The 2026 HR ‘Back to School’ Symposium Success
On February 27, 2026, the Department of Management and Human Resource Management (MHRM) in the College of Business (COB), in conjunction with our (HRAB), held the 2026 HR ‘Back to School’ Symposium here on campus. Combined, over 100 HR professionals, faculty, and students engaged in a day of learning and connection on today’s pressing workplace challenges!
Speakers
We thank our speakers, Mark Suazo (Dean of the COB) and Jeff Bentley (MHRM Department Chair) for their opening keynote talks, Todd Scherwin (Regional Managing Partner, Fisher-Phillips) for his California labor law update, and MHRM Department Faculty, Mona Zanhour, Jeff Bentley (again!), Michael Ekema, Elisa Fattoracci, and Amber Olson, for their insightful Faculty sessions bridging academic research with HR practice. Faculty were joined by discussants Kase Konkright (Signal & Strand),Stacey Lewis (HR Interrupted), Lindsay Rosas (Fisher-Phillips), and Chelsea Viola (Fisher-Phillips). These sessions informed our perspective on contemporary HR issues with an eye towards building a better future of work!
Panelist
We are also deeply grateful for our HRM program recent alumni panelists, Emily Chan (Class of 2024), Joanne Kasem (Class of 2021), Van Pham (Class of 2025), and Tiffany Ushijima (Class of 2020). They led a rich discussion on the strengths of our HRM program, areas to develop, and the needs of the emerging generation of HR professionals. Bravo!
Sponsors
The symposium would not have been possible without the support of our wonderful sponsors. We thank them for their support and hope they found value in their experience!
Signal & Stand&Բ;—&Բ;
Fisher Phillips LLP&Բ;—&Բ;
HR Interrupted&Բ;—&Բ;
Darwinbox&Բ;—&Բ;
LBS Financial&Բ;—&Բ;
Leaderology&Բ;—&Բ;
Farmers & Merchant Bank&Բ;—&Բ;
Continuum Consulting&Բ;—&Բ;
Atkinson, Andelson, Loya, Ruud, & Romo (AALRR)&Բ;—&Բ;
