CHANDRA ALSTON
Associate Vice Chancellor of Human Resources, UT Health Science Center
Chandra Alston began working for UTHSC in 1999 as the computer trainer in Information Technology Services. She then moved to the role of BlackBoard administrator. She left UTHSC for one year and returned as the campus training administrator. Other roles Alston has held on campus are team leader for benefits, interim assistant director of HR and assistant dean of finance and administration for the College of Allied Health and College of Nursing.
What is your favorite part about working for UT?
My favorite part about working for UT is the relationships that I’ve established with our employees. They are incredible, and I enjoy being able to work alongside them.
What are your hopes for the HR industry?
I hope the HR industry will encourage practitioners to maintain and strengthen our relationship as a strategic partner in developing employees and solving organizational problems.
What do you enjoy doing in your free time?
I enjoy accomplishing things – whether it’s organizing things, reading something practical or cleaning out my email. It makes me feel good to make progress!
What is an interesting fact about you?
I earned a second-degree green belt in Shotokan Karate. I participated when my kids took a karate class. I joined for fun and exercise and was proud I achieved that status!
What’s your favorite line from a movie?
“Get busy living or get busy dying.” – Andy Dufrane, Shawshank Redemption
What food can you not resist?
Carrot cake from FROST Bakery in Memphis.
CAROL HOUSER
Assistant Vice President for Human Resources, UT Foundation
Carol Houser has worked for UT for 19 years. She served as an office manager for a law firm two years prior to beginning as an administrative assistant for an Alzheimer’s research lab at UT Medical Center. Houser then moved to a business position, which included some HR work, and gradually progressed to her current position.
What is your favorite part about working for UT?
The people I meet and work with are my favorite part. I believe things we accomplish are greater because of all the different perspectives at the table.
What are your hopes for the HR industry?
I am hopeful that HR continues to grow as a strategic partner. It isn’t all about transactions and paperwork. HR contributions can make UT a great place to work and impact the lives of students and beyond.
What do you enjoy doing in your free time?
I enjoy reading and working in my flower beds. I love to create – painting, sewing and decorating cakes.
What is a fun fact about you?
Growing up, I worked to pick apples, plant, weed and harvest the garden as well as tobacco fields. We raised pigs and had cows through the local 4H program. We made butter as well as cheese. Talk about living off the land and life lessons of hard work!
What’s your favorite line from a movie?
While not a movie, the PBS series “Downton Abbey” has several quirky lines. One I like is from the matriarch Lady Grantham – “What is a weekend?”
What food can you not resist?
Something salty! Peanuts and popcorn are two of my favorites.
DOUG BOHNER
Doug Bohner started his career in attractions operations at Walt Disney World. After completing his master’s in human resources, he served as the HR manager for the Magic Kingdom Park. While at Walt Disney World, Bohner also worked in organization development, HR compliance and operations integration, leading several projects. Between his time at Walt Disney World and joining UT, Bohner worked in HR at Express Scripts and HomeServe USA.
What is your favorite part about working for UT?
My favorite part of working for UT is being part of an organization that does so much good for the state of Tennessee. I enjoy interacting with people who truly believe in the UTIA mission.
What are your hopes for the HR industry?
My hope is that HR can continue to modernize processes, spending less time gathering data and more time using it to make better informed decisions about our people and the organization.
What do you enjoy doing in your free time?
I enjoy woodworking and home improvement projects.
What is an interesting fact about you?
I once smoked a cigar with Milton Berle.
What is your favorite line from a movie?
“Hey, dad, you want to have a catch?” – “Field of Dreams”
What food can you not resist?
Jelly Bellies
LAURE POU
Assistant Vice Chancellor for Human Resources,
UT Chattanooga
Laure Pou has been with UT Chattanooga since 2008, but she will celebrate 10 years with UTC Human Resources in April 2020. Her initial role on campus was as a talent management specialist, where she led training, development, recruitment and employment activities. She then transitioned into more of a generalist role for a short period of time before taking on additional leadership responsibilities. Pou was named executive director of the HR office in 2016 before transitioning to her current position in 2018.
What is your favorite part about working for UT?
I love the mission and strategic priorities of UT and the impact we have on our communities, state, region and beyond. I cannot imagine being inspired working in another industry to the extent it occurs at UT. The network of talented UT employees across our state is a strength of our System, and it has been an honor to be part of the UT family and contribute to the great work that is carried out each day.
What are your hopes for the HR industry?
Keeping up with technology and the needs of our employees and institutions is essential in ensuring continued alignment between HR professionals and those we serve. My hope is that innovation will continue to be a priority as we advance in use of technology and metrics for data-driven decision-making efforts to meet and exceed expectations among all service delivery areas.
What do you enjoy doing in your free time?
I love spending time on the Tennessee waterways and camping with my husband, our young daughter, Bailey, and our two dogs.
What is an interesting fact about you?
I love antiquing and repurposing vintage items. My family has an annual Flea Market Flip competition at our Thanksgiving gathering, and I do pretty well.
What is your favorite line from a movie?
“You’re gonna need a bigger boat.” -Jaws
What food can you not resist?
Fresh seafood. I wish Chattanooga wasn’t so far from the coast
TOMI ROGERS
Human Resources and Operations Manager, Institute for Public Service
Tomi Rogers has been with UT since 2001. She started as an HR intern in the employee and organizational development department before transitioning into a full-time administrative role. She then progressed to an instructional facilitator in the same office. Rogers has also worked in HR departments at the University of South Carolina, Amazon and TeamHealth before coming back to work for UT.
What is your favorite part about working for UT?
There are so many favorable aspects about working for UT, but the one benefit I encourage anyone to explore and take advantage of is the employee tuition fee waiver. The benefit afforded me the opportunity to obtain my master’s degree and I am now seeking a doctorate degree.
What are your hopes for the HR industry?
My first hope would be equitable and competitive market pay for all employees. We have some phenomenal employees across the UT System, and it would be monumental to ensure people were paid competitively. My second hope is that we can be more proactive and equip our workforce with the knowledge and skills related to human resources such as employee development, conflict management, recognition and awards, etc.
What do you enjoy doing in your free time?
I have a 10-year-old son who plays travel baseball and football. I love attending his games and watching him enjoy the sports. My husband recently started his own food truck business, and it has been fun to join his food-truck life in my free time.
What is an interesting fact about you?
People find it hard to believe that I am an introvert! However, I do love to sing and dance.
What’s your favorite line from a movie?
I chose a line that resonates with my doctoral program. It’s from Denzel Washington in “Training Day” – “It’s not what you know, it’s what you can prove.”
What food can you not resist?
Forget the desserts! A steak and potato are my weaknesses.
MICHAEL WASHINGTON
Director of Human
Resources and Payroll,
UT Martin
Michael Washington has served as the director of human resources and payroll at UT Martin since April 2019. He has worked in HR since 1987 and in higher education since 1993.
What is your favorite part about working for UT?
I like being part of a system and team of human resources officers that you can reach out to when you have questions or want to bounce an idea off of someone.
What are your hopes for the HR industry?
I hope that human resources will increasingly be viewed as a strategic partner and not merely a transaction function.
What do you enjoy doing in your free time?
I love watching a good “whodunnit” – murder mysteries like “Miss Marple,” “Vera,” “Poirot,” “Highlander,” “Columbo.”
What is an interesting fact about you?
I was a judge for the Miss Memphis pageant in 1993.
What is your favorite line from a movie?
“Fasten your seat belts; it’s going to be a bumpy ride.” – “All About Eve”
What food can you not resist?
Ice cream!
PATRICIA BURKS-JELKS
Patricia Burks-Jelks has been with the University of Tennessee for 32 years. She serves as state chair for the American Council on Education for Women in Higher Education (WHET). She is a past president for WHET and has been recently reelected as its first vice president to serve again in the coming year. Burks-Jelks is also a past president of the Highland Rim Chapter of the Society for Human Resource Management. During her appointment as past president of the Tennessee Chapter of the College and University Professional Association for Human Resources, she received the Meritorious Service Award for her leadership and being the Tennessee chapter’s first African-American president.
What is your favorite part about working for UT?
I am appreciative of UT’s support for work/life balance and opportunities extended to employees for individual professional development.
What are your hopes for the HR industry?
Like my colleagues have attested, I would like to see organizations continually embrace HR as a strategic business partner, helping shape the mission and vision through workforce development.
What do you enjoy doing in your free time?
I enjoy playing the piano, participating in community outreach and travelling with my family.
What is a interesting fact about you?
I get incentivized by “things” being in order – even the fun stuff!
What is your favorite line from a movie?
“Let my people go.” – “The Ten Commandments” film
What food can you not resist?
Just about anything with cheese on it.
MARY LUCAL
Associate Vice Chancellor for Human Resources, UT Knoxville
Mary Lucal has worked for UT for 14 years. She began her career as an English as a second language teacher and school director before transitioning to the human resources field. After working as an HR consultant at Harvard University, she moved to Tennessee in 2006. While working at UT Knoxville, Lucal has spent time in all HR areas but has focused on recruitment, employee relations, employee and leadership development, organizational design and strategy. Lucal is a proponent of employee tuition assistance, having received both her master’s and doctorate while using that benefit.
What is your favorite part about working for UT?
We often hear that attending UT as a student is life-changing. Working at UT is also transformative and life-altering for so many people and their families, and I love being a tiny part of that journey.
What are your hopes for the HR industry?
Thanks to the existence of professional organizations, innovative degree and certification programs in the field, and the support of campus leadership, we have moved to a more strategic role in compensation, legislative affairs, leadership development, diversity and inclusion, and organizational development. My hope is that early career individuals continue to seek the great potential in higher education human resources as a professional field and that they work innovatively to support our every-changing institutions.
What do you enjoy doing in your free time?
I am a semi-serious birder. My favorite bird is the Eastern towhee.
What is an interesting fact about you?
Last year I decided I wanted to spend more time camping. So, I bought a tiny pop-up camper and named her Big Blue!
What’s your favorite line from a movie?
“This is Ellen Ripley, last survivor of the Nostromo, signing off.” – Sigourney Weaver, Alien
What food can you not resist?
Fresh spring rolls with peanut sauce.
