Hooper to lead human resources office
Kim Chaudoin | 615.966.6494 |
Human resources expert Christy Hooper has been appointed associate vice president for human resources at Lipscomb University.
Hooper comes to Lipscomb after a 22-year career at Centerstone of America (formerly the Dede Wallace Center), which is one of the nation’s leading not-for-profit providers of behavioral healthcare, offering a full range of mental health services.
“We look forward to the expertise that Christy will bring to Lipscomb from her many years in the human resources field and to seeing her build on the foundation that we have in place at Lipscomb,” said Danny Taylor, senior vice president for finance and administration. “Our faculty and staff are a very vital part of the Lipscomb community. Christy will be a great asset to our employees as we work together to make Lipscomb the best place it can be not only for our students but for our employees as well.”
At Lipscomb, Hooper will oversee human resources activity for Lipscomb’s 1,200-employee base, including the university, Lipscomb Academy and those at the two Spark locations.
Hooper said she is passionate about helping employees reach their full potential.
“My passion is to help people reach their full potential and to be successful in their careers,” said Hooper. “I enjoy helping people solve problems, whether it’s working with a manager to resolve personnel issues, helping an employee find answers to benefits questions, finding ways for employees to continue to grow through professional development opportunities and everything in between.”
As vice president of human resources at Centerstone, Hooper was responsible for directing the human resources functions of the company’s 3,200 employees located in four states across the country. She led the overall talent management process, team performance, design and implementation of human resources systems and compliance in addition to other responsibilities. Prior to that, Hooper began her work in human resources at the Tennessee Association of Mental Health Centers in Nashville.
“I enjoy the human resources field because no two days are alike,” she said. “There are many rewarding aspects, but it’s not an easy job. There are a number of laws and regulations to be aware of and there is always something to learn. It’s an ever-evolving field. But it’s also such rewarding work.”
Hooper said although she greatly enjoyed her work at Centerstone, she said she knew that if “she ever left her work there, it would be to work for Lipscomb University.”
“For a long time I thought being able to work at Lipscomb University would be a great opportunity,” said Hooper, a native of Independence, Kentucky. “I have always known of Lipscomb, and it has always been part of our family life. Lipscomb has a great reputation in the community, and I have known people who have loved to work at Lipscomb in the past and present.”
“I look forward to working in a community of Christians and am very interested in higher education. And, after working with employees located in five states I love the fact that just about everyone will be on campus!”
A graduate of Western Kentucky University, Hooper is certified as a Professional in Human Resources (PHR) by the Human Resources Certification Institute and is a Society for Human Resource Management Certified Professional (SHRM-CP). Hooper is a member of the Society for Human Resource Management, serves on the Western Kentucky University Department of Communication Advisory Board and is a member of the HR Executive Forum in Nashville.
Hooper is a member of Walter Hill Church of Christ in Murfreesboro, where she teaches children’s classes, coordinates the VBS program and leads a girls’ college devotional group. She and her husband, Mark, a Lipscomb alumnus, have two children, Josh, 19, a sophomore at Tennessee Tech University, and Andrew, 15, a sophomore at Siegel High School in Murfreesboro.