will transform how we welcome and support new employees at MSU. The program will cover essential topics such as employee benefits, payroll, information technology access, and RVSM. These sessions will foster a sense of belonging and empowerment while advancing MSU’s 2030 Strategic Plan in Staff Success and DEI.

I am also excited for HR’s new Director of Talent, Sherri Reese! This role is new to HR and was developed in response to the Strategic Plan’s objective for the university to become an employer of choice. Beginning October 1, Sherri will be responsible for the oversight, organization and implementation of strategic talent management initiatives related to recruitment, onboarding, consultation, and workforce planning. She will help lay the foundation for the future development of a robust Business Partner approach. Business partners will better support unit HR needs by collaborating and advising on all aspects of talent acquisition and management.

Thank you for your continued dedication and Spartan Will to the University, our students, and our land-grant mission. On behalf of Human Resources, I wish you a safe, healthy, and successful academic year in which you take advantage of fresh opportunities and new beginnings.

Go Green!

Christina Brogdon, PHR
Vice President of Human Resources

HR Welcomes Colleagues and Students Back to Campus

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Dear Spartan Colleagues,  

As your new Chief Human Resources Officer, I am pleased to welcome faculty and staff to a new academic year. We spent the last two years facing unprecedented challenges of the global pandemic and being vigilant in our efforts toward employee wellbeing, health, and safety. Spartans met these challenges with great care, resilience, and Spartan will. Let’s continue to work through this together and be sure to utilize available resources. The Wellbeing at Work guide, the Employee Assistance Program, vaccine verification, exemption forms, and more information can be found on the Together We Will site. 

In preparation for our largest student enrollment, we look forward to seeing you back on campus while employing flexible work options. Herein lies our next challenge of navigating paradox and competing priorities. The future of work involves innovation, agility, and commitment to excellence. We strive to balance instructional imperatives, business operations, and new work modalities including hybrid and remote schedules. We prioritize employee and student engagement and promote equity and fairness while addressing individual needs. I have every confidence in our campus community to tackle this challenge. Take some time and read our mission, values, and strategic plan for inspiration and guidance: 

By 2030, we envision a Michigan State University that has significantly expanded opportunity and advanced equity, elevated its excellence in ways that attract vital talent and support, and has a vibrant, caring community. – MSU 2030 Strategic Plan

I look forward to my first fall as a Spartan—enjoying Michigan State’s gorgeous campus as the colors set in and students arrive with renewed energy and excitement for everything it means to be part of the Spartan community.

Thank you for your continued work and dedication to the University, our students, and our land-grant mission. These are challenging times, but Together We Will. We wish you a safe, healthy, and successful academic year. 

Go Green!

Christina K. Brogdon, PHR
Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer
Michigan State University

Welcome to the new academic year

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  • Head shot of Sharon Butler
    Sharon E. Butler
  • Terry Curry
    Theodore H. Curry II

On behalf of Academic Human Resources and MSU Human Resources, welcome to a new academic year at Michigan State University. There is no better season than the fall to represent the season of change MSU is in. Students begin to appear on campus once more; construction signs start to disappear, and the campus begins to turn into the vibrant and beautiful fall at MSU. This fall we’re also experiencing a change in leadership, with President Stanley officially taking office as of Aug. 1.

We’re very excited to have President Stanley leading the university, and we look forward to learning more about his vision for MSU in the days and months ahead. Your work and leadership are vital components of this new chapter in MSU’s story. Thank you for all you do for our students – whether it’s behind the scenes or face-to-face. Not all of you may interact with students on a regular basis, but each of you contributes to their success through the work you do every day.

Human Resources is here to help support you as you go about this important work. The HR Solutions Center is your main point of contact for questions regarding benefits or employment. This team is dedicated to customer service as their number one priority. You can reach them via phone, email, or in-person at 110 Nisbet Building.

You also can share feedback with Sharon at hrmail@msu.edu or Terry at ahr@msu.edu.

If you are a new faculty or academic staff member, we look forward to seeing you at Faculty Orientation on August 20.

Thank you for all you contribute to the continuing success of MSU and accept our best wishes for a successful academic year.

Sincerely,

Sharon E. Butler
Associate Vice President of MSU Human Resources

Theodore H. Curry II
Associate Provost & Associate Vice President for Academic Human Resources