Linda Balsamo, PhD, MBA, SPHR
Title: Adjunct Professor
Programs/Classes Taught:
- HRM 520 - Performance Analysis and Measurement
Areas of Expertise: Performance Management, Behavioral Interviewing, Employee Relations, Human Resource Strategy, Coaching, Training, Benefit Administration, Safety & Compliance
Biography: Dr. Balsamo spent the first part of her career as the Associate Director of Finance for the University of Illinois at Chicago Office of Publications Services. In that capacity, part of her responsibility included human resource management. When she moved to Walgreen Co., she worked as a department manager within the Human Resources Division. It was in this position that she had the opportunity to learn the finer points about employee relations, safety and risk management and employee services. After earning her PhD in Human and Organizational Systems (a subset of Organizational Development), she changed roles to work in employee benefits, including managing employee relocations (domestic and global), separation programs and employee service vendor relations. Much of this work included policy development and implementation, as well as policy harmonization during acquisitions. She was tapped by leadership to source, implement and manage the company’s first employee assistance program and to manage voluntary benefits for the organization.
After eighteen years at Walgreen Co., Dr. Balsamo was asked to join the team at NorthPointe Resources, a non-profit that serves individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and mental illness. As the Human Resources Director, she was responsible for the entire employee life cycle, as well as administrative oversight for the Agency. Two years later, she was promoted to Vice president of Human Resources.
Dr. Balsamo has written two books (both fiction) and enjoys spending time on a variety of creative pursuits, including leather crafting, costume-making and, of course, writing. She lives in Chicago with her husband and two sons.
Education:
- PhD Human & Organizational Systems – Fielding Graduate University, Santa Barbara, CA
- Dissertation: Accommodating deaf employees in the workplace: Communication assistance via note -taking by hearing co -workers by Balsamo, Linda Marie, Fielding Graduate University, 2006, 139 pages; 3218172
- MBA Finance – Loyola University, Chicago
- BS Marketing – University of Illinois at Chicago
- Post Doctoral Fellowship – Fielding Graduate University (2009)
Research and Interests: I have always enjoyed studying informal communication networks in organizations and non-verbal communication. I also enjoy the study of power structures as they relate to social justice. My teaching philosophy centers on using case learning to move from theory to practice. I am a proponent of academic integrity and student doing their own work and hold the bar very high in this regard.
Contact Information:
- Email - lbalsamo1@nl.edu
- LinkedIn - http://www.linkedin.com/in/lindabalsamophd
