Dear University Community,
 
After nearly eight years at UNLV, Vice President for Human Resources and Chief People Officer Dr. Ericka Smith has decided to return to the East Coast to be closer to her immediate family. She will be joining the University of South Florida in December. Her last day on campus will be November 20th. 

Ericka arrived at UNLV in January 2019 and had an immediate impact in reshaping the Human Resources division. She strengthened operations and became a trusted partner with UNLV senior leadership, academic colleges and schools, and administrative divisions. 

Her scope of responsibilities included employee relations, talent acquisition, classification and compensation, benefits and employee wellness, learning and organizational development, student employment, and compliance. She led institutional initiatives such as Title IX-related work and policy development programs supporting a diverse and evolving university workforce. 

Under her leadership, HR modernized its processes and technology for performance review and learning development through the implementation of Rebel Learn and Rebel Perform. She emphasized professional development and leadership training by introducing the Administrative Assistant Academy, Management Training Academy, and institutional leadership coaching opportunities. Human Resources also expanded opportunities for employee development and recognition, including the introduction of Rebel Applause. 

One of her most recent initiatives was the launch of the Rebel Future platform to help create consistency and transparency for administrative and faculty career ascension, as well as a more refined and defined set of job descriptions and salary ranges. She also enhanced employee onboarding and integration, including a university-wide approach designed to move beyond a once-a-year engagement model to create a more consistent employee experience throughout the year. 

Ericka applied HR best practices and policies, and data analysis, to make recommendations that helped leaders navigate a complex work environment and organizational and employee matters. Nowhere was this more evident than during the COVID-19 pandemic when the university had to continuously adapt to accommodate workforce needs. 

I want to personally thank Ericka for her guidance and counsel in my various roles at the university. She has been a tremendous colleague and a true professional. I am grateful for her contributions to elevate UNLV and wish her well in her new opportunity in Florida. Please join me in saluting Dr. Smith for a job well done. 

Warm wishes,

Chris Heavey
UNLV Interim President