Villanova HRD | IGNITE HR

Every great HR professional grapples with a constant challenge: How can I make work better for the people I support and the organization I serve?

Welcome to Ignite HR, a digital collection of evidence-based HR insights curated by members of Villanova University's HRD Program to ignite the HR community to make work better for all.

At Villanova HRD, we believe HR leaders are at their best when they are evidence-based in their approach, committed to high performance, dedicated to creating meaningful work, and focused on building inclusive organizations.

These four pillars are embedded in the Villanova HRD curriculum, research, and professional development initiatives.

Evidence-Based HR
Inspiring High Performance
Making Work Meaningful
Creating Inclusive Organizations

This collection of insights brings together research and practical strategies aligned with these themes. Written by members of the Villanova HRD community, including faculty, students, and alumni, Ignite HR showcases diverse viewpoints and real-world applications rooted in academic research and professional practice.

We hope you will share these insights to ignite our HR community to create better workplaces and smarter people practices.

If you share on social, please tag us #VillanovaHRD and #igniteHR.

Explore the 2025 Ignite HR Article Collection

Explore the 2025 Ignite HR Article Collection featuring articles from Villanova HRD faculty, students and alumni. Click the article tile to open the article pdf.

Each article was written with the four guiding values of the Villanova HRD program in mind and is color-coded by theme for easy navigation to find content that is valuable for you.

Evidence-Based HR (orange)
Inspiring High Performance (yellow)
Making Work Meaningful (blue)
Creating Inclusive Organizations (white)

This article explores how HR stands at a pivotal crossroads, needing to fully embrace evidence-based practices to strengthen its credibility.

This article examines how a strong Total Rewards foundation, rooted in fairness and equity, can transform an org. into a more inclusive workplace.

This article explores how emotional intelligence drives successful job crafting, helping employees reshape their work for greater meaning.

This article discusses micro-interventions: small, intentional actions
that help individuals and teams build momentum at work.

This article explores the principles of building inclusive, high-performing
teams, shaped by the author's experiences working at Google.

This article examines how Vanguard, faced with a surge in early-career technology turnover, launched an Early Career Progression Program.

At Philips Medical Systems, HR transformed from an administrative function to a trusted strategic partner by addressing a critical business need.

This article emphasizes the ongoing importance of DEI efforts in organizations, despite challenges and backslides in 2025.

This article examines how blending ingredients like communication, flexibility, and collaboration help retain Gen Z employees.

This article explores an often underutilized HR tool, realistic job preview, and its positive impact on retention and engagement.

This article examines the complex experience of feeling overwhelmed and offers insights to address it at both individually and organizationally.

Interviews with the 2025 Authors

Each of our 2025 Ignite HR authors gave a bonus interview with additional insights and content that go beyond their article. Click the authors' picture to watch their video interview.

Bethany J. Adams

DIY Your Job: Using Emotional Intelligence to Craft Meaningful Work

Cluley & Adams

Power Up: The Science

of Micro-Interventions

to Drive High Performance

Anabel Pichler

Beyond the Paycheck:

How Total Rewards Shape Workplace Equity and Foster Inclusion

Kyle B. Ali

The 5 Keys to Effective Teams: How They've

Evolved in the Age of AI and Virtual Work

Tyra Johnson

DEI Still Matters:

Building Inclusive Organizations in 2025

Nicholas Stanley

Evidence-based HR Insights from Vanguard: Accelerating Early Career Talent with Technology

Gerry Brandon

The Evidence Imperative:

A Janus View on Advancing HR from Practice to Profession

Paige Matzerath Lynn

Retaining Gen Z in the Workplace: Blending the Ingredients that Matter Most

Enio Velazco

Transforming HR: A Leadership Development Success Story for Strategic Business Growth

Heather Cluley Bar-Or

Overwhelmed: The Science of Stress Overload and

How to Navigate It

Kelly O. Morgan

Finding Your Fit In the Workplace: The Case for Realistic Job Previews

We Want to Hear from You!

Are you part of the Villanova HRD community and have an evidence-based HR idea, insight, or innovation to share? We want to spotlight the expertise and creativity of our Villanova HRD community. Use the link below to submit your contribution—you could be featured in an upcoming social post or blog article!

Keep the Conversation Going!

Share the ideas from these articles, along with your own learning and thoughts, and be sure to tag #VillanovaHRD and #igniteHR on social media. We can't wait to hear how these insights are inspiring you to ignite HR!

Share your insight here!

Villanova University Graduate Programs in Human Resource Development