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 Operations 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.

Responsibilities

• HR Administration & Operations
• Employee Engagement
• Labor and Employee Relations
• Organizational Development
• Performance Management and Coaching
• Employee Investigations and Compliance
• Salary Administration
• Staff Exit Interviews
• HR Website Management

About

Michael (Mike) Hammer serves as Human Resources Manager for Columbia Engineering, where he leads and optimizes human resources operations to support the school’s strategic goals. In this role, Mike is responsible for a broad range of HR functions, including HR administration & operations, managing labor and employee relations, performance management, salary administration, employee investigations, and exit interview processes. Mike provides consultation to develop innovative solutions that enhance organizational effectiveness and employee satisfaction, while ensuring compliance with university policies.

As a trusted advisor to department managers, Mike offers guidance on addressing complex personnel challenges, implementing performance management strategies, and fostering positive employee relations. He oversees critical HR systems and processes, driving improvements in timekeeping, payroll, and personnel administration. Mike plays a pivotal role in welcoming new employees by managing the New Hire Orientation program, ensuring a seamless and engaging onboarding experience that aligns with Columbia Engineering’s values and expectations. He also manages and updates the School’s HR website, ensuring it remains a user-friendly and comprehensive resource for staff, faculty, and leadership.

A passionate advocate for employee engagement, Mike collaborates on initiatives and programs that foster well-being, recognition, and retention. He works to promote a positive work environment and alignment with the School’s strategic HR goals.

Prior to his current role, Mike served as a Human Resources Generalist at Columbia Engineering, where he supported onboarding, policy implementation, TLAM/PAC inquiries, and student casual transactions. Before joining Columbia, he gained valuable experience as a Human Resources Associate and Recruiter at Integra Managed Care, supporting over 300 employees with onboarding and recruitment. Earlier in his career, Mike served as a Labor Relations Intern at Walt Disney World, where he worked on grievances and arbitrations for a workforce of over 38,000 unionized employees.

Education

Mike earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial and Labor Relations from Cornell University in 2019. He is currently pursuing his Master of Science degree in Human Capital Management at Columbia School of Professional Studies and received his Society for Human Resources Management - Certified Professional (SHRM-CP) certification in July 2024.

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 obtained a Master of Science degree in Human Capital Management from Columbia University.  She earned 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

• Leave Management & Compliance
• Workers’ Compensation & Accommodations
• Student Casual Hiring &  casual Onboarding
• Recruitment Support
• Employee Engagement & Culture

About

Jacquerlin (Jackie) Cruz joined SEAS in December 2025 as the HR Leave & Operations Specialist.  Jacquerlin will play a critical role in supporting our staff, researchers, students, and managers across Columbia Engineering.  In her role at Columbia Engineering, Jackie serves as the primary liaison with Columbia University’s central Leave Management team, guiding employees and managers through the full leave lifecycle, including FMLA, parental, medical, and other statutory or contractual leaves. 

She coordinates workers’ compensation, medical accommodations, and return-to-work processes while ensuring full compliance with university policies, federal and state regulations, and collective bargaining agreements. 

Jackie also supports student casual hiring and onboarding by verifying eligibility, processing PeopleSoft transactions, ensuring I-9 compliance, and coordinating with university partners, and she provides recruitment support in collaboration with the Talent Acquisition team as needed. 

In addition, she contributes to HR operations through recordkeeping, audits, reporting, and special projects, and supports employee engagement and culture initiatives that foster a positive, inclusive, and supportive workplace across SEAS. Jackie’s depth of experience, attention to detail, and empathetic approach to employee support are tremendous assets to the Columbia Engineering community.

Previously, Jacquerlin served as a Leave Specialist at Montefiore Medical Center, where she supported the administration and implementation of complex, high-volume leave programs within a large healthcare system. In this role, Jacquerlin played a key part in operationalizing leave policies, ensuring alignment with federal and state regulations, union agreements, and organizational procedures. She collaborated cross-functionally with HR leadership, payroll, benefits, managers, and external vendors to streamline leave workflows, resolve escalated and non-standard cases, and improve the employee experience. Her work at Montefiore required managing sensitive cases involving FMLA, NY Paid Family Leave, disability, and workers’ compensation, while contributing to process improvements, documentation updates, and consistent application of leave practices across departments. 

Education

Jacquerlin earned her Bachelor’s degree in Corporate Communications from Baruch College in 2023. Jacquerlin also received her Master of Science degree in Human Resources Management from Manhattanville University in 2025.  

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.