Kelli Shuman Named AVP and Chief Human Resources Officer

Carnegie Mellon University is pleased to announce that, following a national search, Kelli Shuman has been named associate vice president and chief human resources(opens in new window) officer. Shuman has served as associate vice president for human resources and chief human resources officer at Elon University since 2019.

Shuman has nearly two decades of experience in higher education human resources. At Elon, she is a member of the president’s senior staff and is responsible for comprehensive and strategic leadership of all aspects of human resources, including employee benefits, employee relations, talent acquisition, employee development and training, employee recognition programs, faculty and staff wellness programs and performance appraisal processes, as well as supporting Elon’s diversity, equity and inclusion efforts. Nationally, she has been active in the College and University Professional Association for Human Resources(opens in new window) (CUPA-HR) and currently serves as the treasurer and executive committee member of the national CUPA-HR Board of Directors, as well as an at-large member of the board of the Society of Higher Education Human Resources Executives(opens in new window).

“I am delighted to welcome Kelli to CMU, and look forward to her leadership of our superb HR team. Everyone who met with Kelli throughout the interview process was impressed with her warmth, her experience and as importantly, her service-oriented attitude and approach,” said Mary Jo Dively(opens in new window), CMU’s vice president and general counsel, and secretary of the corporation.

At Elon, Shuman served on several committees in support of the university’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic and led the development of temporary policies, procedures and programs to support employees throughout the pandemic. She and her team also focused on improving utilization of technology and data to inform decision-making and continuously evaluate and develop efficient HR processes, procedures and policies. 

“I am thrilled and honored to join Carnegie Mellon University and its dedicated HR team as the next chief human resources officer,” Shuman said. “During the interview process, it was clear that CMU's employees are passionate about their work and deeply believe in the university's vision, mission and values. I am excited to be part of this dynamic and innovative community, eager to support the students, faculty and staff, and contribute to our collective success."

Prior to joining Elon, Shuman served as vice president for human resources at the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology in Rapid City, South Dakota, where she was responsible for all aspects of human resources. In addition to her duties as vice president, she also held the role of Title IX coordinator, leading development of several outreach and education initiatives focused on sexual assault response and bystander intervention. Among her accomplishments was the development of the South Dakota Mines President’s Leadership Academy, a yearlong leadership program that fosters professional development within the school. She has also led several implementations of human resources technology.

Shuman earned her bachelor’s degree in business administration and human resource management from Black Hills State University and a master’s degree in administration and human resource management from the University of South Dakota. She is a 2014 graduate of the Institute for Educational Management at the Harvard Graduate School of Education.