CCU staff member selected to participate in human resources program
Latasha Gause, employment coordinator for the Office of Human Resources and Equal Opportunity at Coastal Carolina University, was one of 12 members of the College and University Professional Association for Human Resources (CUPA-HR) selected to participate in the 2018-19 CUPA-HR Wildfire Program.
The Wildfire program is a 12-month experience designed to help early-career higher education human resources professionals to develop leadership skills. The program includes mentorship opportunities, a shadow visit on the campus of a higher education human resources leader, attendance at the CUPA-HR Annual Conference and Expo and a year-end project highlighting the knowledge gained throughout the year. Gause was selected for the program out of more than 150 applications.
“I see [the program] as an opportunity to build my confidence and gain the support I need to take on the challenges and excitement of a career in higher education human resources,” said Gause. “It will also allow me to learn about areas of higher education human resources that I previously have had little exposure to.”
Gause has four years of human resource experience in total. She joined CCU in January 2018 as employment coordinator for the Office of Human Resources and Equal Opportunity. She is responsible for coordinating the day-to-day operational activities related to the university staff employment program.
“I truly love working in higher education, especially at CCU, because my role combines my love for people and human resources while working in an educational-focused environment in a way that I had not seen before,” said Gause. “Job satisfaction is more than a paycheck; it’s knowing that the work I am doing provides opportunities for others to grow and make an impact in the world.”
A native of Brunswick County, NC, and mother of two kids, Gause received a bachelor’s degree in organizational leadership from Waldorf University. Gause is currently working on earning her MBA at CCU, and will graduate in December 2018.
The Wildfire program begins July 1 and ends June 30, 2019. Gause will continue to work at CCU and attend weekly video conferences with her fellow Wildfire program members. The program officially begins at CUPA-HR’s annual Association Leadership Program on July 12 in Tampa, Fla., where CUPA-HR members can connect with each other.
Gause hopes to apply the learning experiences she gains during the Wildfire program to her role as employment coordinator, and eventually use the new tools to move up within the office.
A goal of hers is to be equipped with the best possible professional development tools available and believes the Wildfire program is essential in reaching that goal. “It will be an excellent opportunity to help me to continue to develop professionally and help me propel beyond my current position,” said Gause.
