Graduate Student Alumni Spotlight

Human Resource Development, PhD

Abbie LambertStudent Name: Abbie Lambert

Program: Human Resource Development, PhD

Graduated: 2016

Employer: Sonic Restaurants Inc.

Position: Director of SRI- Field HR

What attracted you to this field?

I love helping people develop to their fullest potential, no matter what position they're in. Working in Human Resources allows me to be a coach, a teacher, a mentor, and an advocate for people in every step of their career.

Why did you choose to attend UT Tyler?

I chose UT Tyler because of the ability to keep the job I love while also being able to work towards my dream of obtaining my doctorate.

What do you like most about UT Tyler?

Every faculty member has expertise in their field, and they're great about sharing their experiences with students to make the classroom learning more meaningful.

What are your career aspirations?

I love my current job working in Field HR helping crew members and drive-in managers reach their career aspirations. Someday I'd also love to work in an academic setting, and offer my expertise to help business students prepare for their careers.

What's your work experience?

Through my work experience, I have had the unique ability to grow in four distinct management environments. Notably, I have worked to provide human resources to corporate-based employees, restaurant operators, restaurant team members and franchisees. This experience has helped build my knowledge in different areas of management and provided me with the opportunity to work within diverse employment relationships. Each of these relationships has presented very distinct opportunities involving building and implementing human resource change initiatives that drive financial and operational business growth.

Do you have any advice to pass along to other students interested in this program?

Find a faculty member, fellow student, or mentor to talk to, and let them prepare you for the demands of the program. You'll need someone to be your champion throughout the process. It takes a tremendous amount of focus and time commitment, but with dedication and a good support network, you can be successful.

Find out more about our Master of Human Resource Development degree

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