HRPA Student Coffee Chat: Classroom to Career; HR in Education


Date and Time:

Starts: 04/22/2026 12:00 PM

Ends: 04/22/2026 1:00 PM

Registration Closes:04/21/2026 5:00 PM

Event Type: Student

Hour(s)

Location:
Zoom

Price:

HRPA Members: Free



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Availability

Additional Information

Event Sponsor


TOPIC: HR in Education

Join Nicole Dzivy, CHRL, Manager, Employee Relations at Cambrian College for a conversation on HR in Post Secondary sector. This presentation will introduce you to what it’s really like to work in Human Resources within Ontario’s post-secondary sector, focusing on the College sector. You’ll learn why labour relations is a core part of the job, including grievances, investigations, and advising leaders on performance and contract interpretation. We’ll explore how colleges and universities operate within a publicly funded and highly regulated system, where legislation, funding pressures, and government directives shape HR decisions. The session will also cover the importance of job evaluation and classification, including how HR assesses job content and supports payband structures. You’ll gain insight into the people-centric nature of the work, the constant change in the sector, and the need for strong collaboration with unions. Finally, we’ll look at the wide range of HR career paths in post-secondary education and why the sector offers strong opportunities for growth, development, and competitive benefits.

 

AGENDA:

12:00 PM Welcome and Introductions

12:05 PM Guest Speakers

12:45 PM Q&A

1:00 PM Event Concludes

 

Registration Closes:  April 21st, 2026

Registration Difficulties or Questions: Please reach out to students@hrpa.ca

Speaker bio(s)
Nicole Dzivy, CHRP, CHRL, Manager, Employee Relations

Nicole Dzivy is a Certified Human Resources Leader (CHRL) with more than 20 years of progressive HR experience across professional services, consulting, retail, and post-secondary education. She currently serves as Manager, Employee Relations at Cambrian College, where she leads labour and employee relations, talent aquisition, talent development, and strategic HR advisory support for leaders across the institution. In addition to her operational HR leadership, Nicole has taught HR Strategy, Compensation Management, and Organizational Development at Cambrian College’s School of Business, where she has mentored emerging HR professionals and shared real-world insights from her career. With a people-focused, relationship-driven approach, Nicole brings practical, strategic HR expertise and a passion for developing leaders and building healthy, high-performing workplaces within Ontario’s post-secondary sector. Outside of work, Nicole enjoys travel, reading, walking and spending time with family and friends.