Kathleen Howell in 2024 when she received the prestigious Rutgers Gateway Award for Service to Employees. Courtesy of Rutgers University.
Announcement by Mazen Shehat, Senior Associate Dean for Finance and Administration, SEBS/NJAES
It is my great pleasure to announce that Kathleen Howell has accepted the position of Director of Human Resources for the School of Environmental and Biological Sciences (SEBS) and the New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station (NJAES) effective June 22, 2026.
Kathleen is a highly respected and accomplished leader whose career at Rutgers spans nearly three decades. Most recently, she served as Associate Director of Administration and Personnel for Rutgers Cooperative Extension, where she provided strategic leadership for administrative, personnel, and operational functions supporting more than 275 union and non-union faculty and staff across New Jersey. Throughout her career, Kathleen has distinguished herself through her commitment to employee success, organizational excellence, and thoughtful leadership.
Kathleen’s experience spans multiple Rutgers communities. Prior to her leadership role with Rutgers Cooperative Extension, she served in the School of Arts and Sciences, where she advanced through several human resources leadership positions, culminating in her role as Assistant Dean for Personnel. Her deep knowledge of university policies, faculty and staff personnel matters, employee relations, talent management, organizational development, and strategic planning has made her a trusted advisor to university leaders and colleagues alike.
Kathleen’s dedication to supporting employees and fostering a positive workplace culture has been recognized across the university. In 2024, she received the prestigious Rutgers Gateway Award for Service to Employees, which honors individuals who go above and beyond to improve employee engagement, morale, and workplace effectiveness. Her nomination highlighted her exceptional compassion, responsiveness, and unwavering commitment to the professional and personal well-being of faculty and staff throughout Rutgers Cooperative Extension.
As Director of Human Resources, Kathleen will provide strategic oversight and leadership for the Office of Human Resources, serve as a key partner to executive leadership, and help advance the priorities and mission of SEBS and NJAES. Her responsibilities will include guiding human resources strategy, supporting workforce development, enhancing organizational effectiveness, and ensuring that our faculty and staff continue to thrive in a collaborative and inclusive environment.
Kathleen’s combination of experience, integrity, compassion, and deep understanding of our academic and research enterprise makes her exceptionally well-suited for this role. I am confident that she will be an outstanding resource and advocate for our community.
Please join me in warmly welcoming Kathleen to her new position. We look forward to her continued leadership and contributions to the success of SEBS, NJAES, and all those we serve.
