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Meet HR Newark

Candace Dundas, MBA SHRM-CP
Director of Human Resources
candace.joseph@rutgers.edu

  • Partners with Executive Leadership on Strategic Initiatives
  • Provides university-wide day to day guidance and consultation to faculty and staff
  • Administers support to department related compliance with employment laws, collective bargaining agreements, and university policies
  • Oversees employee relations, benefits administration, talent acquisition, professional development & training, and performance management

Lenese Jean-Odumuko, MHRM
Associate Director of Human Resources
lenese@newark.rutgers.edu

  • Provides consultative and strategic client services to Rutgers University-Newark community and external affiliations
  • Leads classification, recruitment, staffing, salary, and job title adjustments
  • Facilitates training and workplace assessment in accordance with applicable university, state, and federal regulations, processes, policies, and procedures
  • Provides guidance and support on collective bargaining agreements and employee relations
  • Assists and supports employee performance management
  • Manages day-to-day benefits coordination

Michelle Joan M. Rances
HR Training Coordinator
michelle.rances@rutgers.edu

  • Designs, develops, and/or facilitates employee professional development, leadership, and performance management training
  • Provides training resource and consultative support to employee learning and talent development
  • Provides recommendation for process improvements gathered from training feedback and employee suggestions
  • Designs, develops and releases HR related communications including management of HR Newark website content
  • Collaborates with internal and external Rutgers University-Newark community members to coordinate HR Newark led events and initiatives

Irma Mendoza
Senior HR Staff Associate
angelis@rutgers.edu

  • Provides comprehensive and confidential administrative support for HR Newark
  • Serves as an initial point of contact for Rutgers University-Newark on State Health Benefit Program (SHBP) and university benefit-related inquiries such as, and not limited to retirement, FMLA/NJFLA and Intermittent Leave
  • Assists with staff-related systems inquiry and navigation guidance such as HCM, ROCS, and I-9 Verification
  • Assists with Rutgers University-Newark New Employee Orientation (NEO) and onboarding

Catherine Gepner
Senior HR Staff Associate
cat.gepner@rutgers.edu

  • Provides guidance and training on Recruitment, Onboarding, and Classification System (ROCS)
  • Ensures compliance of recruitment process with internal policies, negotiated contractual agreements, and federal and state laws
  • Provides professional and administrative support to HR-Newark
  • Responds and resolves general inquiries related to benefits, salary, employment, and other departmental or university activities

Lyeisha Taylor-Jean
Senior HR Staff Associate
lt571@newark.rutgers.edu

  • Provides support for the campus Recruitment, Onboarding, and Classification (ROCS) needs in contribution to the Chancellor-led strategic initiatives
  • Ensures compliance of the recruitment process with internal policies, negotiated contractual agreements, and federal and state laws
  • Develops partnerships and collaborations with organizations for RU-N strategic initiatives
  • Serves as an Event Coordinator for all HR-related RU-N initiatives