Dear Faculty and Staff,

I am excited to share that H. Julian Woods has been named the new Executive Director of Human Resources! Julian’s first day will be Monday, July 28, and we are thrilled to welcome him and his family to the Laker community.

Julian brings over 20 years of experience leading human resources transformations across the healthcare, education, and government sectors. Most recently, he served in the West Virginia University Health System, and prior to that, spent more than a decade as an HR consultant.

His career has spanned work in civil rights, diversity, equity, inclusion, leadership development, and large-scale organizational change—including overseeing a $250 million statewide reform of West Virginia’s classification and compensation system, improving pay equity and retention for thousands of employees.

Julian earned a Doctor of Jurisprudence degree from West Virginia University College of Law, along with Bachelor’s degrees in History and Religious Studies from West Virginia University. This strong academic foundation, paired with decades of HR experience, has shaped his people-first leadership style.

When asked what excites him most about joining GVSU, Julian shared:

"I’m drawn to institutions like GVSU that are mission-driven and deeply invested in equity and excellence.

I’m genuinely excited about the opportunity to work at GVSU because the university’s commitment to inclusion, student success, and community engagement strongly aligns with the values that have guided my entire career. The opportunity to contribute to a forward-thinking academic community while leveraging my strengths in strategic HR, leadership development, and organizational culture is both exciting and meaningful."

Julian will be relocating to West Michigan with his wife, mother, and their two dogs, Kuba and Coco. They are excited to join the Laker family and are eager to explore everything our vibrant community has to offer.

As Julian joins the Laker community, I invite you to join us at an open-house to welcome Julian and celebrate this exciting new chapter.

I want to end by extending a heartfelt thanks to Dr. Felix Ngassa, who chaired our search, the entire search committee, and the many campus partners who contributed their time, feedback, and thoughtful engagement throughout the process. Your efforts helped us identify a leader who will move Human Resources forward in bold and collaborative ways.

Please join me in giving H. Julian Woods a warm Laker welcome. I am confident that his experience and values will be a powerful addition to our Human Resources team, the division, and the GVSU community.

Sincerely,
Robert

Robert Shorty, PhD
Vice President for People, Equity, and Culture
Chief People and Inclusion & Equity Officer