Dear Faculty and Staff Members, 

I am delighted to announce that Beth R. Glassman will join the College on Sept. 20 as our next vice president for human resources. Beth brings to the position more than 25 years of experience as an attorney and chief human resources officer at several well-regarded organizations. She has spent most of the past decade working in higher education, including as Widener University’s chief human resources officer (CHRO) and currently as Union College’s acting CHRO. 

Beth is an esteemed and proven collaborator with deep expertise across human resources operations. At Widener, Beth led the transformation of the university’s HR office from a tactical, transactional office to a strategic partner for campus community members. She helped modernize and improve the performance-review process; she introduced and implemented new technology that led to increased transparency and efficiency; and she helped improve the institution’s benefits package, leading to more equitable and inclusive employee health care benefits.

As Union College’s acting CHRO, Beth has developed COVID-19-related policies, communications, and safety plans and protocols. She has also worked to implement new recruiting practices and introduce career development and training initiatives. And she has focused on creating a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive environment for all of the college’s employees.

Beth, who holds a B.A. in political science from Tufts University and a J.D. and an MBA from Widener University, also partnered with Swarthmore in the past through her consulting business, helping the College improve its hiring processes. 

In her new role at Swarthmore, Beth will lead our team of human resources professionals and provide strategic direction and oversight of all aspects of the College’s HR operations. She will also play a central role in establishing and communicating human resources policies and priorities to the College community.

As chair of the search committee, I would like to thank the committee members for their thoughtful engagement throughout the process:
 

• Dan Alamia, Director of Prospect Discovery and Development

• Greg Brown, Vice President for Finance and Administration

• Imaani El-Burki, Assistant Dean and Director of the Hormel-Nguyen Intercultural Center

• Kim Fremont, Associate Provost for Administration

• Alisa Giardinelli, Assistant Vice President of Communications

• Pat Gress, Head Coach/Instructor, Physical Education and Athletics

• Paula MacDonald, Assistant Vice President of Human Resources

• Nsoki Mavinga, Associate Professor of Mathematics

• Bob Rehak, Associate Professor and Chair of Film & Media Studies

• Rhoni Ryan, Associate Director of Administrative Information Systems

• Ursula Young, Supervisor, Environmental Services

And on behalf of the committee, I would like to thank the community members who met with the finalists and offered their participation and feedback.

I also want to thank Interim Vice President of Human Resources Catherine Geddis, who joined the College last fall and has been instrumental in guiding us through multiple challenges during the past 10 months. I am grateful that Catherine has agreed to remain in her interim position until Beth begins in September in order to ensure a smooth transition.

Please join me in congratulating Beth and welcoming her back to Swarthmore.

Sincerely,

Val Smith
President