New HR Vice President Invites the Campus to ‘Start a Conversation’ Forums

Brian Powell
Brian Powell

Two things in particular attracted Brian Powell to become Chapman University’s new vice president and chief human resources officer – the unique energy and determination that was apparent to him when he visited.

“This is an organization that has very thoughtfully and thoroughly created a strategic plan. And then it works the plan,” Powell says. “Many organizations go through the planning phase, and then it’s all so aspirational or esoteric that it doesn’t manifest or really change the organization. I see Chapman as a completely different model.”

In that spirit, one of his first steps is the launch of robust discussions about the employee experience at Chapman. Powell has scheduled two campus forums in August:

  • Wednesday, Aug. 8, from 3 to 4 p.m. in the Atrium of the Rinker Health Science Campus.
  • Thursday, Aug. 9, from 9 to 10 a.m. in Beckman 104 of the Orange Campus.

After a brief introduction, Powell will invite conversation on a variety of topics, from performance management to work-life integration and professional development, which he lists as a chief goal.

“The expectation of today’s workforce is that its employer will be equipped and committed to enhancing their learning,” he says. “That requires cultivation.”

Powell comes to Chapman with 20 years of experience in human resources and administrative operations, most recently at UC Merced, where he was chief human resources officer and associate vice chancellor for people and strategy.

In addition, he is a licensed attorney with expertise in employment and labor law.  He is the author of several publications on employee privacy and has served as an adjunct professor of law, teaching the courses Sexual Orientation and the Law; AIDS Law; and Law, Gender and Sexuality.

Dawn Bonker

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