HILLSBOROUGH – Lisa Slover’s schedule fills up like a swimming pool on a hot August afternoon. As a program director at Somerset County YMCA, she manages a nearly $400,000 budget, a staff of 50 part-time lifeguards and swim instructors, and an aquatics program that draws between 200 and 250 children daily during peak months.
She’s also working toward a Master’s degree in Human Resource Management at the Rutgers School of Management and Labor Relations and – if that’s not enough – she’s an active member of the Rutgers University chapter of the Society for Human Resource Management (RU SHRM), a worldwide organization of HR professionals and students.
“The meetings give me an outlet to meet and network with other students and get involved with my program at the University,” said Slover, an Edison native who now lives in North Brunswick. “I have learned networking and interviewing skills and received tips from our amazing career counseling department. Plus, I’ve had the opportunity to grow my network of students and professionals into friendships.”
It’s a winning team.
This summer, the Society for Human Resource Management named RU SHRM its Outstanding Student Chapter for the sixth time in the last seven years, including the last five years in a row. With more than 400 student chapters worldwide, there is strong competition for the coveted award – but Rutgers consistently comes out on top.
“It’s a rare distinction and a testimony to our great student community,” said chapter advisor David A. Ferio, an assistant teaching professor who runs the graduate program in Human Resource Management. “Our graduate students have made their mark as one of the most successful chapters in the country.”
What makes them so good? For starters, they learn from the best.
At workshops, professors and HR leaders counsel RU SHRM members on networking, resume writing, job interview techniques, and even dining etiquette. The group’s calendar also includes career panels, mentoring nights, multicultural celebrations, and an annual business conference that attracts more than 200 top-flight business leaders, HR pros, faculty, staff, and students.
What’s more, RU SHRM members learn from each other. Like Slover, many come to the group with years of professional experience.
Ran Zhang spent time as an outsourcing analyst and HR generalist in her native China before moving to the U.S., where she has worked for a consulting firm and interned at the United Nations. Now, she is pursuing a Master’s degree in Human Resource Management at the Rutgers School of Management and Labor Relations.
“I joined SHRM my first week in the U.S. and it has been my biggest surprise and most memorable experience in this country,” said Zhang, who is spending her summer interning at IBM. “I am touched that so many HR people get together in this professional organization. We share, network, and grow up together.”
And now, Slover and Zhang have reached the top together.
Following the graduation of President Niki Patel, Slover and Zhang were named Co-Presidents of RU SHRM for the fall semester. They will continue the tradition of dynamic events and workshops, while striving to capture the school’s seventh Outstanding Student Chapter award.
“Since I work at a non-profit, I like making an impact on the community and helping others succeed,” Slover said. “That’s what we do in RU SHRM, too.”
