Paula MacDonald
West Chester,PA
Summary
Dynamic and results-oriented Human Resources leader with over 20 years of experience, including 13 years in liberal arts higher education. Known for driving process improvements, building strong relationships, and serving as a trusted advisor to senior leadership. Deeply committed to fostering inclusive, diverse, and equitable environments. Expertise in employee relations, talent acquisition, learning and development, and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. Seasoned Assistant Vice President of Human Resources with vast experience in strategic HR planning, recruitment, and employee relations. Managed diverse teams to drive organizational growth and improve operations through effective human resources strategies. Skilled in conflict resolution, performance management, and developing comprehensive training programs. Demonstrated ability to align HR initiatives with business goals to foster success and positive workplace culture.
Overview
13
13
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Assistant Vice President, Human Resources
Swarthmore College
Swarthmore, PA
09.2019 - Current
- Provide comprehensive HR strategy for a leading liberal arts college, overseeing employee relations, talent acquisition, learning and development, and diversity initiatives.
- Drive process improvements across HR functions, streamlining recruitment workflows, simplifying onboarding, resulting in greater efficiency and increased employee satisfaction.
- Build and nurture trusted relationships with senior leadership, faculty, and staff to ensure that HR strategies and decisions are aligned with the college’s core values, academic mission, and long-term objectives.
- Work closely with stakeholders across campus to address employee relations issues with transparency and fairness, improving morale and fostering a culture of open communication and mutual respect.
- Analyze trends in turnover, job satisfaction and other metrics to develop strategies for improvement.
Associate Director, Organizational Development and Training
Syracuse University
Syracuse, NY
03.2015 - 09.2019
- Revamped the performance assessment process to drive engagement and increase accountability to effectively manage performance issues with overall participation growing from 38 percent to 89 percent campus wide over two years time.
- Leveraged strong relationships across the 13 separate Colleges to develop robust programming with the assistance of in house subject matter expertise to increase training opportunities while limiting expense to the institution.
- Developed and implemented strategies to increase organizational effectiveness and efficiency.
- Served on critical committees designed to strategically drive inclusion and diversity goals across campus, including the Chancellor’s Workgroup on Diversity and Inclusion, the UndocuAlly Committee, the Preferred Name Advisory Council, and the Staff Climate Advisory Committee.
Assistant Director of Human Resources
Colgate University
Hamilton, NY
10.2011 - 03.2015
- Managed all aspects of a comprehensive full day employee orientation program for all incoming staff.
- Oversight of talent acquisition of all staff positions at the College, creating an effective recruitment strategy to drive diversity and inclusion goals.
- Streamlined HR processes and improved the efficiency of recruitment, onboarding, and talent management functions, designed to enhance the candidate experience.
- Fostered strong relationships across departments, ensuring alignment between HR strategies and institutional objectives, and reinforcing the role of HR as a key partner in the university's growth and success
- Developed, implemented, and monitored policies and procedures related to employee relations and human resources management.
Education
Diversity Management Certificate
Cornell University School of ILR
Manhattan, NY01-2014
Bachelor of Science - Business Administration
Syracuse University, Utica College
Utica, NY05-1996
Skills
- Employee Relations Management
- Talent Acquisition & Recruitment Strategy
- Learning & Development Program Design
- Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) Initiatives
- Process Improvement & HR Strategy Optimization
- Leadership Development & Accountability
- Performance Management & Coaching
- Organizational Development & Workforce Planning
- Senior Leadership Advisory
- Legal Compliance & Labor Law
- HRIS & Applicant Tracking Systems
Affiliations
- Member, College and University Professional Association (CUPA-HR)
- Member, Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM)
- Chair Elect, CUPA-HR Eastern Region Board
- Committee Member, Creating Inclusive Communities
- Committee Member, Spring Conference Development Committee
- Participant, Emerging Leader
Certification
- SHRM-SCP (Senior Certified Professional), Society for Human Resource Management
- SPHR (Senior Professional in Human Resources), HR Certification Institute
- Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Certificate, Cornell University Industrial School of Labor Relations
Timeline
Assistant Vice President, Human Resources
Swarthmore College
09.2019 - Current
Associate Director, Organizational Development and Training
Syracuse University
03.2015 - 09.2019
Assistant Director of Human Resources
Colgate University
10.2011 - 03.2015
Diversity Management Certificate
Cornell University School of ILR
Bachelor of Science - Business Administration
Syracuse University, Utica College
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