About the Tennessee Chapter
The CUPA-HR Tennessee Chapter brings together HR professionals in higher education to exchange best practices, connect with others in our field, and provide meaningful educational opportunities on topics important and relevant to our field. We are always looking for higher ed HR professionals in Tennessee who want to get involved and help out. If this sounds like you, please contact us.
Learn more about CUPA-HR's mission, values and priorities here.
Are you interested in serving in a leadership or volunteer role?
Thank you for your interest in volunteering with the CUPA-HR Tennessee Chapter! The Tennessee board is comprised of human resources professionals who volunteer their time to lead the chapter, host and facilitate events and gatherings, and ensure that our members are getting the most out of their CUPA-HR membership. Each board member is responsible for certain duties, and each position varies in the time commitment required.
Per the Tennessee Chapter by-laws, all candidates for the Board of Directors must be a higher education human resource professional who is currently employed at an institution of higher education that is a member of the CUPA-HR national organization with no less than 50% of their job devoted to human resources activities. Board positions are elected on an annual basis, with terms running per the fiscal year July 1 – June 30. Per Chapter by-laws, the Treasurer and Secretary serve a two-year term. The President-Elect serves three years on the Board, serving as President in the second year and finishes the three-year term as Past President.
Tennessee Chapter Board Members must be willing to fulfill the duties of their role, engage in chapter operations and activities, and eager to carry out the responsibilities of their position to the best of their ability.
If you are interested in volunteering for the Tennessee Board, we encourage you to submit a Board Interest Form. (Note that our typical board year runs from July - June, however we accept interest forms on an ongoing basis.)
2023-24 Tennessee Chapter Board
JaCenda Davidson Robinson, Ed.D., SHRM-SCP, SPHR
President
Assistant Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer
Austin Peay State University
Rob Keel
Past President
Policy Analyst & HR Communication Specialist
Motlow State Community College
Shannon Bruce, CAP, SWP
Treasurer
Assistant to the AVC & Office Manager
University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Amy Smith, SHRM-CP
Secretary
Executive Director of Human Resources
LeMoyne-Owen College
Larry Cohen, MHRM
Communications/Marketing Coordinator
HR Generalist
Belmont University
Claire R. Shapiro, SPHR, CCP, SHRM-SCP, ATIXA Certified
Sponsorship Coordinator
Chief Human Resources Officer
Rhodes College
Meg Arnold
Membership Coordinator, Middle Tennessee
Director of Human Resources
Belmont University
Amy E. West, SPHR, SHRM-SCP
Membership Coordinator, West Tennessee
Director of Human Resources
Dyersburg State Community College
Kevin Vedder, SPHR
Membership Coordinator, East Tennessee
Associate Vice President of Human Resources
Tennessee Tech University
Beverly Pope Darnell, SHRM-CP
Program Coordinator
Director of Human Resources
Johnson University
Kellie Frank, MSHRM
Certification Coordinator
Executive Director, Organizational Culture and Employee Engagement
Cleveland State Community College
Kali Alonzo
Chapter Connector
Vanderbilt University
Ashley N. Brooks
Chapter Connector
HR Associate II
University of Tennessee Space Institute
Vicki Burton
Chapter Connector
Human Resources Coordinator
Jackson State Community College
John Carbonell
Chapter Connector
Associate Vice President for Human Resources
Union University
Christy M. Dale, MBA
Chapter Connector
Director, HR Services
Cleveland State Community College
Correy Emmert
Chapter Connector
Human Resources Business Partner
Austin Peay State University
Stacey Henderson
Chapter Connector
Sr. HR Business Partner
The University of Memphis
Flavenia Leaper
Chapter Connector
Senior Administrative Services Assistant
The University of Tennessee Health Science Center
Jessica Northcutt
Chapter Connector
Tennessee Tech University
Nahomi Ortiz
Chapter Connector
Director, Talent Management, Org Culture and Engagement
Chattanooga State Community College
Breanna L. Owens, SHRM-CP
Chapter Connector
Equity Specialist
Middle Tennessee State University
Liz Ross
Chapter Connector
Executive Director, Human Resources
Pellissippi State Community College
Pamela Trent, MA, PHR, SHRM-CP
Chapter Connector
Benefits Manager
Tennessee State University
Alyssa Thom
Chapter Connector
University of Tennessee System
CUPA-HR Tennessee Chapter Board Role Descriptions
PRESIDENT (2-year Term)
The President serves as the Chief Volunteer of the Chapter and partners with the regional and national CUPA-HR boards to achieve the Association’s mission. The President provides leadership to the Board of Directors, who sets policy for the Chapter. The President also chairs meetings of the Board after developing the agenda and helps guide and mediate Board actions with respect to organizational priorities and governance concerns. The President may appoint committees as he or she determines is advisable to assist in accomplishing the mission and goals of the Chapter. The President begins the two-year term in the first year and finishes the term as Past President in the second year.
PRESIDENT-ELECT (3-year Term)
The President-elect shall serve as the special aide to the President, and shall assume all presidential duties in the absence of the President. The President-Elect begins the three-year in the first year; as President in the second year, and finishes the term as Past President. The President-elect assists with planning and implementing the annual conferences and meetings of the chapter.
PAST PRESIDENT
The Past President shall act as advisor to the President and the Board to ensure continuity of leadership.
TREASURER
The Treasurer works closely with President and Board members to prepare an annual operating budget. The Treasurer ensures the Chapter operates on sound fiscal principles by monitoring the Chapter’s budget and expenses and approving all Chapter expenditures. The Treasurer shall present to the Board of Directors the Chapter’s annual budget and periodically report on the Chapter’s fiscal status. The Treasurer shall recommend to the Board of Directors all fiscal policies and operating procedures.
SECRETARY
The Secretary shall record all official actions of the Board of Directors and of the membership at the Chapter’s annual business meeting. The secretary will also ensure that members are notified of time, date and place of meetings, and ensure distribution of agenda materials.
SPONSORSHIP COORDINATOR
The Sponsorship Coordinator works with the President to secure sponsors for monthly programs and annual conference. This position will also cultivate local corporate partners.
COMMUNICATIONS/MARKETING COORDINATOR
The Communications Coordinator connects the membership to the Chapter activities. The position is charged with ensuring the dissemination of timely and thorough information about the Chapter to its members, including Chapter activities and annual conference. This role serves as contact with CUPA-HR national to fully utilize various methods of communication (e.g. printed materials, email blasts, Chapter list serv), and oversees the Chapter website to ensure information is current and upcoming events are posted.
MEMBERSHIP COORDINATOR, West TN
MEMBERSHIP COORDINATOR, Middle TN
MEMBERSHIP COORDINATOR, East TN
Membership Coordinators work in collaboration with Chapter leadership, CUPA-HR national office staff, and Chapter Connectors, to cultivate new members in their region by building and conveying the value of CUPA-HR and adding multiple touchpoints. Membership coordinators also work with the program coordinator to plan and host regional meet and greets.
Each Membership Coordinator must be an employee of a member institution working in the region.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities include the following:
- Contacting new institutional and individual HR professional members via phone, e-mail or letter to introduce and welcome them to CUPA-HR Tennessee and to answer questions
- Reviewing new member list prior to regional and national conferences and contact new Tennessee members to welcome them.
- Requesting membership update information (include non-members) from the national office throughout the year to assess membership and cultivate conversations with non-member institutions.
- Working with Chapter Connectors to increase participation and engagement from professionals each member institution, and to ensure that the chapter is best serving the needs of HR professionals in our state.
Note: Annual membership in CUPA is based on a fiscal year and runs from July 1 – June 30.
PROGRAM COORDINATOR
The Program Coordinator oversees all Chapter events, including virtual monthly events, in-person regional events, and in-person conferences.
The Program Coordinator works with the Board on program offerings and plays an essential role in planning and hosting events. The program coordinator is supported by the board, including Chapter Connectors, and will have support in planning events.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities include the following:
- Engaging with potential presenters, including answering any questions they may have regarding in-person and/or virtual events or their presentation content.
- Working with the Communications Coordinator to create marketing materials and registration for each event, which may include obtaining biographies and headshots from guest presenters, setting up a registration form, etc.
- Collecting and assessing data from current and previous chapter events in an effort to align the board’s efforts with member interest and engagement, with a goal of strengthening engagement and ensuring that we are best serving the needs of HR professionals in our state.
CERTIFICATION COORDINATOR
The Certification Coordinator works with the Program Coordinator to ensure all program offerings meet the requirements for both SHRM and HRCI recertification credits and submits eligible program offerings for pre-approval under both SHRM and HRCI.
CHAPTER CONNECTOR
Chapter Connectors serve as grassroots liaisons and maintain critical connections between Membership Coordinators, member institutions, and HR professionals throughout Tennessee.
Chapter Connectors are essentially on-ground representatives at each CUPA-HR member institution in Tennessee, serving as ambassadors of CUPA-HR Tennessee and as ambassadors and advocates for HR professionals at their institution.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities include the following:
- Introducing the CUPA-HR Tennessee Chapter to newly-hired HR professionals at their respective colleges/universities and connect them to their regional Membership Coordinator
- Providing Chapter updates and promote monthly events and Chapter activities to HR professionals at their respective colleges/universities.
- Serving as a voice for HR professionals at their institution
Chapter Connectors are invited to attend and participate In Chapter Board meetings to become familiar with the Tennessee Chapter and CUPA-HR, and to share their voice in strategizing how CUPA-HR TN can best serve their colleagues