Ithaca College

Ithaca College has announced the appointment of Brian Dickens as vice president for human resources. With more than 25 years of experience as a university administrator and over a dozen years as a human resource development and management consultant, Dickens is a proven leader in providing strategic direction for complex organizations.

Dickens has served since 2008 at Texas Southern University in Houston, first as executive director and most recently as associate vice president for human resources and payroll services. Prior to that, he held positions as director of human resources at the University of Houston and director of student activities and leadership at Prairie View A&M University.

As president and CEO of his own consulting firm, Dickens has provided human resources/payroll services and training to organizations including the City of Houston, Altus Health Care Management Services and ZT Wealth Financial Services.

At Ithaca College, Dickens will collaborate in the development of innovative human resource policies and procedures and work with administrators, faculty, staff and the human resources team to seek effectiveness in operations and in leading thoughtful organizational and cultural change. He will oversee the full range of human resources services, including talent management, benefits and work/life, compensation and workforce analysis, payroll, diversity and inclusion, equity and compliance, and student employment.

“I am thrilled that Dr. Brian Dickens will be joining the Ithaca College community,” said Nancy Pringle, senior vice president and general counsel. “His expertise in strategic human resources will be invaluable to the positioning of Ithaca College as a national leader in the ‘best practices’ for human resources and in creating a quality work experience for all of our employees.”

A certified Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR), Dickens holds a Ph.D. in educational administration and human resource development from Texas A&M University, and an M.A. in counseling and B.S. in biology from Prairie View A&M University.

Among other professional and community affiliations, Dickens has served on the national board of the College and University Professional Association for Human Resources (CUPA-HR) and as a member of the Society of Human Resource Management, Society for Higher Education Human Resource Executives and 100 Black Men of America Houston, and on the African American Male Advisory Committee for the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.

Dickens will begin his new position at Ithaca College on June 1. He succeeds Mark Coldren, who left the college last June to become associate vice president for human resources at the University of Buffalo.