New FAS chief of human resources named

Nicole Breen, named this week as the inaugural chief human resources officer for the Faculty of Arts and Sciences, likes to say that a career is more often “like a rock-climbing wall” than a ladder — something she learned firsthand, in her own journey.

A native of Cape Cod, Breen left home to study English in college but returned after a year, deciding she wasn’t ready to be a full-time student. Wanting to work and make a more informed decision later, she spent three years balancing jobs at a restaurant and salon. When she mentioned that she was moving to the Boston area to pursue new school and professional opportunities, a customer who worked at Harvard Medical School helped Breen land a temp role there.

That was October 1998. The assignment — in human resources at HMS — was supposed to last only a few weeks. But just as Breen was due to finish, an HR assistant went on extended vacation, and she got tapped to fill in. “I loved it. There was so much to learn,” said Breen, who relishes “the variety in HR — helping people, solving problems, and seeing the positive impact of my work.”

Breen has been at Harvard ever since, navigating “multiple roles of increasing responsibility and leadership at Harvard Medical School and in Harvard Human Resources,” FAS Dean of Administration and Finance Warren Petrofsky wrote, in a community message Tuesday announcing Breen’s appointment following a comprehensive search.

Breen, who earned a degree in business administration and became a certified professional coach while working full-time, will officially start in the FAS on July 1. She has already been helping support critical HR work for the FAS since December — juggling that role with her outgoing position as managing director for HR consulting and policy for Harvard’s central administration. In that position, Breen led a 45-person team overseeing HR services for 5,500 University employees.

Breen said she cares deeply about building a strong workplace culture, “especially through direct communication as well as employee, manager, and leader support and coaching. We spend so much of our time at work, and it’s important that the environment is one where employees are treated fairly, respectfully, and have the tools they need to thrive, and to stay motivated and engaged.”

After eight years at HMS, Breen joined Harvard HR in 2006. It was a lateral move, but one that provided a chance to learn in a new environment, with different opportunities for growth. During the next 15 years, she served as a senior HR consultant, associate director, and director — overseeing HR for Harvard employees in IT, finance, and the credit union — before becoming managing director of HR consulting and policy.

Petrofsky said Breen has already brought “expertise and support” to her work with the FAS. “Most notably, Nicole has played a central role in the workforce planning process, helping lead the HR workstream and providing guidance on organizational design, talent strategy, and change management.”

“Her leadership has been instrumental in helping the FAS navigate a complex and challenging workforce transition, while maintaining a focus on supporting our people and advancing our mission. She has brought boundless energy, wisdom, and care to supporting FAS HR and our staff community,” he noted.

Breen acknowledged that she is joining FAS “at a difficult time.”

“Much work will need to be done to support the community through impending organizational change. That will be the main focus of the HR team in the months to come, and we will proactively partner with staff and faculty on this important work,” she said.

Breen is an avid walker, paddleboarder, and baker. She enjoys spending time in nature as well as doing puzzles, watching basketball — her son’s games and the Celtics — and binge-watching TV shows with her husband and daughter.

Though Breen last worked in restaurants and salons in the 1990s, it informed her outlook, and she always appreciates seeing hospitality experience on resumes.

“The work is challenging, and it is all about service, problem-solving, and multi-tasking,” she said. “Critical transferrable skills for any career.”