Changes In Human Resources and Business Operations

The College of Sciences has restructured its human resources and business operations functions to improve efficiency and keep its units better-connected. The restructuring includes two new leadership positions.

Creating these positions represents a change for the College, which formerly handled business and human resources operations out of one office. By separating these functions, the College seeks to provide its units with better information and resources on financial matters, hiring and employee relations, as well as influence unit-related activities to ensure compliance with appropriate policies.

Lee Ann DeRita was hired as the College’s first assistant dean for business operations, serving as the go-to source for all money matters. She oversees the College’s $110 million budget, which is composed of state funding, revenues and contracts and grants. The budget funds six academic departments, various centers and facilities, and portions of partnerships with state and federal agencies.

DeRita is responsible for establishing and overseeing systems for budget planning, monitoring and analyzing the administration’s funding structure. She works with the College’s senior associate dean for administration, Dr. David Bristol, to determine the best way for the College to allocate its resources.

Nikki Price is the first assistant dean for culture, talent, and human resources, serving as the “chief people person” for the College. Price directs and manages all activities related to faculty and staff, as well as temporary hires and student employees. She is responsible for managing the life-cycles of all employees, from each position’s creation through the end of each employee’s career in the College.

Price is working to build a more deep-rooted culture of diversity in the College and create training and career-development programs that can help employees succeed in their jobs and advance their careers. She is also developing standard operating procedures for human resources-related functions that can be implemented by the College’s academic departments.

“Working with the College of Sciences administration should be a user-friendly and efficient experience for all of our faculty and staff,” Bristol said. “Through this restructuring, we’re better able to serve the complex human resources and business operations needs of this large and dynamic organization.”