Q&A with Renee Denton, HR Partner for Student Affairs

Q: What’s your history with KU? 

A: I’m a KU alum. I graduated from the Master’s in Higher Education Administration Program and during that time my graduate assistantship was in the University Career Center as a career coach. After graduating, I was an academic advisor in Jayhawk Academic Advising, and then ran tutoring in the University Academic Support Centers.  

Q: What drew you back to KU after moving to Pennsylvania? 

A: I asked myself, “When was the last time I was happy at work?”. I thought about my first job in the advising office and how much I enjoyed being in the university environment. I saw this position and I felt like it would be a missed opportunity if I didn’t apply. This role felt like the perfect blend of my two sets of professional experiences, and ever since I left Lawrence, I have never stopped talking about how much I love this city and living in a college town. 

Q: How has it been working with the Student Affairs team so far? 

A: It’s been really fun. I've met all the Student Affairs directors and have been introduced to staff in other ways, and I’ve felt very welcome. Everybody’s super excited to tell me about their team and what they’re working on; it’s been a very positive environment. 

Q: How would you describe your job? 

A: My day-to-day job is working with everyone in Student Affairs to understand the department’s needs and to help connect staff with the right university processes. While I report to HR, it's my job to have one foot in each world, and I hope it feels like I am a part of the Student Affairs team. 

Q: How do you support Student Affairs staff? 

A: I can meet with you to discuss your team’s needs, discuss what HR will want to know, prepare materials for the strategic hiring process, and bring in the Recruitment Team if needed. I can also help brainstorm learning and development opportunities, answer questions related to benefits, support employees in the performance management process, and connect folks to the HR experts for additional support. 

For conflict resolution, I am happy to meet to talk through what you are experiencing in a supportive and objective way.  I can also provide a third-party perspective to a conversation to make sure we’re all on the same page. Depending on the situation, I may pull in Employee Relations if they’re better suited to assist.  

Q: What if someone wants to share private information? 

A: I am a mandatory reporter, as many of us are. While there are certain topics I would have to report, if somebody doesn’t feel comfortable talking with their team about an issue for whatever reason, they’re welcome to talk to me.  

My role is to help staff understand their options and navigate whatever challenges or situations they’re facing. If I do feel like I need to bring someone else into the conversation, I will always share that with whoever I'm meeting with so they know what to expect. 

Q: Is there anything else you want to share with staff about HR in general? 

A: We do a lot more than policy enforcement. There are many resources that exist within HR that can be helpful and supportive, like leave programs, professional development programs, or benefit options like the Employee Assistance Program. 

My hope is that people feel comfortable starting with me if they have something they want to talk through, good or bad. I'm here for Student Affairs employees at any stage of their employment to help recognize where they may need additional HR services, either to solve problems or seize opportunities. 

Q: Can any Student Affairs staff member reach out to you for assistance? 

A: I am meant to be the first point of contact with HR for most Student Affairs employees, unless their department has in-office HR staff. For affiliate departments, it’s best for their staff to contact their AVP or VP first before looping me in. But, if anyone on those teams reaches out to me, I’m happy to reroute them to the best contact. 

Q: How should staff contact you? 

A: They can reach out to me at rdenton@ku.edu or via Teams to schedule a time to meet remotely or in either of our offices. Cold calls are welcome if it looks like I’m available. My office will be in the Student Affairs suite in Strong Hall, so if you happen to be in the neighborhood you can also stop in and ask if I’m free to chat. 

Q: Bonus question — What do you do for fun when you’re not at work? 

A: I’ve lived in Lawrence before, but my husband hasn’t. We’re big foodies; we made a list of all the places in Lawrence that we want to eat at. One that’s stood out is Free State Brewery, especially the atmosphere. We also have two dogs and spend a lot of time with them. My older dog is happy to be at home by himself, but our nine-month-old golden retriever likes to be out and get lots of attention.