Jake Toomey leads people resource initiatives, drives organizational effectiveness, and enhances the employee experience. He serves as the senior leader of the human resources division and will have the unique opportunity to define a cohesive and people-centric strategy, infusing a sense of belonging and a system of support for those most critical to Mount Holyoke’s future.
Jake joins Mount Holyoke College from Hampshire College where he expertly led the transformation of the human resources function during a transitional period for the institution. He is an experienced institutional-level strategist and operational leader with an outstanding track record of implementing human resources best practices and processes across a range of organizations from higher education to municipal and regional direct service public agencies. Whether as a public servant leader or member of an executive leadership team for a private higher education institution, Jake approaches his work as an authentic actor in advancing equitable solutions that are accessible, reflective of community input, aligned to institutional priorities, and ensure stakeholders experience the power of collective impact.
Jake is a veteran of the Army National Guard, having served for ten years as Staff Sergeant and Squad Leader, including a one-year deployment in Iraq in 2005. He holds a Master’s Degree in Education Leadership from American International College and a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Art Education from the University of Massachusetts Amherst.