HR Leadership Team

JHU’s Human Resources leadership team guides the design, development, and implementation of the HR practices, policies, and programs that help make JHU a world-class institution. In all that it does, the team is guided by our Strategic Priorities and Mission, Vision & Guiding Principles.

Our vision is to have constituents view us as One HR, which they can access from a variety of touch points. HR Business Partners are the HR leaders who work in the various departments and schools throughout JHU. They partner with our Centers of Expertise to navigate complex employee relations issues, contract with new hires, facilitate promotions and transfers, and ensure that training objectives are achieved.

The Strategic Initiatives team works closely with the VP of HR and HR leaders from the Centers of Expertise to prioritize, develop and execute HR programs and initiatives.

Interim Vice President for Human Resources  

Meredith Stewart is the Interim Vice President for Human Resources.

The VPHR plays an integral role in strengthening and expand the university’s HR function by partnering with stakeholders from across the institution to advance key strategic priorities and initiatives. Meredith provides interim guidance to a team of nearly 300 human resources professionals across the university responsible for implementing practices, policies, and programs to support JHU’s exceptional workforce.


Centers of Expertise 

Our Centers of Expertise are led by a team of specialists who design programs, policies, and processes for delivering HR services across the university.

Strategic HR Delivery, Cherita Hobbs, Executive Director

Cherita works closely with HR leaders in the divisions to ensure that each division receives the necessary support and resources to refine and improve delivery of HR programs and services to employees across the university. This includes helping HR leaders navigate and resolve concerns related to employee 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.  

Talent Acquisition, Tracey Morris, Executive Director

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.  

Contact JHU Talent Acquisition at [email protected]

Talent Management, Kathy Forbush, Executive Director

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. 

Total Rewards, Meredith Stewart, Executive Director

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.

Strategic Initiatives

The Strategic Initiatives team provides support for major HR initiatives that align to the strategic framework and priorities of the institution. The team also works collaboratively with divisions and university leaders to carryout university-wide projects and initiatives.

April Floyd, Executive Director

April spearheads our major HR initiatives, while overseeing key operational functions such as finance, administration, and communications. She serves to advance strategic priorities, translate shared values into action, and manage projects and overall operations for the Office of the Vice President of Human Resources.

Meghan Potash, Director of Finance and Administration

Meghan provides 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.

Alina Smith, Strategic Project Manager

Alina works collaboratively across the university to lead and coordinate high-priority projects and initiatives related to Human Resources. Her efforts include assessing current processes, policies, organizational structures, and facilitating work groups to recommend actions and enhancements to existing programs and developing new programs. She is a liaison between HR and University Leadership to provide direction to stakeholders as they work to complete HR projects.

University HR Leadership Team

Members of the University HR Leadership Team work directly in divisions and departments to be sure that programs, policies, and processes are delivered consistently throughout JHU and that employees can easily access the HR services they need. They are:

Bloomberg School of Public Health: Cynthia Payne, HR Director

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.

Contact BSPH Human Resources: [email protected]

Carey Business School: Karen Sentementes, Executive Director, Human Resources and Talent Management

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

Contact Carey Business School Human Resources: [email protected]

Center for Talented Youth: Chantress Baptist, HR Director

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.

Contact Center for Talented Youth Human Resources: [email protected]

Development and Alumni Relations: Chelsey Megli, HR Director

Chelsey 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. 

Employee Labor Relations

Employee Labor Relations provides expertise on the development and administration of workplace policies, procedures, performance management, collective bargaining agreements interpretation, complex investigations, training, diversity and inclusion. 

Contact Employee Labor Relations: [email protected]

Global HR

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

Contact Global Human Resources: [email protected]

IT@JH

IT@JH Human Resources is responsible for the strategic leadership of the HR function for IT@JH, a department of more than 1,300 full-time university and health system employees. Responsibilities include strategic planning, compliance and policy administration, employee relations, employee engagement and retention analysis, talent management, and compensation.

Contact IT@JH Human Resources: [email protected] 

Jhpiego: Bernadette Channer, Chief Human Resources and Administrative Officer

Bernadette leads the strategic development and implementation of global human resources, field operations, security and travel management functions at Jhpiego. As a member of the senior management team, she exercises a prominent role in influencing organizational objectives, strategy and operations with respect to the utilization of human resources for Jhpiego’s headquarters and more than 30 country offices.

Contact JHPIEGO Global Human Resources: [email protected] or 410-537-1935

Krieger School of Arts and Sciences: Janna Chavis, HR Director

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.

Contact KSAS Human Resources: [email protected]

Peabody Institute: Laura Rossi, HR Director

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. 

Contact Peabody Human Resources: [email protected]

Public Safety: Lisa Wood, HR Director

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. 

Contact Public Safety Human Resources: Markeda Alston, HR Coordinator, [email protected]

School of Advanced International Studies: Gia Stancell, HR Director

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. 

Contact School of Advanced International Studies HR: [email protected]

School of Education: Tracy Walker, HR Director

Tracy provides 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.  

Contact School of Education Human Resources: [email protected]

School of Medicine: Maryalice Meister, Sr. Director of HR

Maryalice helps develop and lead 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. 

Contact School of Medicine Human Resources: [email protected]  

School of Nursing: Debbie Morris, HR Director

Debbi Morris head shotDebbie 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.  

Contact School of Nursing Human Resources:  [email protected]

Sheridan Libraries, Archives, and Museums: Mary Wilson, HR Director

Mary is responsible for leading HR initiatives, operations, programs, and services for employees in Sheridan Libraries, Archives and Museums.

Contact Sheridan Human Resources: [email protected]

Johns Hopkins Technology Ventures: Dana Weisgerber, Associate Director for HR and Operations

Dana is responsible for leading HR initiatives, operations, programs, and services for employees at JHTV.

Contact JHTV HR: [email protected] or 410-614-0300

University Administration: Karen Feeley, HR Director

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.  

Contact University Administration Human Resources: [email protected]

University Student Services: Curtis Hine, HR Director

Curtis and the USS HR team support all non-academic student facing services across the University, including Student Affairs, Student Health and Well-Being, Admissions and Financial Aid, Integrated Learning and Life Design, Registration, and Student Enrollment Account Management. Curtis works with vice provosts, leaders and managers to deliver comprehensive strategies for talent development, workforce planning, employee relations, compliance, compensation, diversity strategy, onboarding, performance management, succession planning, learning, and professional development.

Contact USS Human Resources: [email protected] 

Whiting School of Engineering: Jared Wood, HR Director

Jared provides HR leadership for the Whiting School of Engineering, where he 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.

Contact Whiting School of Engineering Human Resources: [email protected]