VILLANOVA HRD DEVELOPMENT SERIES

The Graduate HRD Program and Villanova SHRM student chapter will be co-hosting an HR Developmental Series open to all students, faculty, alumni, guests and applicants. This series will feature sessions hosted by Villanova HRD faculty on trending topics in HR. The goal of this series is to provide our students and alumni an opportunity to connect, network and learn outside of the classroom. Additionally, we hope to bring important trending HR topics to light throughout the series. Conversations and learning from these sessions can be applied to any HRD class that students may be taking. These sessions will also provide our alumni with ongoing learning and development.
Each session is approved for one SHRM and HRCI credit for attendees. Recertification codes will be emailed to attendees after the session.
If you have any questions about the series, please email us vushrm@villanova.edu.
Location:
- In-person: Bartley Hall, Curley Exchange (directions and parking will be emailed)
- Online: Zoom (link will be emailed)
Time
- 5:30-6:15 In-Person Food & Networking (in-person only)
- 6:15-7:15 Presentation (in-person and virtual)
Check out the topics for the Spring 2024 series below and REGISTER HERE
Spring 2024 Development Series
Description: Explore the intersection of HR and non-profit in a panel discussion featuring distinguished leaders from higher education, city management, the arts, and community advocacy. In this session you will hear from four Villanova HRD and MPA alum as they share strategies and lessons learned in navigating the unique challenges and opportunities within the realm of non-profit leadership.
Panelists:
Ray Duffy, Vice President for HR and Affirmative Action Officer for Villanova University
Sheronda Phillips Whitaker, Deputy Director of HR & Chief Diversity Officer at Barnes Foundation
Casey Heilig, Director of External Affairs for City of Philadelphia
Toyin Omodara, Operations Manager at Congreso de Latinos Unidos

Previous HR Development Series Sessions
Topic: Artificial Intelligence and HRM: What we know and how to prepare
Speaker: Dr. Gerry Brandon, Villanova HRD Director
Session Description: The introduction of a highly capable chatbot into the public domain last November has been met with both excitement and fear as the realization of artificial intelligence began to feel real. We will explore, at a basic level, the genesis of generative AI, what it is, how it can be used both personally and professionally to increase productivity and efficiency, provide some cautions regarding its use, and contemplate how it may impact jobs in the future.
Topic: Employee Wellbeing, Work-life Balance, and DEI: Can ONE program do it all?
Speaker: Dr. Heather Cluley, Villanova HRD Associate Director
Session Description: Work-family, well-being, and DEI all require complex, thoughtful programming if such efforts are going to succeed and persist in an organization. This session offers an overview of the bottom-line, evidence-based approach to each of these separate efforts, but advocates for an investment in the one program that links them all.
Topic: Amplify Your Impact: How to influence from all levels
Speaker: HRD Alumni Panel, moderated by Bethany Adams, Villanova HRD Associate Director
Session Description: Influence is a pivotal skill for HR professionals as it helps us not only to navigate interpersonal dynamics within organizations but also equips us to effectively advocate for strategic initiatives that drive change. In this session you will hear from a panel of HRD Alumni all varying points in their HR career on how they are able to influence from their position in the organization.
- Colleen Malcodi
- Senior HR Business Partner at Boeing
- Michelle Johnson
- Diversity, Respect, and Inclusion Program Manager at Main Line Health
- Kevin Taylor
- Director, Talent Acquisition at Playfly Sports
- Jennie Killebrew
- Sr. Associate, People and Culture Operations at Eli Lilly
- Topic: Unionized Workplaces: HR Challenges and Opportunities
- Speaker: Dr. Gerry Brandon, Villanova HRD Director
- Session Description: Delve into the world of Human Resources within unionized environments with your HR colleagues who have been there! This session brings together a panel of HR professionals who will shed light on the distinct challenges and untapped opportunities they've encountered in union-dominated settings. Whether you're an HR veteran, budding graduate, or an enthusiast eager to understand the intersection of unions and HR, this panel promises rich insights and actionable strategies.
Topic: Pay Transparency: Parting the veil on changing laws & practices
Speaker: Keith Black, Villanova HRD Adjunct Faculty
Session Description: We are all probably familiar with the “game of chicken” that often plays out when a candidate is offered a job. The employer asks the candidate for their current salary, but the candidate first wants to know the pay range for the job. Aside from being an awkward and uncomfortable situation for both sides, pay transparency is now becoming an increasingly legally mandated practice throughout the United States. In this session, we will talk about some of the changing laws and highlight the underlying concepts of fairness, respect, and equality that support the position that pay transparency is good for all parties.
Topic: Emotional Intelligence: Skills for a Post-Pandemic Workplace
Speaker: Bethany Adams, Villanova HRD Associate Director
Session Description: While the challenges of the pandemic created a sense of 'emotional togetherness' for many teams, these bonds have been tested in the now ever-changing workplace landscape. Understanding how to build effective relationships and work through emotional challenges is critical today, not only for leaders, but for every employee. In this session, we will discuss the non-negotiable emotional intelligence skills needed for all employees and how HR professionals can nurture these skills in their organizations.