Office of Human Resources

Employee Relations, Labor Relations, and Compliance

The Employee Relations, Labor Relations and Compliance Unit serves as the University's chief representative for Brandeis' five unions, representing campus police, facilities staff, library staff, graduate students who work as teaching assistants and teaching fellows, and part-time faculty.

The unit also provides employee training and development opportunities to Brandeis staff and faculty, including management and leadership training; skills development opportunities; and compliance-related training. In addition, the unit provides guidance with regard to Brandeis human resources policies. 

Find Your Business Partner

Elizabeth Herriott Tierney
Elizabeth Herriott Tierney
Director, Employee Relations and Labor Relations
781-736-4456 Bernstein-Marcus 108
  • Area of Coverage: Back up to all Business Partners for overflow issues.

  • Responsible for all aspects of the university's labor relations practice for its five unions, including contract negotiations, grievance administration and advising supervising staff and faculty on the interpretation of the university's collective bargaining agreements.

  • Conducts and oversees employment-related investigations that do not involve allegations of discrimination.

  • Provides administration and interpretation with regard to the university's human resources policies and applicable state and federal laws.

suzanne albright
Suzanne Albright
Senior Human Resources Business Partner
781-736-2968 Bernstein-Marcus 116
  • Area of Coverage: Institutional Advancement, ODEI, The Heller School, Rabb School, Budget and Finance, Student Affairs, Institutional Research, Communications, Athletics, Admissions

  • Provides supervising staff and faculty with comprehensive and proactive employee relations service in the form of counsel, intervention and resolution of issues that may arise between the university and its employees.

  • Partners with management to identify and meet business needs and provide strategic solutions in alignment with human resources practices, policies and programs to include workforce planning and reorganizations.

  • Partners with human resources central services (i.e., training, recruitment, compensation and external consultants) to support management in meeting their strategic goals.

  • Conducts employment-related investigations that do not involve allegations of discrimination to ensure compliance with Brandeis human resources policies and applicable state and federal laws.

  • Works with supervisory staff and faculty to provide adaptive equipment and other reasonable accommodations to employees with disabilities.

  • Conducts exit interviews and analyzes data gathered for use in trending and metrics reporting.

Katharine Colanton
Senior Human Resources Business Partner
781-736-4472 Bernstein-Marcus
  • Area of Coverage: Facilities Administration, Public Safety, Rose Art Museum, The Business School, Campus Planning and Operations, Office of Investment, Management, Library

  • Provides supervising staff and faculty with comprehensive and proactive employee relations service in the form of counsel, intervention and resolution of issues that may arise between the university and its employees.

  • Partners with management to identify and meet business needs and provide strategic solutions in alignment with human resources practices, policies and programs to include workforce planning and reorganizations.

  • Partners with human resources central services (i.e., training, recruitment, compensation and external consultants) to support management in meeting their strategic goals.

  • Conducts employment-related investigations that do not involve allegations of discrimination to ensure compliance with Brandeis human resources policies and applicable state and federal laws.

  • Works with supervisory staff and faculty to provide adaptive equipment and other reasonable accommodations to employees with disabilities.

  • Conducts exit interviews and analyzes data gathered for use in trending and metrics reporting.

Leila Connolly
Leila Connolly
Senior Human Resources Business Partner
781-736-4502 Bernstein-Marcus
  • Area of Coverage: Arts & Sciences, Centers and Institutes, Provost's Office, ITS, GSAS, Office of the Arts, ORA, Technology Licensing, Office of the General Counsel, English Language Programs, University Registrar, ISSO, Academic Services

  • Provides supervising staff and faculty with comprehensive and proactive employee relations service in the form of counsel, intervention and resolution of issues that may arise between the university and its employees.

  • Partners with management to identify and meet business needs and provide strategic solutions in alignment with human resources practices, policies and programs to include workforce planning and reorganizations.

  • Partners with human resources central services (i.e., training, recruitment, compensation and external consultants) to support management in meeting their strategic goals.

  • Conducts employment-related investigations that do not involve allegations of discrimination to ensure compliance with Brandeis human resources policies and applicable state and federal laws.

  • Works with supervisory staff and faculty to provide adaptive equipment and other reasonable accommodations to employees with disabilities.

  • Conducts exit interviews and analyzes data gathered for use in trending and metrics reporting.