Judy Spencer named human resources director
A human resources management veteran with more than three decades of professional experience now is heading that service at Mississippi State.
Judith A. "Judy" Spencer, the university's associate director of human resources since 2004, officially assumed her new duties as director last week, pending formal approval by the Board of Trustees, State Institutions of Higher Learning. Holding the formal designation as a Certified Senior Professional in Human Resources, she has served as interim director since July.
"We conducted a national search to fill this position, and it was clear that Judy had an outstanding depth of knowledge about the profession and about Mississippi State University," said Jerry Gilbert, provost and executive vice president. "We are fortunate to have someone with her experience seamlessly fill this important administrative role."
The 131-year-old land-grant institution's more than 1,200 faculty and 3,000 staff members make it among the region's largest employers.
Before coming to MSU, Spencer had a 21-year career with Caterpillar Inc. and 13 years at the W.R. Grace and Co.'s Southbridge Plastics Division.
On campus, she will continue to manage the areas of domestic and international employment, compensation, benefits, employee relations, learning and development, and data services, as well other university-wide human resources management support.
In addition to the SPHR rank, she is certified as Training for Intervention Procedures trainer, Targeted Selection Interviewer, Peer Grievance Review Administrator, and Six Sigma Green Belt.
Among her professional affiliations are the Society for Human Resource Management, National College and University Professional Association and National Association of International Educators.
Spencer holds a bachelor's degree in business administration from Faulkner University in Montgomery, Ala., and a master's of business administration from the University of North Alabama at Florence.
