About Our Staff
Curtis Powell - Vice President
The Vice President of Human Resources is responsible for the
overall management and direction of human resource programs and
functions at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute including short
and long-term strategies to attract, develop, and retain a
highly qualified workforce required to accomplish the mission
of the institution. The position serves as a human resource
consultant to the President and members of the President's
Executive Cabinet and participates in strategic planning and
decision making for the institution and all subsidiaries.
Anne Bilynsky - Manager, Compensation
The Manager of Compensation is responsible for developing,
recommending, implementing and maintaining institutional
compensation programs, including a performance management
system that will assure equitable and competitive compensation
for a diverse workforce. The incumbent in this position reports
to the Vice President of Human Resources for strategic
oversight and to the Assistant Vice President for
administrative and operational issues.
Peter Caracappa - Radiation Safety Officer,
EH&S
The Radiation Safety Officer is a professional level position
and the duties and responsibilities include either the
oversight of or assisting in Rensselaer's radiation safety
programs. Implement inspection, monitoring, and compliance
activities to assure a safe community environment and adherence
to applicable regulations. Work proactively with the Director
of Environmental Health and Safety to assure that department
activities work to maximum benefit to Rensselaer. Promote
safety objectives by engaging various members of the community
in a positive, involving manner.
Yasmeen Chaudhry - Operations Assistant, Human
Resources
The duties and responsibilities of this position are intended
to relieve the management and professional staff in the
Division of Human Resources of routine clerical and
administrative responsibilities. The incumbent is responsible
for maintaining faculty and staff personnel records and will
assist with day-to-day operations of the Division of Human
Resources including answering phones, greeting customers,
typing basic correspondence and basic data entry.
Yvonne Clark- Administrative Coordinator, Office of
the Vice President
The Administrative Coordinator, performs advanced
administrative duties including coordinating multiple projects,
establishing priorities and extensive interactions with
internal and external customers and pertaining to the
administrative function of the Office of the Vice President for
Human Resources. The incumbent is responsible for planning,
organizing and maintaining schedules; follow up systems, and
correspondence. Independently manages responsibilities to
expedite matters and resolve issues. Monitors daily activities
and ongoing projects and performs special assignments with
general direction or minimum of supervision, requiring use of
independent judgment.
Will Fahey - Manager of Professional and
Organizational Development
The Manager of Professional and Organizational Development is
responsible for day-to-day administration and planning for the
Professional and Organizational Development function. The
Manager is responsible for the formulation and implementation
of a comprehensive professional development and training
program. The Manager will consult and partner with the HR
Leadership Team to identify key training and development needs
of the Institute. In addition, the Manager is responsible for
identifying training needs of the Institute, in consultation
with executives, management and staff and developing training
programs to meet those needs. The Manager will assist the
Director of Human Resources in developing sound strategies for
organizational development, training, and employee
relations.
Joanne Hamilton - HR Specialist,
Compensation
Under the direction of the Manager of Compensation, the HR
Specialist, Compensation conducts analyses which support the
design, implementation and administration of Rensselaer’s
compensation program. Provides ad-hoc reports and analysis
relating to Human Resource metrics. Serves as a resource to the
Division of Human Resources and to the Rensselaer community
regarding compensation related programs and policies. Provides
support to the review of documentation for advertising new and
existing positions.
Larry Hardy - Director, Human Resources
The Director, Human Resources will assist the Vice President
for Human Resources in developing and implementing strategic
initiatives for the Division of Human Resources. The Director
is expected to oversee the day-to-day planning, organizing,
directing, staffing and supervising staff in the functional
areas of Employment; HRIS; Employee Relations; the Hartford
Campus; Professional Development for faculty and staff. The
Director is expected to ensure coordination with other
functional areas that includes Compensation; Retirement and
Benefits; Environmental Health and Safety; Office Operations
and Divisional performance planning. As a member of the
leadership team, the Director is expected to function as a
strategic partner and demonstrate the ability to develop
collaborative and effective partnerships with internal and
external constituencies. The Director must be proactive in
understanding workforce trends, conducting analysis of
workforce data, and developing policies and procedures for
Rensselaer’s workforce. The Director is expected to demonstrate
professional leadership and must be trustworthy, make good
decisions, accurate judgments, and demonstrate true partnership
in supporting the Vice President for Human Resources.
Amy Hudson - Business Support Analyst,
HRIS
The Business Support Analyst is responsible for the technical
support of the information system central to all of the human
resource functions. The incumbent serves as the technical
liaison between the HRIS Coordinator and Integrated
Administrative Computing Solutions (IACS). Direction and
priorities will be established by HR management in partnership
with IACS to ensure following the protocols of IACS, but the
incumbent will be responsible for communicating those
directions and priorities with IACS. The incumbent is
responsible for facilitating the improvement of existing
approaches to administrative tasks and enabling the HRIS
Coordinator to ensure that the tasks are completed on a routine
basis. The incumbent is also responsible for the coordination
of HR projects with IACS.
Stacie Jones - Operations Associate, Human
Resources
The Operations Associate is responsible for providing
exemplary customer service and is the primary representation of
the HR Division through daily customer contact. Assists the
Office Manager with day-to-day operations of the Human
Resources Division including answering phones, greeting
customers, responding to inquiries, typing correspondence and
documents, opening and closing the HR office and other clerical
work and minor administrative and business details, including
back-up support for the office of the Vice President.
Jeff Lyden - Director, Environmental Health and
Safety
Develop and implement a comprehensive short and long range
strategy for the Department of Environmental Health and Safety
and provide direction to both the professional and support
staff that are acclimated and trained to provide a
professional, service-oriented environmental, health and safety
department. The director is expected to design, coordinate,
manage, oversee and implement a comprehensive environmental,
health and safety management program. The director is expected
to establish Institute wide partnerships and engage faculty and
staff as well as the external community to educate and improve
awareness of Rensselaer’s health and environmental safety
programs.
Janette MacDonald - Administrative
Coordinator
The Administrative Coordinator will relieve the Director of
Human Resources of substantive administrative responsibilities.
The incumbent will coordinate the work of the Operations
Assistant and Operations Associate positions in providing
administrative and operational support to Employment, Human
Resource Information Systems (HRIS), and Professional
Development.
Anna Mastroianni – Assistant Manager, Benefits and
Retirement
The Assistant Manager for Benefits and Retirement is
responsible for the administration of the Institute's
retirement and pension programs and all issues related to
retirement and retirees.
Marie McDowell- Operations Specialist, Benefits &
Retirement
The Operations Specialist reports to the Manager of Benefits
and Retirement. The incumbent will provide timely and accurate
routine response to a variety of inquiries from internal and
external constituents in accordance with benefit plan
documents. Additionally, the incumbent will be responsible for
coordinating and tracking all benefits and retirement
elections, maintaining manual and electronic files of all
benefit and retirement related information and will reconcile
all benefit and retirement transactions.
Kathy McNamara - Manager, Employment
Operations
The Manager of Employment Operations is responsible for
developing, recommending, and implementing recruitment plans,
policies and processes that align with Rensselaer strategies,
as well as assessing technology and incorporating best
practices. Personally or through subordinate staff, the Manager
of Employment Operations works with managers to identify
current and future manpower needs and also will screen,
interview and counsel internal and external candidates
concerning qualifications and careers. The incumbent serves as
Rensselaer’s representative at agencies, universities, fairs,
and other functions. The Manager of Employment Operations
oversees Rensselaer’s relocation program, executes the
Affirmative Action Plan, and generates all employment-related
reports. The Manager of Employment Operations recommends and
monitors costs and budgets for the employment function.
Louis Padula - Manager, Benefits &
Retirement
The Manager of Benefits & Retirement is responsible for
developing, recommending, implementing and maintaining
Rensselaer's Faculty and Staff Health and Welfare programs. The
incumbent is expected to ensure that all Health and Welfare
programs are equitable and competitive for a diverse workforce.
Also, the incumbent is responsible for overseeing and
administering the Institute's retirement and pension programs
as well as retiree relations. This position reports to the
Assistant Vice President for Human Resources for day-to-day
matters and to the Vice President of Human Resources for
strategic initiatives.
Mark Ring - Associate Safety Specialist
The Associate Safety Specialist assists in environmental
compliance, hazardous material handling & disposal, and
laboratory safety programs. The incumbent also implements
inspection, monitoring, and compliance activities to assure a
safe community environment and adherence to applicable
regulations; and works proactively with the Director of
Environmental Health and Safety to assure that department
activities work to maximum benefit to Rensselaer. Finally, the
Associate Safety Specialist promotes safety objectives by
engaging various members of the community in a positive,
involving manner.
Barbara Samiley - Administrative Specialist, Office
Operations
The Administrative Specialist performs a full range of
administrative duties including administrative, secretarial and
technical support for the executive search process. Provides
administrative support for search committees for all high
profile and key searches and back-up support for the Vice
President for Human Resources. The incumbent represents the
organization to internal and external customers and must
exercise a high degree of independent judgment and discretion
in daily activities. The position requires a high level of
professionalism, confidentiality and customer focus.
Independently performs a full range of advanced administrative
duties which includes coordinating multiple projects,
establishing priorities and extensive interactions with
internal and external customers on behalf of Rensselaer.
Alexander Steele - HR
Specialist,Employment
The HR Specialist is responsible for coordinating and
facilitating the recruitment of staff positions, ensuring
adherence to position justification and hiring process. The HR
Specialist assists the Manager of Employment in developing
recruitment strategies and sources to attract candidates at all
levels to Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. The HR Specialist
will be required to measure, analyze and report on key
recruitment functions on a regular and ad hoc basis.
Jacquelyn Turner - Deputy to the Vice
President
Oversees and coordinates the Division of Human Resources’
Office Operations which include financial management,
Performance Plan initiative tracking and reporting, Divisional
event coordination and planning , supervision of support staff,
and assist the Vice President for Human Resources with
strategic planning and communication. The Operations Manager
must plan, organize and establish divisional project priorities
as well as interact with internal and external customers on
behalf of the Vice President to ensure customer service and
service delivery by Division staff. The incumbent reports to
the Vice President of Human Resources and must exercise a high
degree of independent judgment, confidentiality and discretion
in performing work tasks.