Demers named head of Human Resources

By Lori Wright, Media Relations

With 30 years of service to the university, Sharon Demers has been named assistant vice president of Human Resources at UNH.

“Sharon’s extensive experience, integrity, commitment to UNH and its employees, and proven ability to work effectively across all sorts of organizational boundaries has prepared her well for this post. She and I have agreed that the process of change in Human Resources that commenced under David Butler’s leadership must continue with great energy. Much has been accomplished and much remains to be done,” said Candace Corvey, vice president for finance and administration.

A graduate of the university who has worked in Human Resources for 27 years, Demers succeeds Butler, who left UNH last year to take a position with Arizona State University. Demers served as interim assistant vice president of Human Resources following his departure and was promoted to the position permanently effective April 1.

“I have received an excellent education at the university and the opportunity for career advancement. I am excited and honored to serve the university in this capacity,” Demers says.

“Human Resources provides the opportunity to add value and improve the quality of the work life experience at all levels of the organization. But mostly I enjoy the tremendous working relationships established over the years,” she says.

In the short term, Demers hopes to establish an ongoing communication process with the university administration and other key stakeholders to ensure that the Office of Human Resources remains in sync with the University’s Academic Plan as well as the goals and objectives of individual divisions.

“There were several temporary modifications made to the HR staffing as a result of my appointment as interim. Now that the appointment is permanent, I am in the process of assessing the organization and how we will need to be structured for the future,” she says.

In the long term, Demers hopes to create an HR organization that is proactive and forward looking. “That not only assists in the implementation of ideas and initiatives but also is continually involved in the generation of creative ideas, strategic planning and organizational development,” she says.

For example, Demers says HR is finishing the third series of Managing@UNH and is planning for the fall to kick off Supervising@UNH, a series of programs designed to better equip individuals who are moving into supervisory roles for the first time in their UNH careers with a foundation in core supervisory skills and/or to provide relatively new supervisors with the opportunity to refresh their fundamental supervisory skills.

In the upcoming year, UNH will face some challenges, including the benefit cost containment effort. “The HR office is committed to working with the Campus administration, the councils and USNH to maintain a benefits package that is competitive, affordable and cost effective and to the continued development and enhancement of family friendly policies such as compassionate leave,” Demers says.

“The Human Resources staff is committed to providing value-added service to all facets of the university community and to making the University of New Hampshire an employer of choice. We are continually exploring best practices and how to implement them in a meaningful way,” she says.