G-A grad named to executive team for California State University

Melissa Bard, a Greencastle native and 1987 graduate of Greencastle-Antrim High School, has been named vice chancellor for human resources for the California State University System in Long Beach.

She is the daughter of Peggy Dewire of Greencastle; the mother of TJ Bard, Natasha Bard Ryder and Trevor Bard; and the grandmother of McKinlee Ryder and Beckett Ryder.

As the CSU system's chief human resources officer, Bard will serve as part of the chancellor's executive leadership team and oversee human resource management, labor and employee relations, statewide professional development, equal opportunity and whistleblower compliance, academic human resources and human resource policy development, according to a university press release.

"As a long-serving human resources professional, Melissa brings exceptional experience in higher education from both a campus and system perspective," said CSU Chancellor Timothy P. White. "Her work as a thought leader and a strategic partner for the campuses will be critical to leveraging our strongest asset – the 50,000 employees of the California State University."

"Not only is the CSU the largest system of senior higher education in the country, but it is striving to be the most diverse and inclusive," said Bard. "I look forward to working with faculty and staff to expand those efforts while providing exceptional educational opportunities for the university's nearly half-a-million students."

Bard joins the CSU from East Carolina University where she had been associate vice chancellor and chief human resources officer since 2014. At ECU her portfolio of responsibilities included HR administration, employment services, benefits, classification and compensation, HR information systems, employee relations, learning and organizational development and information processing services. 

Bard's other higher education experience includes service in human resources capacities at Penn State University and Frederick Community College. She has system-level experience as the director of human resources for the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education. Bard also served as an adjunct member of the faculty at the universities for which she held administrative positions.

Her other professional experience includes executive positions in the private sector for companies including Citigroup, according to the press release.

Bard earned a bachelor of science in human resources and a master's of science in human resources management, both from the University of Maryland University College.

She joined the CSU chancellor's office on June 26.