We look forward to seeing you in Greenville this spring! Check out the information below for details on confirmed sessions and events throughout the conference. An abridged conference schedule is also available.
Sunday, March 30
3:30 - 5:00 p.m. | Birds of a Feather
Learn and discuss with your fellow HR practitioners during these roundtable discussions on a variety of topics, including professional development and supporting working parents.
A Guide to Career Progression Strategy that Wins
Latoya Daniels, HR Strategic Consultant | Clemson University
Ashley Love, Director of HR Services | Clemson University
Sydney Waugh, Compensation Data Analyst | Clemson University
A winning career progression strategy isn’t left to chance; it's a clear, structured roadmap for growth. This interactive discussion shares the process of developing a guide that outlines an organizational game plan beneficial for both the employee and leadership. Our employees gain visibility into their respective career paths, and our organizations become more equipped to align talent with institutional goals. Like a well-planned playbook, this framework prepares leaders with a toolkit to empower employees, drive engagement, and support long-term success. The goal? A motivated, high-performing workforce ready to win.
Authenticity in Leadership: What HR Can Learn from Taylor Swift
Wesley Sams, Deputy Director of HR and Classification/Compensation Manager | The Citadel
Catherine Koisor, Assistant Employment Manager | The Citadel
Taylor Swift is a global icon, businesswoman, and leader who has built connections across generations and backgrounds. We’ll explore the many parallels between how she approaches her career and how Human Resources professionals work, especially when you think about leadership, strategy, and talent management.
Organizational Review
Katie Papakostas, HR Strategic Consultant | Clemson University
Knowing where you are headed as an organization is critical. However, assessing your organizational capabilities to get there is often overlooked. How can you achieve your goals and objectives if your human capital is not set up for success? It is imperative to have the right skills, abilities, structure, and leadership to get you to your North Star. In this session we will discuss an Organization Review Process that provides tools and templates to help leaders assess and build organizational capability throughout their organization.
Autoethnography as a Professional Development Tool
Todd Couch, Associate Professor of Sociology/EEO Officer - Francis Marion College
This session will examine the use of autoethnography as a leadership development tool. Attendees will 1) Learn the fundamentals of the autoethnographic method; 2) Explore how the method can be used in their leadership journeys; and 3) Outline a basic autoethnography for personal use.
Benefits in a Minute
Samantha Bass, Benefits Navigator | Clemson University
In a sea of information and emails, how do you optimize benefits communication to ensure your employees are aware of the multitude of resources and benefits available to them? In this session, we'll explore how we carefully select and craft benefits for communication and how we leverage our partnerships with other University teams to get our employees the services they seek.
How Communications Can Impact the Success of Your Salary Studies and Other Tools to Help Compete for Talent
Segal
Parenthood that Works
Mallory Mitcham, Human Resources Service Manager | Clemson University
Navigating the challenges of being a working parent is no easy feat. Parenthood That Works is a dedicated support network designed to empower faculty and staff, helping balance the demands of home and work while fostering a supportive community. Research shows that people who feel a strong sense of connection at work are happier, less stressed, more engaged, and physically healthier.
5:30 - 7:00 p.m. | Welcome Reception
Join your HR colleagues from across the state for a welcome reception at YeeHaw Brewing Company in downtown Greenville.
Monday, March 31
7:30 - 8:30 a.m. | Breakfast
8:40 - 9:00 a.m. | Welcome by Dr. Elizabeth Davis, President | Furman University
9:00 - 10:15 a.m. | Opening Keynote
Craig Brown, President and Owner | Greenville Drive
Craig Brown is the president and owner of the Greenville Drive, a Minor League Baseball team; the single A affiliate of the Boston Red Sox, and is a founding board member of MiLB Enterprises, which oversees brand marketing for Minor League Baseball. Prior to leading the construction of Fluor Field, the Drive’s award-winning stadium, Brown spent 23 years as a key executive in the globalization of the advertising industry, most recently as president and chief operating officer of the Bcom3 Group. Brown’s philanthropic endeavors include serving on the Greenville Health System’s Strategic Coordinating Organization Board, chairing the Advisory Board of the Medical Experience Academy and Co-Chairing the ACCELERATE! Greenville Initiative. Brown is also senior vice chairman of the Hydrocephalus Association and serves on several boards at his alma mater, Michigan State University.
10:15 - 10:45 a.m. | Morning Break
10:45 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. | Breakout Sessions
Beyond the Numbers: Helping Managers Navigate Pay Discussions
Jan Myers, Senior Director of Compensation and Benefits | Clemson University
Sydney Waugh, Data Analyst | Clemson University
Equipping managers with the right knowledge surrounding your institution's compensation philosophy and practices is critical for fostering transparency and trust across the organization. This session will provide techniques and tips for training managers on key compensation principles, including pay structures, market competitiveness, and internal equity. Attendees will gain practical knowledge about how to communicate compensation decision processes, factors that influence pay, and how to effectively train leaders on how to navigate conversations about promotions, salary increases, and pay markets with grace. By understanding how to effectively disseminate your institution's broader compensation strategy, and employees' roles in it, managers will be better prepared to address employee questions with confidence and consistency.
Believe in Your Journey...Not Just Your Destination
Sharen Beaulieu, Associate Vice President for Human Resources | Furman University
Have you ever found yourself asking, "Am I where I should be?" or "Am I truly making a difference?" If so, you’re not alone! We all crave a deeper sense of purpose—both in our careers and in our personal lives. This session will help you unlock your strengths, expand your happiness, and embrace growth. Through thought-provoking insights and actionable strategies, you’ll gain the confidence to influence others, maximize your impact, and stay true to yourself. Participants will walk away with a clear understanding of their unique strengths and how to leverage them, strategies to fuel your happiness by aligning with your passions, courage to embrace discomfort as a catalyst for growth and more! This isn't just another session - it's an opportunity to redefine your path and take charge of your future!
Meet your Workforce Where They’re At: Leveraging an Employer of Record (EOR) to Recruit Top Talent
Kimberly Sherfesee, Associate Vice President for Human Resources | Coastal Carolina University
Jeff Bujak, Vice President - Education Advisory Practice | KellyOCG
The rise of remote work, the evolution of strategic institutional objectives, and the need to source top talent from different geographic areas have contributed to the transformation of workforce management. While this expanded workforce fosters greater flexibility, institutions may experience a plethora of administrative challenges such as complex payroll processing and compliance requirements. This session will explore the issues associated with out-of-state work and the benefits of leveraging an Employer of Record (EOR) provider to meet these unique workforce challenges.
Building Bridges: Strengthening Connection and Culture on Your Campus
Melantha Ardrey, Employee Relations Manager | The Citadel
Angie Rochester, Employment Manager | The Citadel
A thriving campus culture starts with strong connections. In this engaging session, we’ll explore innovative strategies to bridge gaps between employees, foster meaningful relationships, and create a workplace where everyone feels valued and motivated. Through real-world examples, interactive discussions, and actionable takeaways, you’ll learn how to enhance collaboration, boost morale, and build a more engaged and connected campus community. Join us to discover how small changes can lead to lasting cultural transformation.
12:00 - 1:15 p.m. | Lunch (provided)
1:30 - 2:45 p.m. | Breakout Sessions
Anticipating Federal Regulatory and Funding Reforms to Higher Education
Mary Kreta, Senior Consultant, Organizational Effectiveness | Segal
The Higher Education landscape is on the brink of significant transformation, with federal financial and regulatory reforms posing both challenges and opportunities for institutions. These changes, including the elimination of DEI initiatives and potential reductions in federal student aid and grant funding, as well as accreditation reform are already picking up steam. Understanding what is happening and where it's likely to go will be critical to ensure resilience and long-term success in higher education.
Stop Campus Hazing Act
Ashley Abel, Attorney-at-Law | Abel Law Group, LLC
On Christmas Eve 2024, President Biden signed the Stop Campus Hazing Act into law. It had just been provided to him the day before by the U.S. Senate. Among other things, the Act contains and requires a unique definition of hazing; broadens the student organizations to be covered; adds new disclosures of reporting and investigation processes; mandates a comprehensive program to prevent hazing to students, staff, and faculty; adds a new transparency report to be included on the college's website; and requires collection and reporting of statistics. On the positive side, while the Act adds significant administrative burdens, it also provides possibly the best opportunity, backed up by legal authority to do so, to make great advances in eliminating hazing on college campuses. We will explore these issues, the related effective dates and potential legal liability, and hopefully have time to take questions on other topics of interest.
Shifting Mindsets: Preparing Institutions for AI Transformations through Change Management
Jennifer Mallini, Managing Director | Deloitte Consulting
Carlee Diggins, Human Capital Manager | Deloitte Consulting
As AI continues to reshape higher education, institutions must go beyond technology advancement to align vision, strategy, and culture for AI readiness. Successful AI integration requires more than just technological upgrades—it demands a fundamental shift in organizational mindset. This session explores the critical role of HR and institutional leaders in change management to prepare faculty and staff for AI-driven transformations. Join us as we delve into the AI maturity curve, providing insights on how to align AI initiatives with institutional goals and discussing strategies for prioritizing use cases to maximize impact and ensure sustainable growth. Learn practical approaches to foster a culture of adaptability, engage stakeholders, and navigate the complexities of AI implementation. This session is designed for leaders and change agents who are ready to embrace the future of education through effective change management practices.
2:45 - 3:15 p.m. | Afternoon Break
3:15 - 4:30 p.m. | Artificial Intelligence - Is it Real or Is It Memorex?
Moderator: Jennifer Mallini, Managing Director | Deloitte Consulting, Government and Public Services Practice
Panelists: George Abraham, Chief Information Officer | Greenville Technical College
Mitch Shue, Professor of Practice, School of Computing and Executive Director of the AI Research Institute for Science and Engineering (AIRISE) | Clemson University
Steve Nail, Dean, College of Business | Anderson University
If you consider yourself overwhelmed by the rapid pace of technology, you certainly are not alone. Higher education professionals cannot consider themselves at an artificial intelligence crossroads but instead on the merge lanes to a superhighway. Perhaps there is no better time for a panel designed to discuss the challenges and solutions provided by AI technology. During this panel, facilitated by Deloitte Managing Director Jennifer Mallini, expert panelists will discuss the following:
- The main challenges HR professionals face when adopting AI technologies in higher education and how these challenges can be overcome.
- Measures HR leaders can take to address the concerns of staff and faculty who may be apprehensive about the adoption of AI in their work processes. For example, how to remove the “cheating” stigma AI often presents.
- Methodologies for AI integration into HR processes, such as how it can enhance recruitment, onboarding, and performance management.
- Ethical considerations HR professionals must consider prior to implementing AI technologies in higher education.
- Improved decision-making when leveraging AI for data analytics.
- Future trends and what to expect.
6:00 p.m. | Evening Social
Debrief the day and enjoy the company of fellow conference attendees at an evening social at the Front Porch at Fluor Field!
Tuesday, April 1
7:30 - 8:30 a.m. | Breakfast
8:30 - 8:45 a.m. | Group Picture
8:45 - 9:00 a.m. | CUPA-HR National Update
9:00 - 10:15 a.m. | Legal Update with Burr & Forman
Representatives from Burr Forman will discuss the current legislation affecting higher education and what institutions should be aware of.
10:30 - 11:45 a.m. | Closing Keynote
Matteel Knowles, Vice President for Student Services | Greenville Technical College
Matteel Knowles, Ph.D., is a seasoned higher education executive with more than 25 years of experience. Knowles is vice president for Student Services at Greenville Technical College. Her career has been defined by her ability to lead, inspire and transform organizations, making her a perfect fit for this year’s theme, "Building Bridges through HR." Knowles has a proven track record of fostering environments where both students and staff can thrive. Her leadership journey spans multiple South
Carolina institutions and her passion for personal development is reflected in her work as the founder of MatteelSpeaks, LLC. She is also the author of the widely acclaimed book, It’s Your Time to Soar: 5 Steps to Transform Your Life!