The University of Illinois Springfield College of Business and Management (CBM) has established a new Human Resources (HR) Advisory Board to strengthen connections between higher education and industry, expand student internship opportunities and bring real-world business experiences into the classroom.

The board held its inaugural meeting Oct. 15, bringing together human resources leaders from health care, government, construction, banking and professional services. Members discussed emerging HR trends, the growing role of artificial intelligence in human resources, workforce readiness and opportunities for collaboration between the university and employers.

A key priority identified during the meeting was expanding internship opportunities that connect students with regional employers. The board also discussed incorporating projects from local businesses and organizations into capstone courses, allowing students to apply classroom knowledge to real-world challenges.

“We remain committed to deepening our community engagement, showcasing the impactful work happening at UIS and building partnerships that deliver tangible outcomes,” said Sudeep Sharma, interim associate dean of the College of Business and Management and MBA program director.

The HR Advisory Board includes seven professionals representing organizations across central Illinois:

• Tom Ahr, senior vice president and chief human resources officer at Hospital Sisters Health System. Ahr has more than 30 years of experience in workforce strategy, organizational development and health care leadership.
• Brittany Clark, statewide recruitment manager for the Illinois Department of Central Management Services. Clark leads statewide recruitment and workforce planning efforts and was recognized with a 2025 NASCA 20 Under 40 Award.
• Joshua Frye, director of people operations at O’Shea Builders. A UIS alumnus, Frye specializes in employee engagement, organizational development, change management and workforce retention.
• Tami Ireland, system director of colleague relations, health compliance at Memorial Health. A UIS alumna, Ireland has more than 30 years of experience in health care human resources, employee relations and organizational strategy.
• Susan McCord O’Malley, senior vice president and director of human resources and professional development at Bank of Springfield. O’Malley has more than 30 years of experience in human resources leadership across the financial services and public sectors.
• Angela Nguyen, interim chief human resources officer and vice president of talent and culture at Memorial Health. Nguyen has more than 25 years of HR leadership experience and serves as president of the Central Illinois Chapter of the Society for Human Resource Management.
• Brooke Valenti-Jouett, director of human resources at KEB. Valenti-Jouett leads strategic HR initiatives involving recruitment, employee development, retention and workplace culture.