Felicia Washington has been named vice president of human resources at the University of Pennsylvania, effective Sept. 1. She succeeds Jack Heuer, who is retiring.
In making the announcement, Craig Carnaroli, senior executive vice president, praised Washington for “her exceptional leadership skills, experience, and commitment to the mission of higher education.”
As vice president, Washington will oversee talent acquisition and management, compensation, benefits, employee relations, wellness and quality of work life programs, and professional development. She will also lead and manage Human Resources’ strategic and operational direction.
Since 2019, Washington has been senior vice president of human resources at the University of Southern California, where she provided leadership impacting 28,000 faculty and staff as well as 47,500 students. She was instrumental in forming the Human Resources, Equity, and Compliance Division and implementing USC’s first university-wide policy on prohibited discrimination, harassment, and retaliation, covering all community members.
Prior to her tenure at USC, Washington served as vice chancellor for workforce strategy, equity, and engagement at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
She holds a B.A. from UNC at Chapel Hill and a law degree from the University of Virginia. She has an extensive career in higher education and private practice, including her role as a partner at the law firm of K&L Gates LLP. Washington has served on several boards and committees, within various academic and professional communities, including the North Carolina Medical Board and UNC Board of Trustees.
Tom Sontag, executive director of human resources, will serve as interim vice president for the two months prior to Washington’s arrival at Penn.
