A Season of Gratitude with the SHR Center
A Letter from our Director
Greetings, SHR Center alumni, partners, and friends,
As 2025 comes to a close, Charlie, Mahina, and I recently reflected on the incredible work happening within the Strategic Human Resource Management Center. This year has been marked by growth, collaboration, and impact—thanks to the dedication of our students, alumni, partners, and friends.
From hosting our inaugural External Advisory Board meeting to welcoming industry leaders at the SHR Symposium, we’ve created spaces for meaningful dialogue and professional connection. Our students have excelled in national case competitions, shared their stories of career transformation, learned from mentors, and engaged deeply with the principles that shape the future of human resources.
We’re also proud to celebrate outstanding career outcomes: 80% of our Class of 2026 have already secured full-time positions with leading companies, and 85% of our Class of 2027 have locked in summer internships for 2026, gaining experience at top organizations nationwide.
Our success would not be possible without your support. Thank you for investing in our mission and helping us prepare the next generation of HR leaders. We hope you spend a few moments reading about our students, our Center, our MHR Department, and exciting Wisconsin School of Business news shared in this newsletter.
Our SHR Center team looks forward to building on this momentum in 2026! Happy holiday season to you and yours.
On, Wisconsin,
Tanya Hubanks
Director, Strategic Human Resource Management Center
SHR Center & Student News
A Successful SHR Symposium 2025
Thank you to everyone who joined us for the 2025 Strategic Human Resource Symposium this past October! Your engagement and support made the event a success, and our students truly valued the opportunity to build meaningful connections with you.
We extend special thanks to our sponsors—Seyfarth Shaw LLP and Fifth Third Bank—as well as our speakers, EAB members, and Wisconsin School of Business alumni for their contributions to an inspiring program.
Want to hear the student perspective? Second-year SHR MBA Hannah Goldberg shared how conversations on trust at the Symposium shaped her career outlook. Click the button below to read her reflections!
Student Career News
Outcomes & Placements
80% of the Class of 2026 have full-time placement at the companies below. Upon graduation, our students are headed off to Texas, Washington, Illinois, Arkansas, Florida, Pennsylvania, and Tennessee.
85% of the Class of 2027 have secured summer internships around the country for summer 2026. You can find our first years making an impact at the companies below!
Interested in hiring our students or know someone who is? These students are seeking internships or full-time roles in Human Resources. Learn more about them by connecting on LinkedIn!
Class of 2027 Seeking Internships for Summer 2026
Ellen Varhol
Ellen holds a BA in Psychology from the College of Saint Benedict in St. Joseph, Minnesota. Her role as a Talent Acquisition Assistant at Center for Independence allowed her to develop skills in recruiting, onboarding, and HR systems while supporting a positive candidate experience. Ellen is focused on building her expertise to become a strategic HR professional in the healthcare industry. She is passionate about creating supportive, efficient workplaces that empower employees and drive organizational success.
Class of 2026 Seeking Full-Time Positions
Hannah Goldberg
A double Badger, Hannah earned her bachelor’s degree in Psychology. She began her HR career interning at the Wisconsin Foundation and Alumni Association, later working as a Technical Staffing Consultant at Beacon Hill Staffing Group, where she managed full-cycle recruitment for technical roles. Most recently, she interned at UnitedHealth Group, where she developed a Manager Toolkit and supported HR initiatives focused on learning, equity, and employee engagement.
Calli Moraska
Calli earned her BS in Public Health from the University of Kentucky. After graduation, she became an Operations Supervisor at Six Flags, managing over 200 employees and discovering her passion for human resources through leadership and training initiatives. She now works as an HR Project Assistant in UW–Madison’s Department of Pediatrics, gaining experience in healthcare HR operations. This past summer, Calli interned at UnitedHealth Group.
Learn More about the Student Experience via our Student Blog Posts
Ashleigh King, a first-year SHR MBA student, brings a unique perspective to her graduate journey. As a career switcher, Ashleigh discovered her passion for people-focused work while creating magical experiences at Disney World’s Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique. Read her story to learn how she is leveraging transferable skills from customer service into a promising career in business.
First-year SHR MBA Chloe Harper joined four classmates from the SHR MBA Class of 2027 to compete in the Purdue HR Case Competition. The team traveled to Indiana to face nine other schools, tackling a real-world business challenge. Learn how they approached the company’s problem and secured an impressive third-place finish!
SHR Center MBAs and BBAs Secure WINS!
For the second year in a row, the SHR Center sent an MBA team—and for the first time ever, an undergraduate team—to the Purdue HR Case Competition in West Lafayette, Indiana! Students competed against nine other universities, tackled a real-world business challenge, networked with HR peers from across the country, and strengthened their collaboration skills.
Congratulations to our teams on earning first (undergraduate) and third-place (graduate) finishes!
Alumni & Partner Highlights
Inaugural SHR EAB Meeting
This past October, the SHR Center welcomed nine members of our Executive Advisory Board to Madison for our inaugural board meeting. The day began with opening remarks from Wisconsin School of Business Dean Vallabh “Samba” Sambamurthy, followed by opportunities for board members to connect and learn more about the SHR Center’s mission, goals, and strategic plan.
The meeting concluded with presentations from select SHR MBA students sharing their experiences, and an evening reception with WSB faculty and staff, SHR MBAs, and HR BBA students.
Thank you to our EAB members for your time, insights, and support!
SHR Professional Mentorship Program
Thank you to the Mentors of the Class of 2026
Thank you to the mentors of the MBA students of our Class of 2026. We are beyond grateful for your participation and guidance to the future generation of human resources leaders.
John Hart, American Family Insurance
Maggie Jackson, SoFi
Nadia Lazaro, UW Health
Donovan Malloy, Microsoft
Kendra McAdams, Bank of America
Brian Pesner, Freddie Mac
Rebekah Reese, DoorDash
Colleen Scheibel, Northwestern Mutual
Jessica Warmington, BAE Systems, Inc
Heather Wollerman, McGraw Hill
Welcoming the Mentors of the Class of 2027
Marcus Alston, Cisco
Maren Berge, Pretium
Kendra McAdams, Bank of America
Brett McGovern, Accenture
Dave Pegorsch, Molson Coors
Colleen Scheibel, Northwestern Mutual
Heather Wollerman, McGraw Hill
Management & Human Resources Department Faculty News
Media Mentions
North Dakota & Michigan: Hardest & Easiest Working States 2024 – MHR Assistant Professor Anyi Ma quoted.
Here’s the corporate strategy behind switching from merit increases to flat raises – MHR Professor Barry Gerhart is quoted.
‘Founded in Wisconsin’ series highlights Rock Co. companies’ impact on economic growth – MHR Senior Lecturer Phil Greenwood wrote a book on how Wisconsin companies have impacted economic growth in the region for half a century.
University of Wisconsin-Madison is launching the Wisconsin Entrepreneurship Hub – Chancellor Mnookin appointed Jon Eckhardt as Special Adviser for the “founder-first” entrepreneurial initiative to help move the Wisconsin Entrepreneurship Hub forward.
UW Tech Exploration Lab student projects highlight innovation, emerging technologies – MHR Professor Jon Eckhardt mentioned.
Back to the office? How proposed Wisconsin bill could reshape Madison’s work culture – MHR Associate Professor Jirs Meuris quoted.
WSB News
Wisconsin School of Business Celebrate 125 Years of Innovation and a Legacy in Motion
As one of the first five business schools in the nation, WSB has consistently defined what it means to lead in business. Through groundbreaking research and forward-thinking ideas, WSB fosters a culture where the next generation of business leaders can not only take on the unexpected, but create it.
Check out Update, WSB’s alumni magazine, for a special 125th Anniversary version that celebrates WSB’s legacy in motion. Some special stories include 125 Things to Love About WSB, Strategic Investments in AI, and Leading Boldly.
Badger Blueprint
Home to the Wisconsin School of Business, Grainger Hall has been a destination for innovation and student connection for over 30 years. In 2024, WSB launched Badger Blueprint, a bold remodeling initiative to transform 31,000 square feet of space into accessible, tech-forward classrooms, collaborative learning areas, and vibrant community hubs. Phases one and two, nearing completion, reimagined classrooms, key study areas, and staff workspaces.
Phase three began this past October with new spaces for learning and gathering, including the Manusukhani Atrium (the M), an enclosed 8,000-square-foot winter garden; the full-service High Kicks Café featuring Starbucks; and The Stephen L. Hawk Memorial Terrace, a rooftop gathering space. With Badger Blueprint, the Wisconsin School of Business sets a new standard for student-driven design.
Looking Ahead
SHR is Trekking Again: Chicago, March 2026
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 visit on Friday, March 20? Please email shr@wsb.wisc.eduwith your questions and suggestions. We would love to talk with you about this collaboration opportunity!
Other Ways to Support the SHR Center
SHR Center Seeks Enrollment for Class of 2028
Please connect us with those in your network who may be interested in obtaining an MBA in human resources. We would love to speak with them! Sign up for an admissions consultation and learn more about the full-time MBA program here.
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!
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 be a sponsor or speaker!
Make a 2025 Gift to the SHR Center
Making a gift to support our Strategic Human Resource Management Center is appreciated. Gift funds support initiatives within SHR, such as financing industry visits, funding conference attendance, case competitions, and SHRM membership. 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 Center Director Tanya Hubanks if you would like to discuss additional gift options.
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