Human Resources

Responsibilities

• HR Project management and execution
• Facilitation and execution of HR related projects
• Coordination of recruitment process for staff and temporary staff
• Support personnel transactions, payroll processing, and HR compliance and regulation.

About

Natiya Caldwell currently serves as the HR Project Specialist for the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS), a role she began in September 2024. In this dynamic position, she facilitates a variety of talent acquisition initiatives, manages HR-related projects, and oversees HR procurement, all aimed at enhancing staffing needs, organizational effectiveness and employee satisfaction. Through her ability to collaborate across departments and manage both large-scale projects and day-to-day operations, Natiya supports the overall mission of the SEAS HR team. Her focus on process improvement, positive employee relations, and fostering an inclusive work culture positions her as a critical member of the team, helping to advance the university's goals and enhance the employee experience.

Key Achievement and Responsibilities

One of the most rewarding aspects of her role is the ability to collaborate with different departments, coordinate cross-functional teams, and leverage data analytics to inform HR decision-making. Natiya is responsible for a wide range of tasks, including facilitating talent acquisition processes which includes, pre-onboarding, coordinating interviews, managing HR projects and procurement and driving continuous improvement initiatives. Her role also involves ensuring smooth HR operations, such as handling personnel transactions and maintaining compliance with HR regulations. She manages both large-scale projects and day-to-day operations with a focus on maintaining positive employee relations, supporting organizational development, and fostering an inclusive, engaging work culture.

Before coming to Columbia Engineering, Natiya worked at Fairstead Management LLC, where she played a key role in supporting HR operations by serving as a liaison between employees and the HR department. She handled status changes (promotions, terminations, and title changes) and assisted with drafting offer letters for new hires.  She also worked at the Beverage Distribution Center Inc/Pepsi Bottling Co. where she took on a pivotal role in the Talent Acquisition team, where Natiya was responsible for initiating the onboarding process. This included scheduling pre-employment testing, coordinating background checks, and communicating with candidates, recruiters, and hiring managers to ensure a smooth hiring process.

Education

Natiya graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in English Studies, where she developed strong analytical and communication skills that have proven invaluable in her HR career. Her education laid the foundation for the ability to write clearly, engage with diverse groups, and think critically—skills she now applies to her HR work, particularly in reporting, and project management.

Project Specialist for the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS), a role she began in September 2024. In this dynamic position, she leads a variety of employee engagement initiatives, manages HR-related projects, and oversees event coordination, all aimed at enhancing org

Responsibilities

• Biweekly TLAM/PAC Inquiries
• Student Casuals Business Partner
• Employee/Labor Relations
• Employee Onboarding
• Exit Process
• Performance Management
• Employment Verification

About

Michael (Mike) Hammer joined Columbia Engineering in May 2022. In his role as human resources generalist, Mike supports various HR functions at the School, including employment, labor relations, training, and payroll. Mike monitors project success and policy effectiveness while finding innovative solutions to issues. He manages daily activities related to employee and labor relations and resolves student-employee-related concerns. In addition to general HR functions, Mike is responsible for managing casual hiring processes and acting as a subject matter expert on HR and TLAM-related inquiries to academic departments and the Office of the Dean. Mike provides consultation on HR policies, best practices, and strategies and serves as the primary contact for department managers, addressing personnel issues and providing proactive HR services. Mike supports the staff's annual performance evaluation process and salary administration and offers guidance for coaching and corrective action.

Prior to coming to Columbia, Mike worked at Integra Managed Care, where he served as a human resources associate and recruiter. In that capacity, he supported over 300 employees with onboarding and recruitment. Before Integra Managed Care, Mike served as a labor relations intern at Walt Disney World, where he supported labor relations managers and focused on grievances and arbitrations under the collective bargaining agreement for more than 38,000 unionized employees.
 
Mike earned his bachelor of science degree in industrial and labor relations at Cornell University in 2019.

Responsibilities

• Strategic HR Planning 
• Employee/Labor Relations
• Conflict Resolution 
• Talent Acquisition
• FMLA/Leave Management
• Workforce Planning and Reporting
• Organizational Structuring
• Office of Administration and Local 2110 Business Partner

About

Joan McDowell joined Columbia Engineering in 2017. As executive director of human resources, Joan collaborates closely with Columbia Engineering leadership teams to effectively communicate, implement, and oversee staff human resources programs and policies.  She works in partnership with the University's central human resources office to support various HR initiatives. Her approach fosters a collaborative and service-oriented atmosphere within Columbia Engineering.  Her role is pivotal in managing and enhancing HR functions, ensuring compliance, and fostering a proactive organizational culture within the school.

Key Achievements and Responsibilities

Joan has extensive experience in HR roles, including recruitment, onboarding, employee relations, compensation, and benefits administration. She has led the recruitment and onboarding processes for officers of administration, union and non-union support staff, administrative personnel, and researchers within Columbia Engineering.  Joan handles complex HR, employee relations, and labor relations matters, including grievance resolution. She has developed innovative recruitment and sourcing strategies and managed various HR processes while managing performance evaluations, providing coaching and counseling, and promoting a performance-based culture.

Before coming to Columbia Engineering, Joan served as a senior human resources generalist at NYU Tandon School of Engineering. During her tenure at NYU, Joan ensured compliance with collective bargaining agreements, HR policies, and relevant laws. Joan managed leave programs, personnel transactions, and HR operational functions. She developed and implemented HR forms, checklists, and procedures. She conducted exit interviews, analyzed HR data, and improved employee retention strategies. She supervised staff, provided training, and advised on HR policies and procedures while providing training and coaching line managers on staff performance issues.  She managed annual compensation processes, including analyzing and processing bonuses and merit increases.

Education and Certifications

Joan is pursuing a master of science in human capital management at Columbia University (Expected May 2025).  She obtained a bachelor's degree in human services from the City University of New York. Joan holds SHRM Certified Professional (SHRM-CP) and SHRM Talent Acquisition Specialty Credential and has active membership in several professional organizations, including the Society for Human Resources Management (SHRM), National Association of Professional Women (NAPW), and College and University Professional Association for Human Resources (CUPA-HR).

Responsibilities

• HR operations and compliance 
• Data Analytics 
• Onboarding Logistics 
• Recruitment 
• Training and development 
• Mentorship Program
• Performance Metrics Monitoring
• Cross-Functional Collaboration
• Employee Feedback Integration
• Compensation and classification Analysis

Key Achievements and Responsibilities

Carlotta Atkins currently serves as the Talent Acquisition Manager for the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS) at Columbia University, a position she began in November 2024. This role is essential for ensuring the smooth operation of HR functions and is critical in attracting and integrating top talent. In her capacity as Talent Acquisition Manager, Carlotta is responsible for designing and implementing comprehensive onboarding strategies, overseeing the recruitment process, and managing talent pipelines to meet the evolving needs of SEAS. 

A significant focus of her role is the development of effective onboarding strategies that facilitate a smooth transition for new hires into their positions while aligning with the school's mission, culture, and goals. This includes creating structured onboarding programs, developing mentorship opportunities, and providing continuous feedback to ensure the program remains effective. Additionally, Carlotta collaborates closely with Columbia University's Human Resources and department leaders to continuously refine recruitment strategies, using data analytics to assess these processes' effectiveness and make improvements where needed. Her responsibilities include overseeing recruitment operations, from sourcing and screening candidates to collaborating with hiring managers on staffing strategies. She utilizes data-driven insights to identify skills gaps, assess recruitment trends, and ensure that SEAS attracts the best talent in the competitive fields of academia and engineering. Furthermore, her work encompasses HR compliance, training and development, compensation and classification analysis, and collaboration with various stakeholders to foster an inclusive and attractive workplace.

Before joining SEAS, Carlotta served as the Staffing Specialist for the Columbia Employment Information Center. In that role, she was instrumental in streamlining the temporary staffing process at Columbia, working across multiple schools and departments to place over 100 candidates in temporary positions. Carlotta focused on improving hiring efficiency by recruiting from local talent pools, enhancing recruitment workflows, and conducting pre-screen interviews for over 200 applicants. She also partnered with external vendors, providing performance feedback that enhanced associate productivity. Additionally, Carlotta managed the onboarding process for all temporary hires, ensuring compliance and implementing new strategies to attract a larger pool of qualified candidates.

Carlotta also worked at Columbia University Medical Center as the Patient Finance Coordinator. In this position, she managed a team of five coordinators, ensuring timely and accurate billing processes while maintaining compliance with medical necessity requirements. Carlotta served as the primary point of contact for patients, assisting with insurance issues, financial matters, and patient advocacy. She also led the onboarding of a third-party vendor that streamlined processes for insurance and benefit verification, improving her team's efficiency.

Education

Carlotta earned her Master of Social Work (MSW) from Columbia University and her Bachelor of Social Work (BWS) from Seton Hall University. These degrees provided her with a strong foundation in social work, emphasizing community engagement, organizational change, and the development of support systems. She gained advanced knowledge of human behavior, organizational dynamics, and social systems, which has honed her assessment, communication, and organizational development skills that she now applies in her current role.