George Mason University has selected Mary Lucal to be the next vice president of human resources and chief human resource officer. She begins her new role on December 11.
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Lucal was selected in a national search conducted this summer. She joins Mason from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, where she serves as the associate vice chancellor of Human Resources and CHRO.
“As a strategic, data-driven leader, Mary has implemented significant change and modernization initiatives at UTK, including the creation of HR’s first strategic plan, redesigning core HR business functions, implementation of inclusive leadership programs, a transition to market-based compensation, and the creation of a real-time HR Dashboard,” said Deb Dickenson, Mason's executive vice president for finance and administration.
Lucal’s 17-year career at UTK included roles in employee relations, including director of employee relations and recruitment. Prior to her time at UTK, she was a human resources consultant at Harvard.
In addition a PhD in higher education administration from the University of Tennessee, Lucal holds bachelor’s degrees in English from College of Wooster and women’s studies and English education from Ohio State, and a master of science in human resource management from Lesley University.
Lucal joins Mason at a time when the university is pursuing improved performance and efficiency, building on such recent HR accomplishments as a revised performance management process, the launch of performance-based pay for faculty, and the implementation of a new applicant tracking system, Dickenson said.
“I was attracted to Mason because it offers something unique in the higher education landscape. Not only is it a young, fast-growing university built on a mission of academic excellence and inclusion, but it is also a leader in advancing social mobility,” Lucal said. “I see tremendous potential to shape and support our growth while positively impact the lives of our faculty, staff and students—I just can’t wait to get started.”