KNOXVILLE — Linda Hendricks has been named Vice President of Human Resources for the University of Tennessee. Hendricks, who has more than 30 years’ experience in higher education, including as former assistant vice president and director of human resource programs at Duke University and Vanderbilt University, began her career in human resources at the University of Tennessee. She will join UT on May 19.
Linda B. HendricksIn her new role as the university’s chief human resources officer, Hendricks will lead development of human resources policy and guidelines. Her office will work closely with UT system, campus and institute human resource leadership to link the university’s strategies and policies to faculty and staff. Her oversight of system-wide human resources functions will include HR operations for each of the university’s enterprises and benefit programs for UT employees statewide. Hendricks will be a member of the senior staff and will report directly to the president.
“Throughout the statewide University of Tennessee, our people are the key to our success, and having a highly successful and innovative human resources team is critical to ensuring we attract and retain exceptional employees,” UT President John Petersen said. “Our human resources leadership across the university has embraced the idea of an enhanced system human resources function. I fully support this vision and believe Linda Hendricks is an exceptional choice to help achieve that goal.”
Petersen added that Hendricks’ new role is critical to continued momentum in improving programs, training and compensation for university employees.
“Linda Hendricks’ qualifications, experience and certifications enabled her to stand out among the vast number of applicants as an exceptionally strong candidate uniquely capable of fulfilling the job responsibilities for this system-wide position, encompassing nearly 27,000 employees,” Petersen said.
Hendricks’ record of accomplishments includes development of Duke’s first workforce strategic plan, development of award-winning management and leadership development programs, and serving on the University Diversity Leadership senior teams at both Duke and Vanderbilt. She also has served on implementation teams for a variety of HR information systems including PeopleSoft, SAP and Kenexa performance management, and for applicant tracking systems including Resumix, Recruiting Solutions and BrassRing.
“As a native of East Tennessee and a graduate and former employee of UT, I am thrilled to return to the university to take on the role of Chief Human Resources Officer,” Hendricks said. “I have spent the past 16 years honing my skills at other higher education institutions. I believe I can apply that knowledge and those experiences to this position and, together with the help of a very capable and dedicated staff, make UT a better place to work for current and future employees.”
Hendricks has extensive leadership experience in workforce strategic planning, development and implementation of HR policies, and management of HR information systems.
In addition to working with other UT system administrators, campus chancellors and campus human resources leadership on policy issues, her responsibilities also will include working with Tennessee government entities on statewide benefit programs and supplemental retention programs. She will be responsible for ensuring the success of training and development and continuing education programs. Hendricks also will work with system and campus leadership to ensure succession plans for workforce transitions; and she will ensure management of human resources information systems for UT.
She is a graduate of UT Knoxville and a founding member of the Kelly Services Inc. Higher Education Advisory Panel. Hendricks also is a graduate of Vanderbilt’s Leadership Development Forum and UT’s Basics of Personnel Administration in Colleges and Universities. She holds certifications in Disney’s Service Leaders Institute, consulting skills, negotiating and administering the labor contract, employee relations law and facilitative leadership.
A UT system-wide search committee formed to identify candidates for the newly created Chief Human Resources Officer position was chaired by UT Institute for Public Service Vice President Mary Jinks.
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Contact: Gina Stafford (865-974-0741)