University system’s new HR director replaces her mentor

Replacing a key officer who has put in more than 40 years of service to the University of Missouri system can be challenging. But finding someone to fill the shoes of R. Kenneth Hutchinson, who retired from his job as the UM system’s human resources director in 2007, proved easier with personal connections.

Elizabeth “Betsy” Rodriguez, who recently was hired as vice president of human resources for the four-campus system, worked for MU more than 20 years ago; it was Hutchinson who hired her back then.

Rodriguez, who currently serves as the interim associate vice president for human resources at the University of Colorado System, started her career in HR at MU in 1987, while earning her master’s degree in psychology. After deciding to retire last year, Hutchinson approached her about the HR opening here.

“I was not looking to move, but when Ken decided to retire, he called me and asked me to think about applying for the opening,” Rodriguez said. “Ken has done amazing things, and I consider him a mentor.”

Rodriguez admits she feels some “nervousness” about replacing a man who significantly influenced the national landscape of how HR functions in a higher education setting. She said, however, she is committed to the vision promulgated by Hutchinson. That vision for how HR should function at a major university goes beyond benefits and compensation and includes valuing “human capital” as a top priority for organizational leaders.

“The biggest change in HR over the years is that HR is now viewed as a major player in strategic organization. One of the biggest reasons I’m coming to UM is that the new president has a unique perspective, having come from the private sector,” Rodriguez said.

Hutchinson explains that in the last decade or two, private industry has recognized the value of including HR in organizational strategies. “Industry changed, retail changed, and health care changed by elevating HR to the officer level. By and large, higher education has not,” Hutchinson said. There are a few exceptions, and UM is one of them—thanks in large part to Hutchinson’s contributions. Unlike most major university systems, at UM, the vice-president of human resources is one of the 11 officers who report directly to University President Gary Forsee.

Currently, the UM system has a budget of more than $2 billion and an enrollment of 64,000 students and employs 25,000 people. “A university is labor intensive. Our overall budget is about $2.4 billion, and 79 percent of our operating budget relates to either direct or indirect compensation,” Hutchinson said.

Valuing that labor force and working with top administrators to create a culture that recruits, retains and rewards quality performance of both faculty and staff is crucial, according to Hutchinson. Also, accountability is a factor.

“Students are expecting more return on their investment, governing boards are questioning why modern principles of effective management are not more fully utilized, and legislators are asking new and probing questions on organizational and program performance and accountability,” Hutchinson said.

Hutchinson said Rodriguez will enhance the programs he put in place at UM. “Betsy is up to that challenge and will probably surpass any contributions I may have made,” Hutchinson said. “I think she will be an excellent addition to Forsee’s team, and I look forward to great things.”