Sandee Cheynet, Associate Vice President of Human Resources and Chief Human Resources Officer, brings a wealth of experience across various industries, including for-profit and nonprofit. Her career is marked by a dedication to creating supportive and empowering work environments. We had the pleasure of speaking with Sandee to learn about her strategic initiatives, her vision for the future of HR at Rice, and the key elements of her leadership style.
Can you share a little about your background and the pivotal experiences shaping your leadership style?
My HR journey began with a summer job right out of high school, and I've been connected to the field ever since. I've worked in various industries including for-profit, nonprofit, defense, healthcare, finance, consulting, and higher education. What attracts me to HR is the ability to shape lives by creating a great place to work where people can achieve their goals, flourish, make a good living, and provide for their families.
My leadership style focuses on fostering an exceptional employee experience and building a culture where people feel comfortable asking thoughtful questions, challenging norms, and embracing change. I believe in appreciating what's made an organization successful in the past while strategically positioning it for the future. Leadership thrives on thoughtful questions and collective solutions, which ultimately empowers people.
In your current role, what are your primary responsibilities, and what does a typical day look like for you?
As the HR Leader at Rice, my main job is to support our people so they can shine, which ultimately drives our success. I'm focused on hiring and developing top talent, building a supportive culture, and strengthening our community every day. I work closely with my team and campus leaders to tackle daily challenges and plan for the future.
Since I'm new here, I spend a lot of time on campus, connecting with people, learning what they need to thrive, and listening to their ideas. I love meeting with faculty and staff to understand their perspectives and identify opportunities. Plus, I really enjoy exploring this beautiful campus in my downtime.
What are you working on now that you’re excited about?
I'm really excited about learning the rich traditions, culture, and values at Rice, which is a big part of why I was attracted to this community. The generosity of the people here and in Houston has been amazing. I'm focused on fostering innovation and leveraging technology to provide the best HR services for our employees. Right now, we're working on open enrollment for benefits, rolling out our first full year of performance management, and helping supervisors, managers, and employees understand and achieve their goals. It's all very exciting!
Can you share your vision for the future? What does that look like for your team and Rice? What are the big-picture goals for your organization in the next five years?
My vision for Rice is to create a place where every employee feels valued, trusted, and empowered to do their best work, supporting our mission of education and research excellence. I want Rice to be a place where faculty and staff are excited to come to work and want to stay.
For my team, I see us as trusted partners, providing easy, accurate, and timely HR services, and helping employees solve problems and grow professionally. Over the next five years, I aim to improve employee retention, deepen inclusion, and make Rice known as a great place to work with smooth HR processes. Building this future will be a team effort, and we need the entire Rice community to help us get there.
Reflecting on your career, what have been some of your toughest challenges, and what accomplishments are you most proud of?
Navigating the uncertainty of the worldwide pandemic was one of the toughest challenges I've faced as an HR leader. With no playbook or best practices to rely on, I had to help my organization adapt to remote work at a moment's notice. People needed clarity and reassurance, and my role was to provide that through transparency, honesty, accessibility, and sustained engagement. It was a time when everyone was looking for answers and stability, and I had to ensure that our team felt supported and informed.
Looking back, this period is one of my proudest career moments. It required high levels of collaboration, innovation, empathy, and listening. I'm proud that no one lost their job during this time, and it gave me new insights into the human spirit and the strength of our collective resilience.
How do you recharge your battery and have fun?
I recharge myself by mixing adventure and downtime. I love skiing, running, and going to the beach. I'm also a huge sports fan, which makes Houston perfect for me. I look forward to cheering on Rice athletics and Houston's teams like the Astros, Rockets, and the Dash. Exploring Houston and enjoying the food scene, especially tacos, has been great. Ultimately, I love spending time with my family, traveling, and just enjoying my downtime.