Alumna Shaundrika Edwards (B.S.B.A., 2008) is a rising star at Huntsville City Hall, says Mayor Tommy Battle. He chose 草榴社区 graduate as the new city clerk, and the City Council unanimously approved her appointment in early spring.
鈥淲e are delighted Shaundrika Edwards has agreed to take on this important role,鈥� the mayor said, announcing her appointment. 鈥淲e are confident she will do an amazing job for the city and our citizens.鈥�
鈥淚t is an honor to be considered for such a position as this,鈥� Edwards said. 鈥淎fter 13 years in the human resources field in both the private and public sector, I look forward to a new challenge and continuing to support the mayor and his vision for the Office of the City Clerk and City of Huntsville.鈥�
Mayor Battle cited Edwards鈥� extensive background in organizational development and personnel management as evidence that she is well prepared to handle the meticulous duties of her new position. Along with her bachelor鈥檚 from UAH, a part of The University of Alabama System, she also holds a Master of Science in human resource management from Troy University.
鈥淲e are so proud of Ms. Edwards鈥� career success and especially happy to see her positive impact in our community,鈥� said Dr. Jason Greene, dean, UAH College of Business. 鈥淗er promotion to Huntsville city clerk is well-deserved recognition for her many years of hard work and dedication to success in her career following her graduation from our business program.
鈥淭he HR concentration in our management degree at UAH aims to prepare graduates to contribute to an organization鈥檚 success through roles that manage and support their workforce. Ms. Edwards stands as an excellent example of the positive impact and success we encourage all of our students to aspire to.鈥�
Edwards filled two HR roles with the city before taking on this new job.
鈥淚 started with the city in October 2017 as an HR analyst II, supporting the city departments as their representative,鈥� she said. 鈥淎fter four and a half years, I promoted to the role of insurance and benefits manager.鈥�
Edwards now manages the highest level of municipal affairs and serves as the municipality鈥檚 official record keeper and election manager.
鈥淎ll agenda items that go through the City Council and are approved, we are the gatekeeper of those documents to assure that the public has access and that we鈥檙e being transparent,鈥� she said.
Records management, coordinating the agenda, and minutes for City Council all fall under the purview of Edwards鈥� department. She is responsible for directing the origination, maintenance, retrieval, archiving, release, distribution, safety and overall management of documentation.
Mayor Battle also gave Edwards a new task not previously carried out by the office: liaison to the city鈥檚 outside agencies included in the annual budget appropriations.
鈥淚t鈥檚 making sure the council and the mayor feel good about their decisions each year with the appropriations to outside agencies as well as building a rapport with our community partners,鈥� Edwards explained.
Although she says she loved helping her fellow employees in the HR department, Edwards was ready to take on fresh challenges.
鈥淚 completely changed career paths, and it鈥檚 going very well. It was the change that I didn鈥檛 know I needed until I said 鈥榊es鈥� to the mayor. It鈥檚 good to get out of your comfort zone.鈥�
Changing professional paths worked out well for Edwards at UAH, too. But at the time, she wasn鈥檛 so sure.
鈥淚 actually started out at UAH in nursing school. I didn鈥檛 do too well in the nursing program, and I ended up changing to business. I said, 鈥極K, I鈥檒l concentrate in HR.鈥� I remember it being a sad time for me because I always thought I wanted to do nursing.鈥�
Edwards鈥� desire to help people formed the basis of her first plan to become a nurse as well as her second plan to work in HR.
鈥淗elping employees in human resources and now switching gears to helping people in the community as the city clerk 鈥� it鈥檚 just phenomenal to know you can impact people in different ways.鈥�