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EPOL Department - Student Spotlight
Human Resource Development

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  • Shang Li (she/her/hers)

    Nov 28, 2021 9:00 am75 views

    Shang Li is a doctoral student in the Department of Education Policy, Organization & Leadership, with a concentration in Human Resource Development at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and also serves as an instructional design assistant at the eLearning Office in the Gies College of Business. Her research interests explore the influence of mobile learning on undergraduates' academic performance, learning motivation, and learning readiness.

    Advisor: Dr. Wenhao David Huang

    Expected Graduation: 2023

    Academic Background

    • Ph.D. student, Education Policy, Organization & Leadership in Human Resource Development, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
    • M.S., Business Administration, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
    • B.S., Business Administration, East China Normal University

    Linkedln: www.linkedin.com/in/shang（lisa-li-53844541 

  • Kristy Krisher, EdD

    May 4, 2022 1:45 pm14 views

    Kristy is an online doctoral student in Education Policy, Organization and Leadership with a concentration in Human Resource Development. Her research areas of interest center around Career Development. She has worked in HR for eight years and has recently transitioned to a new role as the Associate Director of Employer Relations and Internship Development at Monmouth College in Monmouth, IL. 

    She is also a published author of three women's and new adult contemporary fiction novels.

    Academic Background:

    EdD, Student, Organization & Leadership, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign 

    M.P.A., Public Administration, the University of Illinois at Springfield

    B.A., Psychology, Alfred University in Alfred, N.Y.

    Post-Baccalaurette Certificate, Health Services Administration, Western Illinois University

    SHRM-SCP Senior certified human resources professional

    Expected graduation year: 2023

    Links:

    LinkedIn: Kristy Krisher, MPA, SHRM-SCP - Associate Director for Employer Relations and Internship Development - Monmouth College | LinkedIn 

    Website: https://kristyleeauthor.com 

  • Bethanie Couri, EdD (She/Her)

    May 10, 2022 9:30 am27 views

    Bethanie Couri is a doctoral student in Education Policy, Organization & Leadership with a concentration in Human Resource Development at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Bethanie's research interest involves the increase millennial turnover rate. 

    Advisor: Dr. Jessica Li

    Expected Date of Graduation: May 2024

    Academic Background:

    MBA | Bradley University

    M.S. in Marketing | Bradley University

    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bethanie-couri-mba-666b25b7/

  • Tiffany P. White-LaPierre

    Aug 23, 2022 12:00 pm12 views

    Tiffany is a doctoral student in EPOL with a concentration in Human Resource Development. She is working on her dissertation where she intends to explore the perceptions of former students on their undergraduate internship experience within parks, recreation, tourism, and related professions. 

    Graduate Advisor: Dr. Jessica Li 

    Expected Graduation Year: 2023

    Academic Background: 

    BS Recreation, Sport, and Tourism - University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

    MS Sports Managerment - American Public University 

    MA Management (Human Resource Management concentration) - American Public University

    Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tiffanypwhite/ 

  • Erich Stolz Spencer, EdD, MBA (he/him)

    Aug 23, 2022 3:30 pm39 views

    Hello, I am Erich Stolz Spencer and I am a doctoral student in Education Policy, Organization and Leadership with a concentration in Human Resources Development and Diversity & Equity in Education. My intended research focuses on exploring the barriers to equitable development and performance management in our current workplace. Specifically, how does our current definition of effective talent development and performance rating systems exclude individuals that are traditionally underserved? As part of this, I would like to examine the traditional methods of talent development, and if these methods are rooted in bias not already identified. Professionally I currently lead Global Diversity & Inclusion for a large healthcare technology organization and I have previously taught Human Resources in the Health Services Management program at the University of Minnesota. 

    Graduate Advisor: Dr. Jessica (Jie) Li

    Expected Graduation Year: 2025

    Academic Background:

    EdD (in progress) Education Policy, Organization & Leadership – Human Resources Development / Diversity & Equity in Education – University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign - est. 2025

    MBA - Marketing - University of Toledo - 2009

    BBA - Human Resouces - University of Toledo - 2008

    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erich-stolz-spencer/ 

  • Nakisha Griffin, SPHR, SHRM-SCP, ACC

    Aug 23, 2022 5:30 pm24 views

    Nakisha Griffin is an EDD student in the Human Resource Development concentration in the Department of Education Policy, Organization & Leadership.  She has over fifteen years of human resources leadership experience with a specialization in recruitment strategy, workforce planning, and organizational development. Her research interests are building world class human capital functions within startup organizations, connecting people and business strategies, and leadership team dynamics. Nakisha has over fifteen years of human resources leadership experience. She currently serves as the Head of Human Resources for Neustar Security Services based in the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan. 

    Advisor: Wen-Hao (David) Huang

    Expected Year of Graduation: May 2026

    Educational Background:

    M.P.S.  in Human Resource Management,  University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT

    B.S. of Management Science,  Kean University, Union, NJ

    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nakishagriffin/