Harly Neumann Named San José State’s Inaugural Vice President for People and Culture

Harly Neumann, Ph.D., has been appointed San José State University's inaugural vice president for People and Culture. He will begin his new role on August 10.

The creation of the People and Culture division and this role reflects SJSU's commitment to building a people-centered university where students, faculty and staff can thrive. As the university continues to strengthen its culture of care and support employee well-being, the vice president for People and Culture will play a critical role in advancing these priorities.

Dr. Neumann brings more than two decades of executive leadership in human resources, organizational development, and people strategy across large, complex organizations. He most recently served as vice president of human resources for Sutter Health's Greater San Francisco and East Bay Division, providing strategic leadership for more than 18,000 employees across 12 hospitals, multiple medical foundations and physician enterprises. Throughout his career, he has earned a reputation for building strong organizational cultures, developing leaders, strengthening employee engagement and guiding organizations through transformational change.

A Stanford-trained clinical and organizational psychologist and Fulbright Scholar, Dr. Neumann brings a strong combination of behavioral science, executive leadership and a deep commitment to helping people and organizations thrive. His own educational journey, as the first in his family to attend college, inspires his belief in the transformative power of higher education and the importance of creating workplaces where every employee feels valued, supported and empowered to succeed.

As our inaugural vice president for People and Culture, Dr. Neumann will lead the continued evolution of Goal 3 (Grow and Thrive), our people-centered workplace strategy, fostering an organizational culture where employees feel valued, supported and empowered to do their best work. He will work collaboratively across the university to strengthen employee engagement, leadership development, talent strategy, and organizational effectiveness in support of San José State's mission.

"I want to express my sincere appreciation to the members of the search committee , chaired by Dean Priya Kannan of the Lucas College and Graduate School of Business, for their thoughtful leadership and dedicated service throughout this national search," says SJSU President Cynthia Teniente-Matson. "Their commitment ensured an outstanding process and an exceptional outcome. I also thank Chief of Staff Shawn Whalen for his interim service leading the division and ensuring a smooth transition."

"Please join me in welcoming Dr. Neumann to the Spartan community. I look forward to the leadership, experience, and vision he will bring to San José State as we continue building a university where our people thrive."