The Process of Preparing Future HR Leaders 

By Dr. Kathy Tuberville

The Talent Tsunami, the Great Resignation, and more recent trends have startled the HR industry as it relates to talent development of future leaders.  While the roles are changing more and more, the evidence is clear, the HR profession is growing, and we need more equipped future leaders entering our space. 

What are some solutions to this current trend?  Strategic development of college students in HR practices!  At the University of Memphis, the SHRM Student Chapter has continued to be innovative and forward-thinking in the development of “future-proofing” of skillsets for new professionals.  Through monthly programs with engaged HR leaders as well as unique events such as the HR Discovery Day and the first-ever Student and Young Professionals Career Summit in 2020, these students are leading the way for more students to become prepared for the HR career path. 

Their success in fulfilling the SHRM national Merit Award requirements, the diligence of this student chapter was recognized with the Superior Merit Award for 2020-2021.  Their accomplishments included converting all of their meetings to a virtual format (many student organizations took a break during this time), providing exceptional events with HR community leaders, and using technology and program development skills to participate in the new Student and Young Professional Conference, a feature of the 2020 Tennessee SHRM Conference. 

Recent MBA graduate and SHRM Student President for 2020-21, Mary Merschat states, , “Serving as SHRM Student Chapter president had a major impact on my college experience and professional career. I am extremely proud of the chapter’s accomplishments and the increase in member engagement seen this past year. The SHRM Student Chapter at the University of Memphis is a remarkable asset to the Fogelman College of Business and Economics and the Memphis HR community”. Merschat now is an HR Associate with the Cintas Corporation. 

Dr. Kurt Kraiger, Chair of the Management Department and Interim Associate Dean in the Fogelman College of Business and Economics, shares “we are continually proud of our SHRM Student Chapter and their consistently strong programming for our students.  This resource is ideal for our HR students and provides great connection to the HR community”.   

Our current student leadership board, President Chaylin Garrett and officers Barbarita Vega and Katlin Hall, intend to work hard in 2021-22 so that we have additional successes including a new program, HR Academy.  These students are also working to help other students prepare for careers in HR. 

If you’d like to become aligned with this active SHRM Chapter, please contact faculty advisor, Dr. Kathy Tuberville via K.Tuberville@memphis.edu  The University of Memphis chapter extends a warm welcome to all college students in the Memphis area, regardless of college affiliation.  “We ask that students join SHRM through a student membership and have an active interest in pursuing a career in Human Resource Management”, according to Dr. Tuberville.