Andy Gordon says he’s coming to Syracuse University for the people.

“I am most excited about having the opportunity to meet as many people as possible,” Gordon said.

Gordon, who Chancellor Kent Syverud selected to be the next chief human resources officer last week, is expected to be confirmed by the Board of Trustees’ Executive Committee next month. Gordon will oversee all areas of SU’s human resource services for the university’s faculty and staff of more than 5,000.

These programs are expansive, involving labor and employee relations, compensation, distribution of benefits, professional development and training, department planning and strategy, as well as employee childcare and numerous other programs.

Vice Chancellor for Veterans and Military Affairs Michael Haynie, who chaired the search committee, said in an SU News release that after screening more than 140 applicants over a period of five months, the whole committee agreed that Gordon should take the position.

Gordon’s last position was heading up human resources at New York University “during one of our most active periods of change in the human resources function at NYU,” said NYU Executive Vice President for Operations Alison Leary.

“Over the last two years, he led many initiatives,” Leary said. Gordon’s initiatives at NYU have included the implementation of key computer system upgrade PeopleSync and the creation of the PeopleLink service center, Leary added.

He also “played an important role” in merging the former Polytechnic University into NYU — now NYU’s Polytechnic School of Engineering) — and “helped ensure more consistent HR services across NYU’s expansive global network,” which includes faculty, students and employees on six continents, Leary said.

“Certainly, in just a short time at NYU, Andy made many important contributions,” Leary said. “It is Syracuse’s good fortune to recruit him.”

Gordon came to NYU from a prior position as executive director of human resources and employee relations at the New York City Department of Education, where he oversaw a vast network involving around 135,000 employees and 1.2 million students, according to the release.

“I had wanted to be in higher education for some time,” said Gordon about his first move into university HR. “The vice president position at NYU presented an opportunity to have a greater span of responsibility while applying many of the organizational skills that I had built while at the Department of Education.”

Gordon said he was looking forward to joining SU and Syverud, which he will do on April 15.

“Through the interview process, I learned not only about the exciting work, including Fast Forward, but I got a real sense of the university’s commitment to people,” Gordon said. “By recognizing the fundamental importance of people in the decision-making process of the university, Syracuse is poised to achieve great things.”

Gordon said that while it was too soon to comment on any specific plans for human resources at SU, he plans to listen to various faculty, students and staff in the community before creating any definitive strategy.

“I know that human resources will play a central role in ensuring that Syracuse meets its goal of greater excellence,” Gordon said.

Published on March 24, 2015 at 11:44 pm

Contact Thomas: tjbeckle@syr.edu