Kirkwood named new director of human resource and payroll
Diane Kirkwood was hired March 1 as the new human resource and payroll director to replace Bonnie Sims, who served as director for 11 years before retiring.
"It is a good career opportunity for me," Kirkwood said. "The people here when I interviewed gave me a feeling of warmth and excitement and motivation and wanting to move things forward and that attracted me to [the school]."
Kirkwood was director of human resources and affirmative action and an equal employment opportunity officer at Georgia Southwestern State University (GSW) in Americus, Georgia before relocating here.
Kirkwood said she feels motivated to strengthen the human resource department.
"We recruit employees, so we are the place that is going to make a good first impression. If we aren't doing it here, then we are not making it easier for other departments to do the same thing down the road. And I think we do a good job at that. The staff works really hard," Kirkwood said.
There are many goals Kirkwood said she would like to achieve.
"Probably the most important thing is to provide really good service to our faculty and staff. That is one of my goals, to make their jobs easier," Kirkwood said. "I would like to get involved and do more training in the future. Another goal would be to look at practices of HR and try to make sure we are in line with the industry and in higher education's best practices to try to make this a really great department and I hope one of the best in system."
Benefits Manager Carol Ward said she is pleased with the hiring of Kirkwood.
"The change has been positive because of her management style and her vision for the future of our department. Diane brings a lot of experience to the table. I truly believe that Georgia College & State University, as a whole, will benefit," said Ward.
Kirkwood worked for GMAC Mortgage Corporation in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania for 12 years where she was human resource coordinator, national training manager and organization development manager prior to working for GSW. Kirkwood also taught the Society of Human Resource Management course while at GSW. She currently sits on the Chancellor's Advisory Board for Conflict Resolution.
In 2005, she was honored with the Alternative Dispute Resolution Liaison of the Year award.
Assistant Vice President for Human Services and Budget Dave Groseclose said it was her educational background and work experience that made her right for the job.
"A search committee of six people from across campus received application information on close to 100 people seeking the human resource director position. The committee narrowed the field down to Diane Kirkwood and two other potential candidates. One came from New Jersey, one from Colorado and Diane from Americus, Georgia. All three were certainly qualified for the position.," said Groseclose. "In the end, Diane came out of the process head and shoulders above the other two individuals. This was largely based on her experience within the University System of Georgia, her tremendous knowledge and expertise in conflict resolution and mediation, and people simply liked Diane and felt she was a good fit for the university. I was very pleased that I received that feedback, because she was by far my first choice for the job."
"It is a good career opportunity for me," Kirkwood said. "The people here when I interviewed gave me a feeling of warmth and excitement and motivation and wanting to move things forward and that attracted me to [the school]."
Kirkwood was director of human resources and affirmative action and an equal employment opportunity officer at Georgia Southwestern State University (GSW) in Americus, Georgia before relocating here.
Kirkwood said she feels motivated to strengthen the human resource department.
"We recruit employees, so we are the place that is going to make a good first impression. If we aren't doing it here, then we are not making it easier for other departments to do the same thing down the road. And I think we do a good job at that. The staff works really hard," Kirkwood said.
There are many goals Kirkwood said she would like to achieve.
"Probably the most important thing is to provide really good service to our faculty and staff. That is one of my goals, to make their jobs easier," Kirkwood said. "I would like to get involved and do more training in the future. Another goal would be to look at practices of HR and try to make sure we are in line with the industry and in higher education's best practices to try to make this a really great department and I hope one of the best in system."
Benefits Manager Carol Ward said she is pleased with the hiring of Kirkwood.
"The change has been positive because of her management style and her vision for the future of our department. Diane brings a lot of experience to the table. I truly believe that Georgia College & State University, as a whole, will benefit," said Ward.
Kirkwood worked for GMAC Mortgage Corporation in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania for 12 years where she was human resource coordinator, national training manager and organization development manager prior to working for GSW. Kirkwood also taught the Society of Human Resource Management course while at GSW. She currently sits on the Chancellor's Advisory Board for Conflict Resolution.
In 2005, she was honored with the Alternative Dispute Resolution Liaison of the Year award.
Assistant Vice President for Human Services and Budget Dave Groseclose said it was her educational background and work experience that made her right for the job.
"A search committee of six people from across campus received application information on close to 100 people seeking the human resource director position. The committee narrowed the field down to Diane Kirkwood and two other potential candidates. One came from New Jersey, one from Colorado and Diane from Americus, Georgia. All three were certainly qualified for the position.," said Groseclose. "In the end, Diane came out of the process head and shoulders above the other two individuals. This was largely based on her experience within the University System of Georgia, her tremendous knowledge and expertise in conflict resolution and mediation, and people simply liked Diane and felt she was a good fit for the university. I was very pleased that I received that feedback, because she was by far my first choice for the job."
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