Earlier this week, Elaine Gill joined GW’s human resources team as the associate vice president for HR Client Services reporting to Louis Lemieux, chief human resources officer. With over 25 years experience in HR, Ms. Gill brings to GW an expertise in employee and labor relations, HR information systems and web development, and organizational effectiveness.
"I'm thrilled to have Elaine join our HR team at GW. She brings a diverse background including both academia and industry,” says Mr. Lemieux. “Most importantly, Elaine has a ‘can-do’ attitude and a client-focused perspective which is critical to our transformation of HR at GW."
As executive director of human resource services at the University of Maryland, Baltimore, Ms. Gill oversaw HR in seven professional schools. Now at GW, Ms. Gill hopes to improve HR customer service and communication.
“Our efforts to build the HR client partner model will facilitate our ability to provide timely, accurate and relevant consultative services so that our clients can make the best decision possible on employment issues,” says Ms. Gill.
Q: What will be your main responsibilities as associate vice president for HR Client Services?
A: One of my main responsibilities will be to continue to implement the HR client partner model at GW. Under this model, HR client partners are assigned to provide support to individual schools and divisions, coordinating all resources within HR to meet the needs of employees. HR and client partners become part of your organization’s strategy. It’s truly a customer-focused model.
Q: What are your main goals or top priorities in this new position?
A: GW is a complex environment and the transformation of HR, which begun last year with Louis Lemieux’s arrival, needs to continue with HR being able to support the many different client groups with top-notch customer service and employee communication. HR will always be evolving with the institution, and we have made several changes within HR. Our next step will be to clearly identify who our clients should contact within the organization. I also want to update the HR website and make it more customer friendly and focused. We must ensure that all information on the website is clear and accurate so this will be a top priority working alongside the HR subject matter experts.
Q: What attracted you to GW?
A: I had always heard of the George Washington University. My former employer, the University of Maryland, Baltimore, is a well-known and prestigious state school, but it has mostly all graduate students. I wanted the opportunity to work at a private institution that had more of an undergraduate population. The culture is more energized at GW. I also really wanted the opportunity to live and work in Washington, D.C.
Q: Tell me about your background and where you’re from.
A: I’m originally from Plainfield, N.J. I got a bachelor’s of science in industrial engineering at North Carolina A&T State University in Greensboro, N.C. Then I went to graduate school at Kettering University in Flint, Mich., where I received a master’s in business management. Most recently I received my law degree in 2008 at the University of Maryland, Baltimore, where I focused on employment law.
Q: How have you adjusted to life in the District?
A: I’m planning to move to D.C. Right now, I’m living in a temporary residence on campus but plan to move in the next few months. The integration into GW has been great, and the proximity to several federal buildings and the White House makes it a very exciting environment.