A Strategic Perspective: Nickole Conley’s First 100 days as Interim CHRO
November 17, 2025
In my first “almost” 100 days as interim chief human resources officer, I have strived to deliver a clear and thoughtful assessment of the University of Alaska’s Human Resources department. My reflection highlights the strategic alignment of key priorities, meaningful collaboration with groups systemwide, and the advancement of initiatives designed to enhance HR services and support across the 㽶Ƶsystem.
Since assuming the interim role, I have prioritized continuity, transparency and stakeholder engagement. Over the past quarter, I have worked closely with university leadership, HR professionals and stakeholders to ensure Human Resources remains responsive to the evolving needs of the 㽶Ƶcommunity. My focus has been on fostering a culture of collaboration and forward momentum, positioning HR to better serve students, staff and faculty across the system.
Stepping into this role and having the chance to “look behind the curtain” has given me a new appreciation for 㽶ƵHR. In my short time here, I’ve met with all 60 members of the HR team — including both benefited and temporary employees. Nearly everyone shared thoughtful ideas for process improvements, and I’ve challenged the team by consistently asking why we do things the way we do and how we might do them better.
In this short time, we’ve made meaningful progress together. We removed barriers to across-the-board (ATB) increases for employees at step 0 or 55. We’ve socialized and begun preparing to launch a new supervisor training program in January 2026, with full implementation planned for fiscal year 2027. To strengthen Compensation and Classification, we added a new position dedicated to aligning and streamlining this area, and we’ve started sharing position descriptions with deans and directors upon request. I also established a Sept. 30 deadline for performance evaluations, giving supervisors 90 days after the fiscal year closes to submit reviews. While we’ll continue to accept evaluations after that date, we can’t guarantee they will be counted in official metric reporting.
Above all, I have prioritized clearer communication, greater transparency and stronger partnerships with each of our universities. My goal is to continue driving process improvements by bringing key stakeholders to the table and working together on practical solutions. While the perfect answer may not always exist, I believe we can consistently find workable solutions when we collaborate.
Thank you for your ongoing support of 㽶ƵHuman Resources. I look forward to our continued partnership and working together toward our shared goals.
Published 㽶ƵNews 10/17/2025