Big news for Stony Brook University! They’ve just announced Jane Savage as their new Vice President for Human Resources, starting September 2025. With her vision for enhancing employee experience and strategic talent management, what innovative changes do you anticipate for the SBU community? Get ready for a new era in HR!
Stony Brook University marks a significant strategic enhancement in its administrative framework with the appointment of Jane Savage as the new Vice President for Human Resources, effective September 2025. This pivotal role underscores the institution’s commitment to fostering an unparalleled employee experience and strengthening its foundational Human Resources Leadership.
Savage will directly report to Jed Shivers, the senior vice president for Finance and Administration, signaling a concerted effort to align HR initiatives with broader institutional financial and administrative goals. Her mandate extends to spearheading a wide array of initiatives designed to elevate human resources services and comprehensively support the vibrant Stony Brook University campus community.
Among her primary responsibilities, Savage is tasked with revolutionizing recruitment, onboarding, and employee engagement practices. This involves developing innovative strategies to attract and integrate top-tier talent, ensuring a seamless and welcoming introduction for new faculty and staff into the university’s dynamic environment.
A key focus for the new VP of HR will be the implementation of the ambitious Transformation Effort, a collaborative, campus-wide initiative. This program is specifically designed to enhance the overall employee experience and strategically position Stony Brook University for future success through the modernization of HR systems and practices.
Furthermore, Savage will be instrumental in ensuring the competitiveness of Stony Brook University’s total rewards program. This critical aspect encompasses compensation and benefits packages, with an emphasis on attracting and retaining exceptional talent within the competitive landscape of higher education administration.
Her expertise will also be leveraged to advance efficient and responsive talent acquisition operations. This includes deploying a new business partner service delivery model aimed at proactively recruiting and retaining top talent, alongside fully implementing a strategic and forward-thinking talent management model to significantly enhance the university’s recruiting capabilities.
Savage brings a wealth of experience from Yale University, where she most recently served as associate vice president for human resources, organizational effectiveness, learning, and strategic initiatives. Her tenure at Yale was marked by significant achievements, including the “Advance HR” program, which focused on improving service delivery, talent attraction and retention, and streamlining the HR department.
Jed Shivers lauded Savage’s appointment, highlighting her proven track record in leading complex HR transformations and her deep commitment to fostering a culture of trust and excellence. Her strategic approach to improving organizational structures and her ability to build strong collaborative relationships across diverse communities are seen as invaluable assets for Stony Brook University’s ongoing enhancement of HR services.
Holding a master’s degree in public & private management from Yale University’s School of Management and a bachelor’s of science degree in engineering from The Ohio State University, Savage’s robust academic background complements her extensive practical experience. Her leadership is anticipated to usher in a new era of strategic human resources leadership and employee engagement at Stony Brook University, fortifying its position as a leading institution in higher education administration.
