Richard Heath, the new associate vice president for administration and human resources, has been on the job for only a month and already is knee-deep in university issues.
Heath, who replaced Lori Lamb at the beginning of the semester, is still learning everything his job entails.
Heath works with Human Resource Services, handling the civil service, compensation and administration for three-fourths of the personnel on campus. He is in charge of payroll records and searching for job candidates. He is in charge of the environment, health and safety division. Accident prevention, workplace safety and purchasing insurance for activities that could put the university at risk also encompass his new duties.
“Everyday I am learning about the committees I am a part of and all the meetings to attend,” he said.
He plans to look at how the university currently does things with an eye to improving efficiency.
Heath comes to WSU after two years of practicing private law in the area. He worked for the Attorney General’s Office in Olympia before coming to the Palouse. “I have a lot of experience in state government and I know how different state agencies run,” he said.
