John Whelan’s Exceptional Leadership and Service Earn CUPA-HR’s Highest Honor

John Whelan, vice president for human resources at Yale University,
is the recipient of CUPA-HR’s 2021 Donald E. Dickason Award.

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John Whelan, vice president for human resources at Yale University, is a higher ed HR leader whose service to CUPA-HR has had a deep and powerful impact on the work of the association.

Since 2014, Whelan has held several leadership roles with CUPA-HR, including on the national board (chair, chair-elect, past-chair, at-large director), the learning and professional development committee, the budget and finance committee, the executive committee, as a guide and mentor for the CUPA-HR Wildfire program (a year-long immersive professional development experience for early-career higher ed HR professionals), and as an annual conference ambassador and presenter. Additionally, his work on the public policy and research advisory committees has helped shape the higher ed HR industry’s response to several legislative considerations and actions over the past several years. Not stopping there, he also facilitated and co-designed CHRO Summit experiences at past CUPA-HR annual conferences.

By contributing his knowledge and experience to CUPA-HR, Whelan helps drive discussion among higher ed HR professionals. During a past CUPA-HR Association Leadership Program (ALP), he shared data from Indiana University’s employee engagement surveys — data that continues to guide CUPA-HR today. His sessions at the ALP were described as highly interactive and effective to help all CUPA-HR leaders think about engaging CUPA-HR members and those back on their campuses.

“When John shares what he learned at Notre Dame, Baylor or Indiana University, you know that his ideas are battle-tested and carry great weight and credibility for everyone in CUPA-HR,” says Mark Coldren, associate vice president for human resources at the University at Buffalo, State University of New York.

Whelan is not only praised by colleagues for sharing his expertise to help them understand industry issues and topics of importance, but for how he shares it — with positivity and an eye toward having fun during the learning process.

About the Donald E. Dickason Award:
The Donald E. Dickason Award, named after CUPA-HR’s founder, is the association’s highest honor, recognizing an individual for exceptional leadership and service to CUPA-HR. Thanks to support from TIAA, the award comes with an $8,000 contribution to the recipient’s institutional endowment or a scholarship fund. Learn more.