Legacy in Motion: A New Chapter Begins in Madison
A Letter from our Director
Greetings, SHR Center alumni, partners, and friends,
As the semester begins and our campus comes alive with energy, we’re excited to share the latest updates from the Strategic Human Resources Center. This fall marks a season of momentum and reflection—with the launch of new initiatives, a vibrant student community, and a major milestone in our school’s history.
We’re proud to officially welcome the SHR MBA Class of 2027, who join our returning second-year students to form a dynamic cohort of future human resources leaders. Their energy, curiosity, and commitment to strategic impact set the tone for an inspiring year ahead. Our second-years return from impactful summer internships, having applied classroom knowledge in real-world settings and gained valuable experience across the HR spectrum.
In the spirit of welcoming, we’re also excited to announce the members of our inaugural SHR Center Advisory Board. These distinguished professionals will join us in Madison for our first board meeting and the SHR Symposium in early October, helping shape the future direction of the Center.
This year also marks a special milestone for the Wisconsin School of Business as we celebrate 125 years of A Legacy in Motion. As one of the nation’s pioneering business schools, we continue to shape the future of leadership, innovation, and community—values deeply embedded in the SHR Center’s mission. You can explore opportunities to engage in this celebration on our special anniversary website.
Thank you for your continued engagement and support. Whether you’re mentoring students, collaborating with us on applied learning opportunities, or cheering us on from afar, you’re part of the legacy we’re building together. We look forward to staying connected and sharing more throughout the year.
On, Wisconsin!
Tanya Hubanks, Director
Strategic Human Resource Management Center
Welcoming the Class of 2027
This past August, we welcomed seven SHR MBA students to the Wisconsin School of Business and the Strategic Human Resource Management Center. Our students come to Madison from locations across the country, from Colorado to Florida. They have a diverse range of backgrounds and lived and work experiences and all are eager to learn everything HR. Interested in connecting with them? Their LinkedIn profiles are below:
SHR MBAs (’26) Return from Impactful Summer Internships!
Our second-year Strategic Human Resources MBA students returned from successful internships across the country, where they transformed classroom learning into real-world impact. Over the summer, they gained hands-on experience in key areas of human resources—including change management, compensation. learning and development, employee benefits, global HR, and more—while deepening their understanding of organizational culture and HR operations. A common thread of many internships was using artificial intelligence to enhance and streamline the delivery of human resources services.
Beyond technical skills, our students sharpened their professional presence, built meaningful networks, and collaborated with seasoned HR professionals, gaining invaluable insights into the field. Though two companies paused their ful-time rotational hiring, impacting three of our students, we’re proud to share that six out of ten students received return offers, a testament to their dedication and excellence.
Introducing the SHR Center’s Inaugural EAB
The SHR Center is thrilled to announce our inaugural cohort of External Advisory Board Members. They are an exceptional group of business leaders who bring a wealth of HR expertise and passion for developing the HR leaders of tomorrow.
We couldn’t be more excited to partner with these talented professionals as we work together to advance the mission of the SHR Center and create opportunities for our students! With their support, we’re committed to connecting classroom learning with real-world practice and preparing students to lead strategic HR initiatives that drive success.
We welcome the following professionals to our board:
Marcus Alston, Leader and Senior People Partner at Cisco
Maren Berge, Vice President and HR Business Partner at Pretium
Ben Burney, Executive Compensation Consultant at Exequity
Leo Cardoso, HR Enablement Director at Land O’Lakes
Kendra McAdams, SVP, Human Resources Executive, Retail Banking at Bank of America
Colleen Scheibel, HR Business Partner at Northwestern Mutual
Kim Truong, Senior Recruiter at Starbucks
Dan Waldman, Global Employment Lawyer at Seyfarth Shaw LLP
Heather Wollerman, Vice President, Talent Management & Chief Culture Officer at McGraw Hill
Looking Ahead
SHR is Trekking Again: Chicago, March 2025
The 2026 SHR Center MBA Trek will be to Chicago, Illinois on March 19 and 20, 2026. Are you based in Chicago and interested in hosting a site visit? Please email shr@wsb.wisc.edu with your questions and suggestions. We would love to talk with you about this collaboration opportunity!
Support our SHR Center
SHR Center Seeks Increased Enrollment
Please connect us with your colleagues or others in your network who may be interested in obtaining an MBA in human resources. We would love to speak with them! The Class of 2028 applications opened on September 2. Sign up for an admissions consultation and learn more about the full-time MBA program here.
Make a 2025 Gift to the SHR Center
Making a gift to support our Strategic Human Resource Management Center is simple and appreciated. Gift funds support initiatives within SHR, such as financing industry visits, funding conference attendance, case competitions, SHRM membership, and certification exam fees. Larger donations will enable us to attract the best graduate students by offering scholarships. Will you consider making a donation? Give to SHR, or reach out to Director Tanya Hubanks if you would like to discuss additional gift options.
Engage with us on LinkedIn and Instagram
Follow our pages on LinkedIn and Instagram to stay up to date with SHR news. Check out our new alumni, student, and speaker spotlight series to read about the people who are part of our work. If you are interested in being a featured alumni, let us know!
Hire Our Students or Be a Mentor
Interested in hiring one of our SHR MBA graduates? Interested in mentoring a SHR MBA student? Email our team at the link below to discover ways to be involved or to learn more about the either the hiring process or mentorship experience!
Speak in a Class or at a Future SHR Event
Are you, your company, firm, or organization interested in supporting our Center through sponsorship or being a speaker at a SHR event? Many opportunities are available, and we’d love to discuss one that works best for you! Our SHR Center and students appreciate your consideration to support the SHR Center!