Higher Education HR Awards

Chief Executive HR Champion Award

Sponsored by Segal

Nominations are now closed. Award nominators and recipients will be notified in late June.

This award honors the president or chancellor of a higher education institution or system who has demonstrated significant support for the institution’s HR function. This can be in the form of sustained support over a period of time or support and backing of a single large effort or initiative. Through the generous support of Segal, CUPA-HR will make an $8,000 contribution to the recipient’s institution.

Criteria

  • Sustained and continued support of a college or university’s HR function/organization/initiatives by an institution or system president or chancellor;
  • Demonstrated innovation by an institution or system president or chancellor in creating a university culture that supports teamwork, collaboration, creativity and enthusiasm in all segments of the university community, with special emphasis on faculty and staff;
  • Significant contributions by an institution or system president or chancellor to the leadership development of faculty and staff at all levels;
  • Nominee’s institution is a member of CUPA-HR.

Eligibility Note: Individuals who are employed by the association, individuals who serve on the CUPA-HR national board of directors, and the institutions of those directors are not eligible to be nominated or selected for awards during their terms of service.

Philomena Mantella, President of Grand Valley State University, received CUPA-HR’s Chief Executive HR Champion Award in 2025.

Past Recipients of the Chief Executive HR Champion Award

  • 2024 – Guy Bailey, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
  • 2023 – Nariman Farvardin, Stevens Institute of Technology
  • 2022 – Rebecca Bergman, Gustavus Adolphus College
  • 2021 – Daniele Struppa, President, Chapman University
  • 2020 – Dr. Michael Rao, President, Virginia Commonwealth University and the VCU Health System
  • 2019 – Dr. Bassam M. Deeb, President of Trocaire College
  • 2018 – Jacqueline Moloney, Chancellor of University of Massachusetts Lowell
  • 2017 – Dr. John M. Beehler, President of Jacksonville State University
  • 2016 – Dr. Carine Feyten, President and Chancellor at Texas Woman’s University
  • 2015 – Nathan O. Hatch, President of Wake Forest University
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