HR Leadership Team

Cherita provides leadership on complicated employment issues that arise throughout the university. She plays a key role in the development and interpretation of workplace policies and procedures. She also leads the university’s response to labor negotiations, contract interpretation, and grievances. She works closely with HR business partners in the divisions to navigate and resolve employee concerns related to performance, conduct, workplace accommodations, and other complex issues. Cherita has served as the co-chair for two diversity councils within the university and continues to support diversity programs and initiatives.  

Laura is the internal HR consultant and primary point of contact for all global HR matters at JHU. She is responsible for the creation of a Global Mobility Center of Excellence for Human Resources, designed to attract, employ, and retain talent abroad while observing in-country compliance. In addition, she develops and maintains global HR policies and procedures, practices, and operational structures. She works closely with the HR functional areas and leadership to strategize and provide subject-matter expertise on international employment matters.  

Jill leads and manages the university and health system’s HR/payroll shared services, as well as the university’s HR administrative services and compliance areas. In partnership with multiple stakeholders throughout the university and health system, she works to build long-term sustainable improvements and strategic transformation of the human resources business services function.

Meghan provides the senior HR leadership team with financial strategy expertise and is responsible for the efforts, results, and success of HR’s financial performance. She serves as a vital liaison to the university’s central finance team, ensuring a consistent and comprehensive approach. She also works with partners across the university to champion and support the mission and vision of the university’s HR leadership team.

Tracey leads the design, development, and implementation of a university-wide talent acquisition strategy, as well as the programs, policies, tools, and processes that ensure JHU has the individual and collective talent required of a world-class employer. In partnership with other university leaders, she works to drive strategic and progressive programs and initiatives. She also oversees the university hiring effort of the HopkinsLocal program, creating pathways for Baltimore citizens to achieve careers at JHU.   

Kathy leads the learning and organization development functions for JHU, ensuring that the university has successful strategies and programs to drive and enable a high level of performance for staff, faculty, administration, and executives. She oversees the programs and infrastructure required to support employee learning at every stage, from fundamental job skills to aspirational career development to leadership learning. In addition, Kathy oversees Organization Development, which provides consulting, coaching, and support for university leaders as they manage change and new or evolving business opportunities. 

As the Executive Director, Total Rewards, Meredith is responsible for leading the design, development, and implementation of compensation, benefits, and worklife policies and programs that are cost-effective and aligned with university goals. To help ensure that the institution attracts and retains top talent, she works closely with leadership and other constituents on the design and implementation of program offerings, benchmarking, compliance, and communications for staff, faculty, and students.

Cynthia is responsible for the effective execution and delivery of HR policies, practices, and programs at the Bloomberg School of Public Health, ensuring that they are in compliance with applicable laws and regulations, and are aligned with university HR practices.

Karen partners with Carey Business School leadership, staff, and faculty on human capital needs, including hiring, retention, employee relations, and talent development.  

Chantress leads the CTY HR team, providing strategic direction and execution of talent management initiatives, and the effective delivery of HR policies, processes, and programs.

Yolanda assists with the delivery of HR, talent acquisition, talent management, learning, and organization development programs and services to staff, while fostering a culture of inclusion. 

Virginia assist in the development and interpretation of workplace policies and procedures and works closely with unions and HR business partners in the divisions to navigate and resolve employee concerns related to performance, conduct, workplace accommodations, and other complex issues. 

Dawn is responsible for the strategic leadership of the HR function for IT@JH, a department of more than 900 full-time university and health system employees. Her responsibilities include strategic planning, compliance and policy administration, employee relations, employee engagement and retention analysis, talent management, and compensation. 

Janna provides strategic HR leadership and direction for the Krieger School of Arts and Sciences and is responsible for leading HR policy, initiatives, operations, programs, and services for the administrators, faculty, staff, and student employees of the school.  

Marie is responsible for collaborating strategically with library leadership to promote the positive outcome of HR initiatives and projects. She provides a wide range of support and consulting services, including recruitment and employment, employee relations, organizational design, training and education, personnel records management, performance management, salary and compensation administration, and benefits administration, while promoting an environment that integrates diversity, differences, and fairness. 

Laura is responsible for the overall management and coordination of the HR, payroll, and student employment functions at the Peabody Institute, which comprises the Peabody Conservatory and Peabody Preparatory. 

She provides strategic direction, support, and consulting services for faculty and staff, covering a wide range of functions, including recruitment and employment, onboarding, employee relations, organizational design, training and education, personnel records management, performance management, payroll, salary administration, and benefits administration, while supporting an environment that promotes  excellence, innovation, diversity and inclusion, and equitable and fair practices consistent with HR policies.

Lisa provides strategic direction, support, and consulting services for Public Safety staff, covering a wide range of functions, including recruitment and employment,  performance management, payroll, salary administration, and benefits administration, while supporting an environment that promotes  excellence, innovation, diversity and inclusion, and equitable and fair practices consistent with HR policies. 

Gia is responsible for the overall management and coordination of the HR, payroll, and student employment functions at SAIS. 

She provides strategic direction, support, and consulting services for faculty and staff, covering a wide range of functions, including recruitment and employment, onboarding, employee relations, organizational design, training and education, personnel records management, performance management, payroll, salary administration, and benefits administration, while supporting an environment that promotes  excellence, innovation, diversity and inclusion, and equitable and fair practices consistent with HR policies. 

Laura provides interim oversight of the administration and delivery of HR and Payroll services within the School of Education. In partnership with SOE leadership, she aligns HR support with the school’s goals and objectives while ensuring compliance with all applicable HR laws, regulations, and policies.  

Julie develops and leads HR strategies to support the organizational goals within the School of Medicine, the largest division at JHU. Working in partnership with the leadership of university HR and Johns Hopkins Medicine, she ensures a strategic partnership that harmonizes operational efforts within Johns Hopkins University and Johns Hopkins Hospital.  

Debbie is responsible for the overall administration, coordination, and evaluation of the HR function for the School of Nursing, supporting faculty, staff, and students for all human capital needs, salary administration, staff relations, policy administration, retention, talent development, and record keeping for the school.  

Karen provides HR leadership for University Administration, working to effectively execute HR policies, practices, and programs to ensure alignment and support of business operations, while being consistent with the human capital strategies of the university and HR leadership.  

Curtis supports the vice provosts for Student Affairs, Admissions and Financial Aid, and Integrated Learning and Life Design by developing a comprehensive strategy for talent development, workforce planning, employee relations, compliance, compensation and benefits, diversity strategy, onboarding, performance management, succession planning, learning, and professional development.  

Heather  provides HR leadership for the Whiting School of Engineering, where she is responsible for designing, evaluating, leading, and assisting in all HR-related activities, while strategically aligning the HR function to support the school’s goals and objectives.