2016 Dynamic Dozen Top Local Human Resources Professional: Jill Wiggins

Thanks to Jill Wiggins’ husband reminding her to practice what she preaches, the human resources professional landed a job she loves.

Having spent almost 20 years in human resources, many of them working with students, Wiggins always encouraged people to pursue opportunity. But when she was approached to consider applying for the directorship of Missouri State University’s Career Center, she resisted. She was happy where she was. Then her husband nudged.

“He thought I should at least explore the opportunity,” Wiggins says. “I am thankful he did. As I researched MSU, I kept hearing so many positive things.”

She was selected after a national search, a process that gave Wiggins a refresher course in applying for a job.

“I have coached students, alumni, family and friends through the job-search process for years, but this experience reminded me of how hard the process can be,” she says. “I have so much more empathy for job seekers, having recently gone through the process firsthand.”

Wiggins joined MSU in September 2014 after 13 years in career planning and development at Drury University, prior to which she worked in corporate human resources. One of her priorities at MSU is helping determine a better process for collecting and reporting what the university’s graduates are doing within six months to a year after graduation.

“This is a very hot topic nationwide and certainly a subject matter most career services professionals are discussing,” says Wiggins, who chairs MSU’s president’s task force on graduate tracking and outcomes. “I am very excited about the opportunity to participate in the development of a system that will be beneficial to multiple stakeholders. My work in this area at my previous institution has been identified as a best practice by consultants.”

At MSU’s Career Center, Wiggins seeks transparency and diversity in hiring, and she wants to develop her department into a model for exceptional customer service so recruiters want to return.

Wiggins also seeks to collaborate with local employers to address the oft-discussed brain drain.

“I am regularly amazed how many college students are unaware of all of the opportunities that exist right here in Springfield and southwest Missouri,” she says. “The idea I have is to bridge the gap by providing intentional opportunities for students to go visit the companies on-site.”

Tina Moore says Wiggins encourages people to stretch professionally. They worked together at Drury for more than 10 years.

“Jill is fully focused on employees – developing them, preparing them for future endeavors, listening to them, serving them and providing the best working environment possible,” says Moore, director of career services at Evangel University. “Jill leads with a servant’s heart – asking questions, seeking opinions, listening, supporting, encouraging, motivating and authentically caring for all who have the opportunity to know her.”