Bridgette Wilder - CalArts - Hybrid Work in Higher Education

In this episode, Bridgette shares about how hybrid work, employee experience, and culture work differently in higher education, the role of technology, and much more.


Bridgette Wilder is Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer at the California Institute of the Arts since June 2021. Prior to her appointment at CalArts, she served the Albany State University in the role of CHRO, and before that in the dual role of Equity, Diversity, Inclusion & Safety Officer/Senior Manager at the City of Memphis. Additionally, she has served as the Chief Human Resources Officer for Media Fusion; Deputy Director of Human Resources/Chief Diversity Officer at The Citadel, Military College of South Carolina. She was the first African American Deputy Director and the only person to hold the dual role; an Employee Relations Representative & Corporate Trainer for Airborne Express; Manager of Recruitment & Training at INROADS, Inc. in Richmond, VA.; Market Source Corporation where she marketed IBM personal systems to the VA higher educational system; Automation Specialist for SouthTrust Corporation and Jefferson State Community College where she coordinated job fairs, presented career seminars, and provided job assistance to undergraduates and alumni; and Communications Link which she owned and specialized in facilitating career planning and software training workshops. Bridgette is also the Owner and Principal Consultant of Wilder HR Management & EEO Consulting which focuses on simplifying HR for small to mid- size businesses through customized solutions to manage their HR function. She earned an MBA from Averett University, a BA in Human Resources from Birmingham-Southern College, a BS in Workforce Education from Southern Illinois University and AAS in Computer Science from Jefferson State Community College. She is a graduate of the Furman University/ Riley Institute Diversity Leadership Academy and a recipient of the Coretta Scott King Humanitarian Award. Bridgette is a member of the Forbes Human Resources Council, SHRM Expertise Panel for Ethics & Corporate Social Responsibility and SHRM A-Team.