Meet the Human Resources Team

Dana Nagengast, SHRM-SCP

Dana Nagengast, SHRM-SCP

Assistant Vice President – Chief Human Resources Officer (AVP-CHRO)Kingston Hall909.621.8512dnagengast@hmc.edu

  • Leads the Office of Human Resources, delivering innovative and customer-focused HR services related to candidate recruitment and onboarding experience, compensation and benefits, performance management, employee relations, HRIS/payroll processing, HR compliance/policy administration, and professional training and development.
  • Advises and partners with college leadership to achieve college and department goals in support of the College’s strategic initiatives.
  • Leads and collaborates with the HR team to foster community connections through communication, events, and gatherings to support our staff.
  • Serves as the primary point of contact for employees and supervisors pertaining to employee relations matters.
  • Represents the College as an active member of the Human Resources Committee of The Claremont Colleges and collaborates with colleagues in intercollegiate initiatives and programs. 
  • Co-Leads Emergency Preparedness and Safety by guiding the College’s emergency planning and compliance efforts from a human-centered perspective.
  • Serves as one of the Workplace Violence Administrators for the College.
  • Additional responsibilities for Emergency Preparedness and Safety.
Patrice Siffert, SHRM-SCP

Patrice Siffert, SHRM-SCP

Senior Associate Director for Human ResourcesKingston Hall909.607.4154psiffert@hmc.edu

  • Oversees key HR services, including payroll administration and workers’ compensation, ensuring compliance with laws and policies. Supervises the HR/Payroll Administrator providing leadership and support for payroll related functions.
  • Manages HR processes for faculty appointments, and oversees the faculty sabbatical process in collaboration with the Dean of the Faculty’s Office. Schedule and conduct new hire orientation for new faculty.
  • Leads annual programs, including benefits open enrollment, salary planning, and others in partnership with the AVP-CHRO.
  • Provide education and consultation to faculty and staff regarding all benefit programs. Serves as the liaison with The Claremont Colleges Services (TCCS) regarding benefits administration, questions, and issue resolution for faculty and staff. Provides support for the College Dependent Scholarship Program, in partnership with the HR Coordinator.
  • Provide support for special projects and strategic initiatives.
Haley Phillips

Haley Phillips

Senior Associate Director for Human ResourcesKingston Hall909.607.4096hphillips@hmc.edu

  • Provides leadership and strategic support for employee relations, workplace investigations, HR compliance, and policy development.
  • Leads key HR programs and strategic initiatives, including the College’s remote work program and job classification efforts.
  • Partners with campus leaders on organizational change, staff development, compensation analysis, and special employment arrangements.
  • Oversees performance management programs and provides guidance to supervisors as needed.
  • Supervises the Human Resources Employment Manager, supports faculty and staff recruitment and onboarding initiatives.
  • Serves as Deputy Title IX Coordinator for Employees
José Barajas, MBA

José Barajas, MBA

Assistant Director for Human ResourcesKingston Hall909.607.6531jbarajas@hmc.edu

  • Support with essential HR functions, including leave administration and annual initiatives such as salary planning, open enrollment, and compliance training.
  • Directs student employment programs through close partnership with DCO staff and departmental managers.
  • Acts as the Workday HR expert by managing system configurations, developing reports, and performing audits to enhance operational processes.
  • Coordinates data analysis and reporting of internal metrics for leadership while ensuring accurate submission of regulatory and benefits surveys.
  • Oversees campus compliance efforts, including the rideshare program and mandatory reporting for protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.
  • Partners with the AVP-CHRO to support strategic initiatives and special projects for annual HR programming.
Kelly Salazar

Kelly Salazar

Emergency Preparedness and Safety ManagerKingston Hall909.607.4891ksalazar@hmc.edu

  • Partners with the AVP-CHRO and AVP-FM to strengthen cross-functional coordination and maintaining a sustained emphasis on campus-wide safety and readiness.
  • Coordinates, oversees, and manages Cal/OSHA employee emergency preparedness and safety training.
  • Schedules, organizes and directs annual and semi-annual emergency response drills on campus.
  • Attends monthly HMC Safety Committee meetings and serves as the liaison to HR and Facilities, ensuring follow-up on action items and providing support as needed.
  • Additional responsibilities for Emergency Preparedness and Safety.
Miguel Zuniga

Miguel Zuniga

Human Resources Employment ManagerKingston Hall909.607.4159mzuniga@hmc.edu

  • Manages recruitment, onboarding, and employment administration to ensure a seamless hiring experience.
  • Supports hiring managers with job descriptions, staffing needs, and compensation analysis.
  • Oversees employment changes, offboarding, and exit interview trend analysis for retention insights.
  • Leads compliance efforts, including unemployment claims, temporary employment, and initial performance reviews.
Sophie Hernandez

Sophie Hernandez

HR/Payroll AdministratorKingston Hall909.607.2729sohernandez@hmc.edu

  • Administers payroll for faculty, staff and student workers, including managing the Special Payment Authorization (SPA) function on campus.
  • Processes payroll changes related to leave of absences, including FMLA, medical leave, and other types of employee leave, in partnership with other HR team members.
  • Coordinates and administers student employment programs, including recruitment and payroll processing.
  • Serve as the primary point of contact for Workday Time Tracking and Absence Management system, providing support and troubleshooting.
  • Partners with the AVP-CHRO in developing and delivering HR training sessions for the community on HR and payroll compliance requirements in collaboration with HR team members.
Elsa Barboza

Elsa Barboza

Human Resources CoordinatorKingston Hall909.607.9700ebarboza@hmc.edu

  • Serves as a primary point of contact for employees, students, and external constituents, providing guidance on HR policies, procedures, and inquiries.
  • Coordinates hiring, onboarding, and training for student employment and the Upward Bound program.
  • Administers HR programs and initiatives, including employee engagement events, professional development, and the Service Award Recognition Program.
  • Oversees the Dependent Collegiate Scholarship Program (DSP), including applications, payments, and records management.
  • Supports compliance and regulatory processes, including administering and tracking required training, I-9 verification, and leave administration support.
  • Maintains HR records in Workday, ensuring accuracy and data integrity.
Garrett Sward

Garrett Sward

HR Strategic Initiatives and Systems SpecialistKingston Hallgsward@hmc.edu

  • Co-reports to the Senior Vice President, Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer (SVP) and the Assistant Vice President–Chief Human Resources Officer (AVP-CHRO).
  • Supports strategic and operational initiatives across the Division of Campus Operations (DCO).
  • Enhances and optimizes the College’s Workday Human Capital Management (HCM) system.
  • Leads data analysis, process reviews, and system improvements to increase efficiency across DCO.
  • Stays current on HRIS trends and fosters continuous improvement through collaboration and change management.