Employee Engagement

What Is Changing

  • Launch of a dedicated Employee Engagement Team with a clear mandate, defined accountability, and enterprise-wide impact.
  • Shift from ad hoc, event-driven activities to a coordinated, data-informed engagement strategy aligned with institutional priorities and workforce needs.
  • Integration of engagement efforts across the employee lifecycle, ensuring alignment with talent development, leadership effectiveness, and organizational planning.

Key Topics

  • Defining the purpose of employee engagement at UMass Amherst as a strategic driver of performance, inclusion, and institutional excellence.
  • Using engagement data intentionally and transparently to identify trends, inform action planning, and measure progress at the university, college, and unit levels.
  • Equipping leaders and departments with practical tools, insights, and coaching to strengthen team effectiveness and accountability.
  • Strengthening retention and workplace culture by translating feedback into meaningful improvements that enhance trust, belonging, and employee experience.

Meet the Team

Michelle Goad

Sr. Director, Employee Engagement

Provides leadership for employee experience & engagement strategy, advancing programs that strengthen culture, connection, recognition, and communication.

Michelle Goad, Sr. Director, Employee Engagement

Christopher Bombardier

Talent Management Analyst

Human Resources Specialist responsible for HR data, system training and assistance, including NEOED, HR Direct, ePAF, Timekeeping and Student Hiring.

Chris Bombardier photo

Gordon Hall

Instructional Designer–Systems and Processes

Responsible for assessing learning needs, designing and facilitating impactful training and development programs, processes, and solutions.

Gordon Hall, Workplace Learning and Development

Danielle Johnson

Senior Learning and Development Program Manager

Designs, implements, and manages leadership and HR academies and professional development programs to build skills and capabilities. 

Danielle

Mindy Judge

Instructional Designer–Academies

Responsible for assessing learning needs, designing and facilitating impactful training and development programs, processes, and solutions.

MIndy Judge

Caressa Kislus

Program Manager Employee Engagement

Leads employee engagement strategies, including recognition programs and events.

Caressa Kislus, Engagement Coordinator

Kimberly Scott-Robinette

HR Administrative Secretary

Provides high-level administrative and operational support to the Office of Human Resources Leadership Team.

M

Melissa Scheid Frantz

Sr. Organizational Development and Change Management Lead

Designs and leads strategies for organizational effectiveness, focusing on performance, talent, leadership, and culture.

Melissa

Maria Wolff

Manager of Talent Management

Maria Wolff is the Manager of Talent Management.

M

Brian Wurme

Manager of Learning and Development

Provides functional leadership and operational oversight for learning and development initiatives within the Employee Engagement portfolio.

Brian