VP of Human Resources Carolyn Gregory to retire

After 30 years in Case Western Reserve University’s Department of Human Resources—including 18 as vice president—Carolyn Gregory (MGT ’03) will retire from her role Jan. 31, 2026. She will continue assisting the university on a part-time basis.

“Carolyn’s commitment to Case Western Reserve and its people has been remarkable,” said President Eric W. Kaler. “From her work to bring paid parental leave to this institution to navigating the COVID-19 pandemic for thousands of employees, she has made exceptional contributions that have shaped our university. We are grateful for her decades of service and pleased she’ll continue to bring her knowledge and insights to Case Western Reserve in a part-time role. More personally, she has been a wonderful resource in steering through difficult challenges. I will greatly miss her experience and wisdom.”

Gregory joined Case Western Reserve University in 1995 as director of benefits. After several promotions, she earned the vice president of human resources position in 2007—a role she’s held since. She also earned her Executive MBA from Weatherhead School of Management, where she also has guest lectured during her time at the university.

Gregory has served on the cabinets of multiple presidents, helping to navigate the complexities of human resources for a decentralized university with more than 3,000 full- and part-time staff and more than 1,100 full-time faculty members. 

Her tenure has included leading through global crises that hit campus—from the Great Recession to the COVID-19 pandemic. In particular, she helped devise solutions not only for how non-essential staff could complete their jobs temporarily remotely but how essential staff could be here safely—and then, how all employees could return in a way that was safe, meaningful and flexible while ensuring students remained supported and research continued seamlessly.

Throughout her career, Gregory has been integral in developing solutions to improve the lives—both personal and professional—of Case Western Reserve University employees. She helped develop and roll out a paid maternity leave policy for the university, which has since been expanded to provide eight weeks of leave for all new parents, and worked closely with others to find solutions to childcare needs for working parents, most recently adding a $2,000 subsidy per fiscal year to help families. Gregory also worked diligently to create a Wellness Program to improve the health and well-being of employees and to strengthen staff retirement plans for individuals at all levels.

In 2016, Gregory introduced the Professional Development Center to help enhance staff members’ learning and growth, and has been committed to finding more ways to improve the staff experience. Two such examples: the Gallup survey to better understand engagement and satisfaction across the university, and the university-wide compensation study to provide parity and become more competitive in the market.

It’s all driven by Gregory’s deep commitment to ensure Case Western Reserve remains a sought-after destination for top talent.

“I’ve worked at for-profits and not-for-profits,” Gregory said, “but there is no better place to work than a research university. The energy and the commitment to working together to find solutions that can benefit our world is unmatched. I’m so grateful for the opportunities I’ve had and the connections I’ve made here.”

A national search for Gregory’s replacement will begin immediately.