Jake Lathrop, director of human resources and facilities for the Michigan State University College of Education, has been named an emerging leader.
Lathrop was one of six selected to receive the 2018 Midwest Region Emerging CUPA-HR Leader Award by CUPA-HR Midwest. The College and University Professional Association for Human Resources, or CUPA-HR, celebrates professionals for their leadership and initiative shown in higher education human resources.
“I enjoy being part of CUPA-HR,” said Lathrop, a past president of the Michigan branch.
He's been part of the organization for more than 10 years, and actively volunteering in a leadership capacity for the past three years.
“Volunteering is the best professional development I can envision,” he said. “I have grown and learned so much, and really value the incredible networking.”
Lathrop has served on Michigan’s executive board of directors and led the planning for the organization’s fall 2017 conference held at MSU in October.
He has overseen millions of dollars in renovations and upgrades—most recently a reconfiguration of the Department of Teacher Education’s third floor in Erickson Hall, a technology-focused upgrade to the Confucius Institute’s space in the Manly Miles building and the introduction of state-of-the-art laboratories and classrooms in IM Circle.
With help from an expanding HR team, Lathrop has also been instrumental in increasing professional development opportunities across the college.
“I am really proud of our work as a team,” Lathrop said. “We have been continually expanding our work and functions, supporting the entire college.”