Wayne Bryant takes helm as Director of Human Resources at Grambling State
by T. Scott Boatright
Wayne Henry Bryant brings more than 20 years of proven experience in both the public and private work sectors as he takes over as Director of Human Resources at Grambling State University.
Most recently, Bryant has served in the same role at Southern University at Shreveport.
His responsibilities included supervising all personnel actions including recruitment, appointments, promotions, upgrades, training, performance evaluations and disciplinary actions such as suspensions and terminations, developing and enforcing organizational policies and procedures, serving as Equal Employment Opportunity Officer, completing annual Affirmative Action plans, reviewing sexual/harassment complaints, overseeing grievance procedures and coordinating staff development workshops.
“I am honored to serve as Human Resources Director for the great Grambling State University,” Bryant said. “The GramFam has been exceptionally receptive to me in my transition. I look forward to working with everyone to ensure a successful pathway to serving our students, faculty, and staff.”
Some of Bryant’s key accomplishments at SUSLA included creating a plan to give all eligible employees a one-time $1,000 payout that led to regular annual increases after those employees went several years without merit increases, revising the onboarding process to include a completely new hire orientation program, developing new performance evaluations for SUSLA faculty and unclassified staff, initiating and completing the first dedicated Human Resources office area in school history, and structuring benefit fairs with vendors to offer more retirement options to employees.
Bryant, who received his bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Northeast Louisiana University (now known as the University of Louisiana at Monroe) and his master’s degree in Human Relations and Supervision from Louisiana Tech University, has also served as an adjunct professor teaching general, abnormal, social and developmental psychology courses while helping students improve their human resource skills.
GSU Chief Operating Officer Penya Moses, JD, LL.M. said Bryant will play a key role not only for the university’s faculty and staff but also its students.
“Mr. Bryant’s experience in a university setting in human resources will be invaluable to Grambling State University as we streamline processes that impact our brand and maximize experiences for the faculty, staff, and students,” Moses said. “He is a proven leader that is intricately familiar with promoting and implementing human resource values by planning and managing programs, training, and directing staff for better customer service for the institution. I am excited to add him to the operations team, as we continue to connect our organization in the spirit of excellence.”
Bryant, who also previously served as human resources director/manager at Comcast Cable and Time Warner Cable in Shreveport, began his career as a Human Resources Development Specialist III for the Northwest Louisiana Developmental Center in Bossier City, Louisiana.
He then became a university counselor at SUSLA before serving his first stint as Human Resources Director at SUSLA from 1997-2000.
Bryant has also served as vice president for the Christian Service Board, a member of the Louisiana State Personnel Council, a member of the Louisiana College and University Personnel Administrators, an Advisory Board member for Ayers Career College, President/Commissioner for the Greater Shreveport Human Relations Commission, Board Member, Louisiana State Personnel Council and as a board member for the Greater Shreveport Chamber of Commerce Leadership Program.