Get Involved – Board of Directors
Serve on the CUPA-HR Board of Directors
Thank you for your interest in serving as a member of the CUPA-HR national board of directors. Nominations for the 2026-27 board have closed. Nominations for the 2027-28 board will open in December 2026.
CUPA-HR represents a diverse array of higher education institutions and individual members. Our selection process for board service includes an intentional commitment to the diversity of our board make-up. We welcome and encourage CUPA-HR members from all backgrounds and from all institution sizes, classifications and types.
Members who volunteer to take on leadership and committee roles help the association keep a finger on the pulse of the most important opportunities and challenges for higher education HR professionals and the higher education workforce. Association leaders also have the opportunity to work with peers from across the country to lead and support the work of CUPA-HR’s strategic priorities and core values.
Our board of directors leads the work of the association by creating our strategic priorities and shaping our multiyear plans.
Why Do Our Leaders Choose to Serve on CUPA-HR’s Board?
We caught up with some of our board members at a recent board meeting and asked that very question. Watch the video to see what they had to say, and read comments below from several of CUPA-HR’s past leaders.
Comments From Past Leaders
“It has been an honor to serve on the CUPA-HR board and contribute to advancing the mission of higher education HR. This pinnacle career experience allowed me to collaborate with visionary colleagues, champion inclusive practices, and help shape policies that strengthen our profession. I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to give back to an association that has given so much to our field (and to me personally), and to be part of a community committed to innovation and excellence.”
El pagnier Kay “EK” Hudson, Former CUPA-HR Board Member
Senior Vice President, Human Resources, Florida International University
“CUPA-HR has truly been my lifeline. Serving on the Board of Directors for six years has deepened my appreciation for the organization’s mission and its extraordinary people. Navigating the complexities of public higher education HR can be overwhelming—even on the best of days—but my CUPA-HR colleagues are the steady foundation I rely on. CUPA-HR is where I find the inspiration and tools that equip me to be a stronger, more effective HR leader. The support, expertise, and sense of community have shaped me as a CHRO and strengthened my institution by helping me lead with greater confidence, connection, and purpose.”
Jami Painter, Former CUPA-HR Board Chair
Senior Associate Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer, University of Illinois System
“Serving on the CUPA-HR national board was one of the most rewarding chapters of my career. It was an opportunity to lead and give back to the HR community and higher ed. It was a privilege to contribute to a field I love and to work along so many colleagues I deeply respect.”
Jeff Herring, Former CUPA-HR Board Chair
Chief Human Resources Officer, University of Utah