UCOP Operations appoints Patricia L. Hardaway, M.P.W., J.D., as interim UCOP Chief HR Officer
August 8, 2023 •
The following message was sent to all UCOP employees on Aug. 7, 2023.
Dear Colleagues,
UCOP Interim Chief Human Resources Officer Patricia L. Hardaway
I am pleased to announce that Patricia L. Hardaway, M.P.W., J.D., is joining the University of California, Office of the President as our interim chief human resources officer (CHRO), effective today, while we search for a permanent CHRO to replace Nancy Pluzdrak, who departed in July.
As CHRO, Patricia will report directly to me and lead all aspects of UCOP Human Resources including the HR business partners, learning and development, talent acquisition, compensation, organization development, COVID-19 programs, and accommodations and leaves. She will serve as a senior advisor to UCOP leadership on HR matters and will represent UCOP as part of the Systemwide HR CHRO group.
In her most recent role, Patricia was part of the UC family as the interim associate vice chancellor of Staff Human Resources and CHRO for UC Santa Cruz, where she led campus-wide staff HR delivery to 11 colleges and multiple research, specialty and administrative departments. During her eight months, she was instrumental in streamlining the talent acquisition process, improving client relationships, reducing a budget deficit without position eliminations or layoffs, and improving morale and engagement in HR.
Patricia is a member of The College and University Registry, through which her consulting engagements have encompassed chief academic officer and CHRO roles at a range of institutions including Mills College, Hebrew Union College, Trinity College (Hartford) and Palmer College of Chiropractic.
In addition, Patricia led Wilberforce University as its 19th president from Mar. 2009 to Dec. 2014 and was the second woman to do so in the university’s 158-year history. Her academic career ensuring college access and student success spanned 25 years at research universities and liberal arts colleges, including the University of Pittsburgh, Graduate School of Public and International Affairs; Rutgers University, the New Brunswick Provost’s Office; Fairleigh Dickinson University; and Chatham College.
Patricia holds a Juris Doctor from the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law; and a Master of Public Works from the University of Pittsburgh, Graduate School of Public and International Affairs. She is a member of the Palmer College of Chiropractic Board of Trustees and the Azubuike African American Council of the Arts.
She starts on Aug. 7 and will be working a hybrid schedule in the Oakland Broadway building, Office 8004, if you’d like to stop by and say hello.
Patricia’s wealth of knowledge and experience in both academic and large institutions will be a valuable asset to our organization. I look forward to working with her to strengthen and advance our HR initiatives.
Please join me in welcoming Patricia to UCOP.
Sincerely,
Thera Kalmijn
Executive Director, UCOP Operations
