Myron S. McCoo, interim vice president of Human Resources at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, has been appointed vice president of Human Resources at Dartmouth College. He will begin work on August 1, 2011.
Myron S. McCoo brings 15 years of experience in human resources to his new role as vice president of Human Resources at Dartmouth. (courtesy Myron McCoo)
A human resources professional with 15 years experience, McCoo is an attorney and certified mediator with expertise in recruitment, labor relations, employment law, and organizational management.
“Myron is a decisive and creative problem solver who will bring a deep understanding of the needs of a large, diverse organization to Dartmouth,” said President Jim Yong Kim.
In addition to his tenure at Brigham and Women’s, McCoo has worked at the University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics, in Madison, and in private industry.
He will oversee Dartmouth’s Office of Human Resources, which provides services in the areas of benefits and compensation, employee relations, recruitment, and training and career development for the College’s approximately 4,200 employees.
At Brigham and Women’s, McCoo managed a staff of 65 who worked with the hospital’s approximately 14,000 employees. The Harvard-affiliated hospital serves a diverse population in Boston’s Mission Hill neighborhood.
McCoo will report to Executive Vice President and CFO Steven Kadish, and have a dotted-line report to President Kim. Kadish was chair of the search committee that interviewed McCoo.
“We look forward to working with Myron as we build a best-in-class organization prepared to tackle the challenges facing higher education and to enable faculty and students to address some of the most important issues facing the world today,” said Kadish. “We are thrilled to have him join our team.”
“It’s exciting to think about working with those who recruit, train, and advance the workforce at Dartmouth. Everyone employed at the College—all of our faculty and staff—touches the lives of students who will be the next leaders of our generation,” said McCoo. “I’m humbled that Dartmouth chose me. After talking with President Kim, Steve Kadish, and members of the search committee, it’s clear that Dartmouth is a special place. I’m delighted to be on my way to Hanover.”
McCoo’s appointment follows a six-month, nationwide search facilitated by the Spencer Stuart firm. Nearly 200 people were initially reviewed for the position.
Search committee members, in addition to Kadish, were: Robert Donin, general counsel; Evelynn Ellis, vice president for Institutional Diversity and Equity; Dartmouth Medical School Professor Leslie Henderson; Jeff Horrell, librarian of the College; Ann Root Keith, chief operating officer for Advancement; Linda Snyder, vice president of Campus Planning and Facilities; David Spalding ’76, President’s Office chief of staff; and Mike Wagner, vice president for finance.
McCoo has worked for five years at Brigham and Women’s. He began as director of Human Resources and in January 2011 was tapped to serve as interim vice president of the department, assuming responsibility for leading all areas of human resources for the hospital.
As HR director, he was responsible for all activities related to staffing, employee education and training, management development, labor relations, affirmative action, compensation and benefits administration, and salary administration. In addition, he developed a series of employee relations training programs, oversaw grievance reviews, and implemented and ran a summer internship program for students of color interested in careers in health care.
At the University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics, he was a senior labor/employee relations consultant and also diversity officer on the human resources team. He participated in contract negotiations with unions at the facilities and was responsible for the resolution of employee complaints. He also was responsible for creation of a diversity plan, community outreach, and compliance with a number of regulatory agencies.
He previously worked for six years in a variety of HR roles, including as a senior employee and labor relations consultant and human resources recruiter for Verizon Communication in Irving, Texas, and in Needham, Mass. McCoo started his professional career working for the late Senator Edward M. Kennedy, in Kennedy’s Office of Labor and Human Resources in Washington, D.C.
He received his undergraduate degree from the University of Texas at Austin. He also earned a master of theological studies with a concentration in organizational management for nonprofit organizations from Harvard University and a JD from Indiana University School of Law.
McCoo is a member of the Board of Directors of the YMCA Achievers program at the Greater Boston YMCA, which provides educational resources to help young people get into, attend, and graduate from college.
He succeeds Lynda "Lynn" Baker, who has served as acting vice president and chief human resources officer since November 2010, and will continue working in the department.
“We have been lucky to have someone of Lynn’s abilities serving in the interim role,” said Kadish. “She and her team have done a terrific job helping design and implement some critical initiatives related to our work here at Dartmouth.”
