Graduate students are actively involved in events, such as the HRD networking reception for students and area HR professionals.
Throughout the year students and faculty members participate in events primarily with HR groups on and off-campus. Yearly events have included sponsoring or volunteering at the Greater Valley Forge HR Summit, local HR groups (CCHRA, ASTD, Whine & Dine and the HR Person of the Year awards). For another example, in the Spring and Fall of 2011, we hosted the Jump Start Your Job Search career event with the Greater Valley Forge HR Association. Typically students can attend an HR association with a lesser charge or for free when volunteering their time.
Each semester the University hosts an Open House which features a panel of HRD Alumni. The Open Houses are held in October and March. Don't miss the next Open House on March 13th.
Check back for upcoming events or use the resource links to external groups to find related HR events!
Katina Sawyer
The HRD Program welcomes Katina Sawyer as new Assistant Professor
The Graduate Programs in Human Resource Development are proud to announce the recent hire of Katina Sawyer, A.B.D., who will be serving as Visiting Assistant Professor. Sawyer is a doctoral candidate finalizing her dissertation at Pennsylvania State University in Industrial Organization Psychology and Women’s Studies. Sawyer also earned her B.S. in Psychology from Villanova University. In addition to her active research program in work life balance and LGTB communities, Sawyer has extensive experience in HR consulting with Previsor-SHL. This fall, she will teach graduate courses Introduction to Human Resources (HRD 8319) and Organizational Psychology (PSY 8412), and she will teach the undergraduate course of Industrial and Organizational Psychology (PSY 2700). Sawyer will be the advisor for students with the following letters of the alphabet – Q-Z.
Dr. Ginamarie Ligon, previously serving as Assistant Professor for the Graduate Programs in HRD, will now be serving as the Assistant Director for the Online M.S. in HRD Program. After teaching in the campus-based HRD program for five years, Dr. Ligon will now teach full time in the online HRD program as well as work with Drs. Bush and Stokes on administering the program. This transition coincides with Dr. Ligon’s recent move to Nebraska with her family, where her husband has accepted a new position. Please join us in wishing the best of luck to the Ligon family as they begin this exciting new chapter in their lives!
Upcoming Events
Annual Networking Receptions
The next event will be March, 2013.
2012
Click here for event details, sponsorsip or registration details.
2011- The Spring Networking event with a CEO Panel was sold out in March, 2011.
Proceeds from the event benefited the Villanova Student SHRM Chapter and the Cyril Solomons Memorial Scholarship. This scholarship supports students who have demonstrated outstanding academic abilities, community involvement, and excellence in their pursuit of a graduate degree in Human Resource Development (HRD) from Villanova University.
2010 - We held the 30th Anniversary Gala instead of the reception. Additional event details.
2009 - The VU Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) Student Chapter hosted its 12th Annual Networking Event at the historic Union League,. With record attendance approaching 200 guests, the event was marked by active card exchanges and gregarious networking among professionals from the Greater Delaware Valley. Featured keynote speaker Joe Frick, CEO of Independence Blue Cross, delivered a riveting presentation on HR as a Strategic Partner: Moving from Transactional to Transformational.
Walking Away from Terrorism - Dr. John Horgan
In 2009 we were honored to have Dr. John Horgan as special guest speaker for the Psychology of Terrorism Colloquium.
Dr. Horgan shared his latest research on how and why members disengage from terrorist organizations and of course the psychological aspects of such behavior. To a standing room only crowd of 128 people - faculty, students, military leaders, and business people from the Tri-State area, Horgan discussed his interview techniques of former members of terrorist organizations.
As one of just a few psychologists studying this phenomenon, Horgan adds value to the field of terrorism research by applying psychological research methods, as well as theories and findings from the field of human resources, to understand disengagement from radical terrorist organizations such as Al Qaeda, Shining Path (Peru), and Tamil Tigers (Sri Lanka).
Dr. Horgan has published extensively in the area of terrorism, including a book, Walking Away from Terrorism: Accounts of Disengagement from Radical and Extremist Movements., and he holds editorial positions for the Journal of Terrorism and Politics.
The colloquium was followed by a reception themed, “A Taste of Philly,” where the fare included foods and products produced in or made famous by association with Philadelphia. All products were purchased from local establishments to encourage the greater Philadelphia economy.
