Get to Know the Team

Get to Know the Team: HR!

The Human Resources unit collaborates across Resident Life and the Division of Student Affairs, and with University Human Resources on staffing, organizational, and business supports. The office directly serves 85 (or so) professional, six graduate, and over

Meredith Carpenter

Assistant Director, Human Resources

Favorite Part of Your Job:

I really enjoy supporting staff at all levels, both interpersonally and operationally. We try to remove barriers where we can and make processes as smooth as possible. I get to do a lot of problem solving and I find that very satisfying.

Interesting Fact:

Outside of UMD I spend time as President of DC’s Different Drummers, an LGBTQ+ community band, and volunteer at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History.

Sylvia Thomas

Program Administrative Specialist, Human Resources

Favorite Part of Your Job:

Working with students.

Interesting Fact:

Love to bake homemade desserts for family get-togethers.

600 undergraduate employees in the areas of staffing & personnel management, employee relations and retention, search & selection, and payroll & benefits. The HR unit also oversees payroll, timesheets, and benefits for Conferences & Visitor Services.

Brian Bock

Assistant Coordinator, Human Resources

Favorite Part of Your Job:

I really enjoy the student-facing aspects of my role, especially the RA class (Groundwork), as well as finding innovative ways to tackle the various challenges we face.

Interesting Fact:

In my spare time, I love baking and have a great repertoire of tasty breads, cookies, and other treats! I’m always happy to share (or trade) recipes, so reach out if you want one.

Joelle Campbell

Program Management Specialist, Human Resources

Favorite Part of Your Job:

My favorite part of the job is the people I work with, finding moments of laughter, and being able to assist my colleagues in ways that require me to make connections across the department. In my role I help both students and professional staff with a variety of things, and it’s the variety that I enjoy as well; from helping with selection processes, to parking, to payroll, to managing our library, etc. I like having a wide area of ways in which I am able to assist our department.

Interesting Fact:

In college I had my stage debut as an actor in a play my friend wrote. I also studied abroad in Ireland a few years ago and learned more about the dramatic arts at Trinity College, though I partly went because I love Ireland! This stems from a childhood love of Riverdance, which still brings me joy to watch to this day. =D Another cool thing is that I’m technically a great-aunt, and right before the pandemic I finally got to meet my oldest siblings as well as most of the family that I have in Trinidad & Grenada. If you want to know anything more just ask me! =)