Haire to step down from human resources post

By Jeff Holeman, Public Affairs

Sandra Haire

10 April 2001 | Sandra Haire, assistant vice chancellor for human resources, has resigned her position, effective June 30, for health reasons.

“It has been a difficult decision for me because I love this job and I love this campus,” Haire said. “However, I have a physical condition that is aggravated by stress that will require me to find a more low-key job somewhere.

Haire will continue to work via telecommuting and attending some meetings through the end of June. Horace Mitchell, vice chancellor for business and administrative services, will be spending a few days a week in human resources in the interim to assist in the division’s operations.

Mitchell said the campus will miss Haire’s leadership.
“She has made an incredible difference on the campus in a short period of time,” he said. “She came in with great energy and real vision and a commitment to making a difference. She energized the human resources staff, had them understand how important their roles are on the campus and had them buy into her vision.”

Haire, who came to Berkeley in Sept. 1999 from the University of Texas, Austin, will assist in the recruitment of her successor. Also, human resources is adding an operations manager to its staff to assist the next assistant vice chancellor with day-to-day management of the division.

During Haire’s tenure at Berkeley, human resources has spearheaded implementation of several of Chancellor Berdahl’s initiatives aimed at improving staff workload, compensation, and recruitment and retention. The office has also begun to implement its Web-based Human Resources Management System, which streamlines human resources functions for faculty and staff across campus in an online environment.

Mitchell and senior human resources managers will follow up on the workforce initiatives, to help make sure they are fully implemented.

“We’re moving ahead with all of them. There’s no change there,” Mitchell said. “But we will miss her outstanding and dedicated leadership.”

Haire said she regrets having to leave but that her health will not allow her to give the Office of Human Resources the attention it deserves.

“I am a high-energy person who has very high standards for the job that needs to be done,” she said. “I cannot see myself taking a slower pace in this job and still be able to maintain those high standards. I would rather step aside and let someone else do the job than to try to do it in a way that would require me to function at half speed.“

A national search for Haire’s replacement will begin immediately.