VCU news

By Rebecca Aldridge

Alison Miller has been appointed chief human resources officer of Virginia Commonwealth University, effective July 1.

Miller has served as interim assistant vice president for human resources for the past year following the retirement of Cathleen Burke. As CHRO, Miller will oversee VCU’s human resource management strategy, including recruitment; retention; benefits and well-being resources; career development; training; compensation management; employee relations; awards and recognition; HR data and business analytics; and organizational development.

Miller joined VCU in 2017 as executive director of HR service delivery. In that role, she helped guide the Great Place: HR Redesign project, which launched in 2018, modernizing VCU’s HR policy and practices and evolving university HR into strategic partners focused on connecting employees with VCU’s mission and creating a culture of care and appreciation.

“Most kids don’t grow up aspiring to be CHRO. I wanted to be a teacher,” Miller said. “But I think that’s one of my favorite parts about leading human resources at VCU: I still get to support academia and help people grow and develop. In my time at VCU, I have seen the incredible dedication and energy of VCU employees and am humbled and excited to continue enacting an HR strategy that supports and empowers VCU’s most valuable asset: our people.”

Miller’s leadership has been marked by employee outreach and data-driven decision making. This past year alone, Miller has provided employees with numerous opportunities for professional growth as well as forums, surveys and tools to share ideas and feedback. She also continues to strengthen HR’s strategic value by advising leaders across the institution with implementing recruitment, retention and recognition strategies to address areas of higher-than-average turnover, employee satisfaction and organizational effectiveness.

“My vision for VCU is that all employees experience VCU as the best place they have ever worked – whether they choose to make a career at VCU or move on to other opportunities,” she said.

Miller has more than 25 years of experience in leading and designing HR solutions that support the needs of a diverse organization. Before joining VCU, she was a member of the HR leadership team at the University of Virginia, serving as director of Total Rewards for more than four years and designing performance, compensation, talent assessment and skill development strategies that supported the university’s goals and mission. Before UVA, she held roles as a consulting partner, consulting principal and HR manager in state government agencies and private firms.

Miller has been recognized by industry peers for her leadership and dedication, including as recipient of the Alcott HR Stewardship Award from Richmond SHRM in October 2023.

“Alison brings tremendous human resource expertise and has a genuine ability to connect, support, develop and celebrate our talented team. She is known throughout VCU as a highly effective and trusted leader,” said Meredith Weiss, Ph.D., VCU’s senior vice president of finance and administration and CFO. “Alison identifies practical and innovative solutions that align with VCU’s culture and strategic goals, while prioritizing the needs and preferences of our changing, modern workforce. That’s exactly what you want to see from the CHRO of a nationally prominent public research university.”

Miller earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the College of William and Mary and a master’s in public administration from VCU.