Lyndsay Tolbert Thaxton is an accomplished HR professional whose journey highlights the power of lifelong learning and career growth. Through UVA SCPS, she gained skills and insights that have advanced her career and inspired her to keep building on her success.
Q: Tell us about your background and journey to UVA SCPS.
Thaxton: I worked and held positions for over 10 years in retail general management. During 2022, I pivoted careers to HR with UVA as a recruiter in 2022. Recently, within 2024, I was promoted to a manager role here at UVA with Talent Acquisition. When an SCPS representative attended one of my team's meetings to share about the Human Resources Certificate program, I knew I wanted to advance my HR career and this seemed an ideal way to do so.
Q: What valuable insights have you gained from your studies, and in what ways have you been able to apply what you've learned in your professional role?
Thaxton: I found great value in all of the courses in my program. Staffing & Career Management, as my first course, was a great jumping point and directly relevant to my work as a recruiter and my ability to speak to how retention and turnover can be supported by the talent acquisition experience with my hiring managers and business partners, as well. Organizational Change & Development and Performance Management were significant contributors to my ability to observe and analyze the organization from a broader perspective within my role at my own organization (UVA HR). Strategic Compensation, as my last course, came full circle to both my role within Talent Acquisition, and (as the semester progressed), my new role as an HR Manager. Even my elective course, Introduction to Project Management, has provided me insight into the PM role and how I can more effectively contribute as a partner.
Q: What goals do you have for advancing your career, and how is your education supporting these?
These increased skills and perspectives gained through the courses, I believe, directly contributed to my ability to speak to my experiences in a way that prepared me for the next step in my career. - Lyndsay Tolbert Thaxton
Thaxton: While enrolled in my last course to finish my program, I was awarded a promotion which has directly advanced my career as an HR professional. Before learning about this program, I had not previously been interested in pursuing a graduate level degree. After completing this program, I’m now on the hunt for an HR-centered master's program to continue building upon the foundations of this program.
Q: What tip would you offer to current UVA SCPS students?
Thaxton: Be sure to work at the pace that's right for your life! The term I took two courses instead of one was much more challenging to juggle.