Kristi Yowell named to board of directors for CUPA-HR’s eastern region

Chapter president. Adjunct professor. Associate director. These are more than just job titles. To Kristi Yowell, human resources isn’t a job—it’s a passion.

“It’s so fun,” Yowell said. “I pull experiences from my job for teaching, do a deeper dive of the topics with industry professionals at association meetings, and then use insights from those meetings to inform decisions I make day-to-day. It’s all related! I love it.”

Beginning July 1, she will add another title to the list: member-at-large on the board of directors for the eastern region of the College and University Professionals Association for Human Resources (CUPA-HR).

The role is a prestigious one—the board is composed of fewer than 10 members from institutions like Princeton University and Swarthmore College. Together, the board members oversee more than 4,000 members at schools across the eastern seaboard and in the New York, Philadelphia and Baltimore/Washington metropolitan areas.

As a board member, Yowell will guide discussions around HR policy implications, like the recent changes to the Fair Labor Standards Act. She’ll help the board establish and work toward strategic priorities, including communications and corporate partnerships. She’ll also oversee the group’s annual conference and take part in leadership programs.

“The information and insights shared within this group keep me informed about HR-related news and enable me to proactively respond to potential issues,” Yowell said. “It’s great to be able to pick up the phone and call colleagues at other universities to ask how they’re handling a specific issue. It’s my favorite work-related group.”

In her new role, she will share her own insights as she mentors new chapters and connects them with others across the region. It should come easy—she helped found the Maryland chapter of CUPA-HR and currently serves as chapter president, a role she’ll keep until July.