Lawrenceville Welcomes Kristen Oberlin as New Human Resources Director

Lawrenceville Welcomes Kristen Oberlin as New Human Resources Director

The Lawrenceville School is pleased to welcome Kristen Oberlin as its new Human Resources Director. A member of the School’s senior staff, Oberlin is responsible for the overall strategic direction and operations of the Human Resources Department, designing and carrying out human resources programs across the School, and working with key partners in the administration to assess, develop, and implement policies.

Major areas of focus for Oberlin and her team will include employee recruitment, compensation and benefits, as well as leadership and organizational development, employee relations, policy development and administration, and compliance with policies. She will be a resource for all school employees, and will support School leaders and managers in their roles as supervisors.

"Kristen greatly impressed the search committee with her talent, experience, and expertise in all aspects of human resources over her 18-year career. Her passion for strengthening human resources practices and services within an independent school environment came through loud and clear,” said Lawrenceville’s Chief Financial Officer Ben Hammond. “Her dedication to supporting employees, working collaboratively, and helping build and strengthen community throughout an organization was evident and notable. Throughout the search, it became clear that Kristen is dedicated to helping employees thrive."

Oberlin is a strategic and innovative human resources executive, with leadership experience in both the non- and for-profit sectors. She served as Human Resources Director at the Atlanta International School, where she developed the School’s evaluation program, benefits strategy, and instituted updated payroll technology. She also led the search and hire of the School’s first Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Director and the creation of DEI employee training.

She comes to Lawrenceville from Mercadien, an accounting firm located in Mercer County, N.J. In her role as Mercadien’s Human Resources Director, she partnered with senior leadership to develop new business initiatives, foster employee engagement, and mobilize talent. Her innovations included oversight of Mercadien’s transition to an updated human resources information system and the introduction of proactive employee relations and communications programs. She also co-chaired the DEI committee and developed quarterly DEI training for the firm.

Oberlin has a dual B.A. in history and sociology from Georgia State University. She is a Society of Human Resources Management Certified Professional and a Professional in Human Resources. Oberlin also holds certifications in diversity, time management, team training, behavioral-based interviewing, developing employee performance, and positive discipline of performance coaches. She is also trained as a facilitator for high performance work teams

"Since moving to New Jersey, I've been seeking the right position in education again. Faculty, staff, students, and their parents, as well as the entire educational institution to which they belong, are important to me, and the Lawrenceville School offers a unique environment of high expectations, hard work, kind people, and an impressive institutional culture,” said Oberlin. “I look forward to working with the entire community to make the Lawrenceville School an even better place for all of its stakeholders."

For additional information, contact Lisa M. Gillard H'17, director of public relations, at lgillard@lawrenceville.org.